I heard a story recently while listening to the radio and I made a note of it, and I immediately got home and Googled it.

               *Side Note 1, by immediately I mean several days later.

In 1978 The Rolling Stones played in New Orleans.  It was July 13 and it was on their Some Girls World Tour.  At this show, it set a then record for the highest gross ever gained at an indoor concert for a single performance.  A whopping $1,060.000. 

That’s gross sales – $1,060,000

The opening act was Van Halen.

Yes – you read that right.  Van Halen opening for The Rolling Stones.

Oh, but it didn’t stop there.  Oh Hell No!!!  Because come on, – you paid a lot of money for that ticket and you needed more than just The Rolling Stones coming on after Van Halen.  That didn’t quite get it – it might have felt like something was missing.  You needed something more; perhaps you needed a little something in the middle, you know, to make your concert outing feeling complete.

Throw in the Doobie Brothers playing in between Van Halen and The Rolling Stones.

*Side Note 2 – At that time I was just a LittleJimmy, not the BigJimmy that I am now.  In July of 1978 I was 13 years old.

A report from/of the show says: 

The gates opened at 5:30 but a large crowd had gathered around the dome by 2:00 for the 7:30 show.  Soon after the crowds were allowed inside, blankets were spread and empty beer cans lined the floor of the dome which was packed with people and the belongings they had carried with them for the concert.  Frisbees flew through the air. 

Van Halen began as scheduled at 7:30 — loudly for some 45 minutes to a lackluster audience.  A long pause ensued, broken by a PA announcement to a crowd which was becoming restless: “We have found out narcotics agents are out in the crowd, disguised to look like you and me.  So if you have any drugs, please throw them up on the stage and we’ll take care of them”.  Then the lights shined down on the Doobie Brothers who broke out with “Black Water”. The audience love them as they continued with “China Grove”, “Takin’ it to the Streets”, and “Rock Me” among others.

When the Stones took the stage, which was encircled by huge red lips, the crowd went wild.   It was the largest indoor attendance in history — 80,173 people with a ticket intake of approximately $1,060,000.  Days later, City Councilman-at-Large Joseph I. Giarrusso introduced an ordinance to ban smoking in city arenas with 20,000 or more seats, citing the Stones concert where, he said, “Smoke was so thick you could cut it with a knife”.

That’s a lot of concert for one show – Van Halen opening, then The Doobie Brothers and then The Rolling Stones.

The year was 1978 – and the cost of a ticket?

$12.50.

I wanted to put it in perspective.  For $12.50 you got to see these 3 bands.  In real 2023 money, $12.50 was $59.                                                                                                                                                                              

This summer was Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour that created such a buzz and her numbers were staggering.  At each performance in this tour, it’s been reported that Taylor Swift will make anywhere from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 per date.  Now that’s HER take on the performance, not the gross.

I read so many different things about how much a ticket to a Taylor Swift concert costs.  Depending on the venue, tickets have ranged from $712 (Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas NV) – $1,778 (MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ).

Can you imagine a daughter asking a parent for money to see a concert and she says, “$1,500” – “…. But…but…. All my friends are going….”

               *Side Note 3 – Um, no, they’re not….

Now.  I am not knocking Taylor Swift.  She’s quite talented and a cultural icon.  But that’s a 3 hours concert (on average). And you know that same daughter will also need a new outfit for the show and accessories.  Also the expenses to get to the show.

I love my daughters dearly, and I’d do anything for them.  Except, shelling out $1,500 for a concert.

And for $12.50 in 1978 you got to see: Van Halen, The Doobie Brothers AND The Rolling Stones.

Sure, Sure, I know.  I adjusted it for inflation about and it would now be $59.

But do you really think in 2023 for $59 you’d get to see 3 bands of that caliber?

I need to find a DeLorean that goes 88 mph.

Oh, and can I borrow $12.50 ?

• Seriously