What are your favorite Amphitheater memories?

Basmati's picture

Some personal favorites...

Best concert - The Beach Boys. Hands down, the best of the best...and the Fred is a perfect venue for them.

Loudest concert Chuck Berry. Chuck used his own amplifiers (not the Fred's sound system) and had 'em "turned up to 11".

Most surprising performance Creedence Clearwater Revisted. An absolutely scorching show. Highly recommended.

Worst performance Marshall Tucker Band. They'd probably consumed more alcohol than the entire audience combined.

Most awkward moment Tie - David Cassidy and the Smothers Brothers. Cassidy began talking about "how good it was to be here in Peachtree, Georgia" and was non-plussed when hecklers started yelling "Peachtree CITY!".

Tom Smothers had a throwaway line in a monologue about "good old American Airlines" and looked startled when there were scattered boos. He recovered quickly though.."Huh? Oh...Atlanta! DELTA airlines! good old DELTA airlines!" and won the crowd back over right away.

Best individual song Arlo Guthrie performing Elvis Presley's "I can't help falling in love with you".

Soooo...what are YOUR memories?

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Memories
Michael Boylan's picture
Submitted by Michael Boylan on Tue, 04/18/2006 - 11:32am.

O.K., I've got a few.

Best shows - Everly Brothers, Smothers Brothers, Arlo Guthrie, Wayne Newton, Molly Hatchet, Ray Charles

Worst shows - KC and the Sunshine Band, The Beach Boys

Coolest memory - Doing the "what it takes to put on a show at the Fred story" picking up Wayne Newton's band, hanging out back stage, watching sound check, getting kicked out for taking pictures during sound check, meeting Newton before the show after the picture thing got cleared up, getting my picture taken with him and having him mention my name and thank me during his show. I didn't really consider myself a Newton fan, but I was back stage freaking out.

Wish list - Let's get Weird Al down here and maybe some 80s/90s hip-hop act like Salt and Pepa or Arrested Development.


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Interesting memories
Basmati's picture
Submitted by Basmati on Tue, 04/18/2006 - 1:05pm.

Some interesting memories you've listed above!

I remember Arlo Guthrie started out very slowly. He didn't seem to hit his stride until he started telling anecdotes about the Great Southeast Music Hall in the 1970s. He had the crowd behind him after that (plus he was playing some of his more recognizable songs).

Molly Hatchet played here with a reduced lineup. I remember their singer (the guy who replaced Danny Joe Brown) apologizing because their lead guitarist had had a heart attack and couldn't travel with the band.

Ray Charles played an uninspired show here. To me, he seemed as if he were going through the motions.

I'd forgotten your Wayne Newton story!! That was a lot of fun.

And yes, someday the Fred should get Weird Al on stage. Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band would be a hit here as well.

Somewhere out on the internets, there's an article on Mark Farner (the guy from Grand Funk Railroad) and how playing the Fred was hitting rock bottom for him.


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re:Memories
Submitted by dkinser on Tue, 04/18/2006 - 11:56am.

Just and opinion and not trying to insult, but stick to reporting. I certainly hope you don't take over as the Amphitheater Director with a list like that. lol

Dana Kinser

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My real wish list
Michael Boylan's picture
Submitted by Michael Boylan on Tue, 04/18/2006 - 12:12pm.

No offense taken, I was just listing groups that the amphitheater could get. Groups that are cheap but have recorded hits in the last 20 years - wouldn't that be something?
It would be nice to get lots of bands here but most with ties to the modern era are too expensive or are not interested. I always lobbied for Huey Lewis and the News but they play Chastain nearly every year.
Hey, at least I didn't say that they should try to get Limp Bizkit - and strangely enough, they probably could.
I agree with a lot of other people this year in saying that this year's lineup is lacking - mainly because it is repeats from the last few years.
I'm glad I'm not the amphitheater director too, it apparently doesn't afford one much job security.
Anyway, if money were no option and everyone would say yes, here's my lineup
• A reunited Simon and Garfunkel
• Bruce Springsteen and his current tour performing Bob Seger songs
• My Morning Jacket
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• The Who
• Lemonheads and Mighty Mighty Bosstones
• George Carlin
• U2 with Black 47 opening

Let's see everyone else's dream line-up


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Amphitheater performances of note
Submitted by jmatute on Mon, 04/17/2006 - 7:14pm.

Favorite moment was watching the PTC police literally pull the plug on Scott McKenzie when the Mamas and Papas last played. He finished his 6-pack on stage and said "the hell with the cops" and played on past curfew.

Loudest was Bachman Turner Overdrive. My ears are still ringing.

Worst had to be Tommy James. There was a short opening act, and he came on and did his 37-minute show, and left. People had not even all sat down yet. Up there with the worst had to be Helen Reddy who did Karaoke with a boom box on stage for about an hour (we all could have done better with a Barry Manilow CD in our cars in the parking lot)

There were alot of great acts and moments. However, I don't see any greatness in what is being presented now, so I gave up season tickets.

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non-smoking
mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Mon, 04/17/2006 - 2:29pm.

When they banned smoking. I clearly remember those morons in front of us smoking throughout the concert years ago. We had them moved because we had pull with the (now formwer) director.
meow


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Father-Son Golf Cart Ride
Submitted by fayetteobservers on Mon, 04/17/2006 - 2:56pm.

Father-Son Golf Cart Ride: True Story

Father and son from Bowfin Bay are out for a Saturday night, summer golf cart ride only minutes before the Ampitheatre show starts. Motorist drives up in a big old Cadillac, right in front of Huddleston Elementary, pulls over and asks the father in the golf cart for directions to the amphiteatre. Motorist is heavily intoxicated. The father grins, holds back a laugh and points across Shakerag Knoll: "It's right over there, buddy."

The son asks the father: "Dad, do you know that guy ?" The father, still grinning, replied: "Yeah, son--- that was Chuck Berry."

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Memories in Cadillacs
H. Hamster's picture
Submitted by H. Hamster on Mon, 04/17/2006 - 6:35pm.

Neil Sedaka showed up 1 hour late because some (((( edited))) driver could not get from the Sheraton or Wyndham or whatever to the amphitheater. Doesn't seem that hard, but maybe Randy and the new crew can get it together.


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