Post #171458 by donhonyc on Tue, Jul 12, 2005 5:25 PM

Since you grew up in South Florida, did you ever notice that we really didn't get all of the big groups come down to Miami. I remember that my older brother used to drive up to Orlando to see groups like the Rolling Stones and the Who play at the Tangerine Bowl in the early to mid 1980s because their tours did not include any stops in Miami.

Joefla-I totally remember that and remember resenting it big-time. Back then, I couldn't wait for the day when I was able to get up and leave the area mainly because some of my fave bands would never come down there. As good a time as I had as a teen in South Florida it sometimes seemed like the Land of Misfit Toys. I totally remember The Who and The Stones making U-turns after playing in Orlando at the Tangerine Bowl and not coming further south. Pissed me off. If i'm not mistaken Bowie did the same on the 'Serious Moonlight' tour, AND on the Stones '81 tour Van Halen (w/DAVE) opened up for them. It sucked missing that show!! But I think you're right, there was a lack of real venues back then. The Sportatorium was the only game in town. It was a dump, but I loved it!! Great teenage wasteland. Did you know that it was formerly an airplane hangar before they turned it into an arena?

And yeah, I heard about the Sunrise Musical Theater turning into a church. Crazy! I saw so many shows there AND I had my high school graduation ceremony there.
I saw U2 there in the summer of '83 on the 'War' tour with The Alarm as openers. A friend and I were so obsessed with U2 that we tracked them down (to make a long story short) and caught them coming off their bus for sound check. It's hard to beleive now, but they had a really freaky entourage. First The Edge came off. Still had hair then and wearing a red flannel shirt. He signed my 12" Maxi single of 'Two Hearts Beat As One' and kept walking. I was like 'wait, I have to talk to you'. he was friendly but he was like 'can't I have to go'. What did I expect, I was some teenage dude, not a hot chick waiting for him. After what seemed like a mini parade of freaks coming off the bus, Bono emerged. He looked like he just woke up. Signed my single as well and kept walking to the stage door. I still have that signed 12". The signatures are a little faded but you can still see them. The show that night was amazing. It was basically the same show that was recorded on LP and video at Red Rocks in Colorado called 'Under A Blood Red Sky'. Still just amazing. First time I had ever seen a singer dive into the audience. Very emotional show.They totally connected with us and for the next couple of years I was a dyed in the wool U2 freak (up untill 'Rattle & Hum'). Great time, glad I was there.