The Concert Room - Inside the Philly Spectrum Concerts
The legendary Philadelphia Spectrum Arena- America's Showplace! A podcast session about the Philadelphia Spectrum Concerts! From 1967-2009, the Spectrum held and hosted close to 1500 concerts and shows. The Stones, Springsteen, Billy Joel, Zeppelin and the Dead. We will delve in to the performances, recordings and memories. Featuring perspectives from your host Bob Hill and guests, including national and local photographers, the radio, print and media who covered the shows and performers, Spectrum personnel wo worked in promotions and the crews... and of course the fans sharing their experiences. Spotlights on this date in Spectrum concert history featuring recordings and archival information. Hit the House Lights and let's rock!
Episodes
The Concert Room features a great performance by one of our favorite bands in the 80's, Dokken! Opening for Aerosmith this night on November 10, 1987, Dokken rocked a packed Spectrum house with a fiery set of all of their hits. Blending great harmonies, melody, top notch musicianship and Don's spectacular tone and vibrato, this performance captures Dokken at their peak. This is the final song of their set fo...
YES played the Spectrum a total of 18 times, some dates were multiple night stays such as this tour- part of the summer leg of the tour supporting the album Tormato, YES rolled in to the Spectrum for a 3-night stay - June 20, 21 and 22nd. The concert staging was 'in the round'. The stage was set up in the middle of the Spectrum and rotated slowly while they performed. These shows are legendary! This performa...
The Concert Room dedicates this session to Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away from us on July 22, 2025. Ozzy is celebrated and beloved throughout the World and we thank him for his life and music, and of course the performances. We celebrate Ozzy with a performance of Symptom of the Universe, recorded at the Asbury Park Convention Center on August 5, 1975. Playing to a raucous and sold-out crowd, this concert captures Sab...
The Concert Room continues to celebrate the legacy of Ozzy Osbourne, featuring a blistering performance of Flying High Again recorded at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA on June 4, 1989. Ozzy and his band were on fire this tour, supoorting the No Rest for the Wicked album. Ozzy will be sorely missed but we thank him for his life and music and staying true to himself!
The Concert Room welcomes back veteran journalist Chuck Darrow as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Live Aid! The global event concerts held in Philadelphia's JFK stadium and London's Wembley Stadium, organized and aimed to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The all-day event was broadcast to a global audience with a list of the top performers of the day. Chuck takes us to the lead up of the event...
The Concert Room welcomes veteran PR and Promotions Executive Ike Richman. Ike was the public relations and promotions publicist at the Spectrum Arena, creating, implementing and executing publicity events, press conferences, photo opportunities, and media events for hundreds of events and concerts. He has successfully orchestrated press conferences for some of the top live music acts in the world, including Bruce Spr...
The mighty Van Halen rolled in to the legendary Philadelphia Spectrum for 3 dates in the summer of 1981 on the Fair Warning Tour. July 20, 21 and 22. This tour was the largest tour in Rock history at the time, and it was peak live VH. The Spectrum crowd was in a party mood all day and the lead up and anticipation busted when the lights cut off and the strobes twirled while Edward noodled the start. The announcer fired...
The Concert Room welcomes veteran Philadelphia music and entertainment journalist, Chuck Darrow. We dive into the world of concerts, personalities, and performers inside the world of a renowned music critic during the heyday of concerts. Chuck's illustrious career spans over 50 years and he's still churning out great copy! Listen as we discuss the early days of music journalism, concerts, the business of ent...
EP #08 - The Concert Room takes you inside the world of Rock Photography at the Spectrum with one the top Rock Photographers of the day, our guest Rich Fuscia. Listen as we discuss the process of shooting concerts as an amateur fan to going professional and getting photos published. Backstage stories and tales from the photo pit inside the Spectrum, it's an interesting and lively part of the music industry that h...
EP #07 Live @ The Spectrum welcomes good friend Ed Majewski, the host of Friday Night Vinyl on Facebook and former local area rock band manager. Today we dive into the Spectrum concert experience such as ticket buying, stories about favorite shows and the overall thrill of seeing our favorite bands perform on the Spectrum stage!
Friday Night Vinyl: The Philadelphia Spectrum - A Tribute to all of the classic rock concer...
EP #07 Part II of Genesis at the Spectrum, November 26, 1983, on the second night of 3-day stand. ABABCAB is a highlight of the sets on this tour and listen to Phil Collins come in at the beginning of the outro with his signature Tom rolls and play along with touring drummer Chester Thompson. A phenomenal evening of music and lights!
EP #6 - Part 1 of Genesis at the Spectrum- Genesis rolled in the Spectrum for a 3 nightstand on November 25, 26 and 27, 1983 to sold out crowds! A Genesis show was always special in Philly, and they put on spectacular shows for a great night of music and lights! Here is the opener Dodo/Lurker – recorded on the night of the November 26th show.
EP #05 - The podcast episode is dedicated to Neil Peart, who passed away 5 yrs ago on January 7, 2020.
Rush rolls in to the Spectrum for 2 nights, April 14 and 16 on the Power Windows tour. Here is a stellar recording of Subdivisions recorded on the April 16th show.
EP #04 - The Doors set up in the Spectrum Theater for a phenomenal performance to a sold-out crowd on May 1, 1970. They're only performance at the Spectrum recorded and released as double live album "Live in Philadelphia '70" on the Rhino/Bright Midnight label released in 2005. Light my Fire has always been a highlight in their sets and at the end the crowd is yelling for more!
EP #03 - Pioneering British rock band Humble Pie rolled in the Philadelphia Spectrum for one last time on their "Goodbye Pie Tour" and left the crowd wanting for more. A blistering final set recorded and released on the Official Bootleg Box Set, Vol. 2
(℗ 2018 Jerry Shirley). On the Bill also this night was Peter Frampton and John Entwistle's band, Ox. Four Day Creep sets the frenzy mood!
EP #02 - The Grateful Dead pulled into the Spectrum on September 21, 1972, for an electric and memorable show. They went on early and played late to another sold out Spectrum crowd! This show is highly regarded as one of the best on this tour. Get up and Dance! RIP Phil Lesh.
Welcome to the Concert Room- inside the Philly concert experience
EP #01 - Our inaugural show kicks off with a fiery performance by The Stones! During the legendary 1972 tour in support of Exile on Main Street, the Stones rolled in to Philly in July for 2 days playing 3 shows. An evening show on July 20, then 2 shows the next day on the 21st. The first show was an afternoon matinee concert then later that eve...
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