There was a famous show at a college campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts but it wasn't at Harvard.
MIT got two shows in two days in May 1970 including a free one (see the last two clippings for some brief MIT point of view).
At its neighbor, students at the world-famous Harvard University down the street pegged the Grateful Dead for shows on July 13, 1970 and April 24, 1984 but just could not get it to happen.
Instead The Chambers Brothers (1970) and REM (1984) rocked their worlds.
REM, who very soon after this might be the most popular band in the world, was only able to sell 1,000 tickets on that 1984 night not much more than you could seat at the Channel or the Paradise. The Dead could have drawn 10,000 at both the 1970 and 1984 versions.
This reminds me of the time, we students at Bowdoin voted to invite the Jerry Garcia Band with their big $4,500 guarantee. But of course the powers that be at the school just simply vetoed it after me and a few Deadheads got the committee to vote Yes for Jerry.
MIT got two shows in two days in May 1970 including a free one (see the last two clippings for some brief MIT point of view).
At its neighbor, students at the world-famous Harvard University down the street pegged the Grateful Dead for shows on July 13, 1970 and April 24, 1984 but just could not get it to happen.
Instead The Chambers Brothers (1970) and REM (1984) rocked their worlds.
REM, who very soon after this might be the most popular band in the world, was only able to sell 1,000 tickets on that 1984 night not much more than you could seat at the Channel or the Paradise. The Dead could have drawn 10,000 at both the 1970 and 1984 versions.
This reminds me of the time, we students at Bowdoin voted to invite the Jerry Garcia Band with their big $4,500 guarantee. But of course the powers that be at the school just simply vetoed it after me and a few Deadheads got the committee to vote Yes for Jerry.
Summer thing Concerts Planned But City's Opposition Growing
Rock music will resound in Harvard Stadium this summer, but the sound may not please all ears in Cambridge.
The City of Boston's "Summer thing" arts festival and the Shaeffer Brewing Company are jointly sponsoring a series of 18 concerts at the Stadium. Those appearing in concert include. The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and the Supremes.
Though there have been occasional concerts in Harvard Stadium in past years, this is the first summer the University has lent the stadium for a full-fledged concert series.
While all went smoothly at the first concert last Monday, after Wednesday's concert, some members of the crowd rushed into Harvard Square, snatching purses, and roughing up passers-by.
Wednesday's post-concert action has stirred some criticism of the concerts among City officials. Those sponsoring the concerts had agreed to provide their own security; no police were stationed in the stadium during the concert.
Recurrence
Cambridge Police Chief James F. Regan and officials of "Summerthing" are now conferring to determine what stops should be taken to prevent a recurrence of Wednesday's incidents. The Cambridge City Council may also take up the issue at its meeting tonight.
The Shaeffer Co. is underwriting the concerts to the amount of $360.000, "Summerthing"- established by the City of Boston two years ago to "cool off" the City during the summer- will receive a share of the proceeds. The share will probably be in excess of $30.000.
Though Harvard Stadium seats more than 35.000, tickets for the concerts are restricted to 10.000 seats, to allow all present a better sound. All tickets cost $2. The schedule of the remaining concerts is as follows:
June 29- B. B. King. Butterfield Blues Band; James Cotton Blues Band.
July 1- Ten Years After- Matt The Hoople.
July 6- The Four Seasons.
July 8- Miles Davis Buddy Miles, Big Band; Seatrain.
July 13- The Grateful Dead. John Hammond.
July 15- Ike and Tina Turner, Voices of East Harlem.
July 20- John Sobastian. Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, Manhattan Transfer.
July 22- Van Morrison, Great Speckled Bird with lan and Sylvia, Tom Paxton.
July 27- Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Ramsey Lewis, Carla Thomas, Lean Thomas. Percy Mayfield.
July 29- Jose Feliciano.
August 3- The Johnny Mathis Show.
August 10- The Supremes.
August 12- Janis Joplin.
August 17- Tom Rush, Melanie.
Rock music will resound in Harvard Stadium this summer, but the sound may not please all ears in Cambridge.
The City of Boston's "Summer thing" arts festival and the Shaeffer Brewing Company are jointly sponsoring a series of 18 concerts at the Stadium. Those appearing in concert include. The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and the Supremes.
Though there have been occasional concerts in Harvard Stadium in past years, this is the first summer the University has lent the stadium for a full-fledged concert series.
While all went smoothly at the first concert last Monday, after Wednesday's concert, some members of the crowd rushed into Harvard Square, snatching purses, and roughing up passers-by.
Wednesday's post-concert action has stirred some criticism of the concerts among City officials. Those sponsoring the concerts had agreed to provide their own security; no police were stationed in the stadium during the concert.
Recurrence
Cambridge Police Chief James F. Regan and officials of "Summerthing" are now conferring to determine what stops should be taken to prevent a recurrence of Wednesday's incidents. The Cambridge City Council may also take up the issue at its meeting tonight.
The Shaeffer Co. is underwriting the concerts to the amount of $360.000, "Summerthing"- established by the City of Boston two years ago to "cool off" the City during the summer- will receive a share of the proceeds. The share will probably be in excess of $30.000.
Though Harvard Stadium seats more than 35.000, tickets for the concerts are restricted to 10.000 seats, to allow all present a better sound. All tickets cost $2. The schedule of the remaining concerts is as follows:
June 29- B. B. King. Butterfield Blues Band; James Cotton Blues Band.
July 1- Ten Years After- Matt The Hoople.
July 6- The Four Seasons.
July 8- Miles Davis Buddy Miles, Big Band; Seatrain.
July 13- The Grateful Dead. John Hammond.
July 15- Ike and Tina Turner, Voices of East Harlem.
July 20- John Sobastian. Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, Manhattan Transfer.
July 22- Van Morrison, Great Speckled Bird with lan and Sylvia, Tom Paxton.
July 27- Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Ramsey Lewis, Carla Thomas, Lean Thomas. Percy Mayfield.
July 29- Jose Feliciano.
August 3- The Johnny Mathis Show.
August 10- The Supremes.
August 12- Janis Joplin.
August 17- Tom Rush, Melanie.
The Folk's on You, Buddy Chambers Brothers Will Replace Dead In Stadium Concert
The Grateful Dead have cancelled their concert in the Stadium, which was scheduled for Monday-but Summerthing has scheduled the Chambers Brothers instead.
The Dead told Summerthing Wednesday that they would not keep the date, which has been set since the Spring. John Scharer, a booking agent working with the Schaefer Summer Festival, said the rock group provided no explanation for the cancellation.
The cancellation marked the second time in a week that a group has backed out of a Summerthing date at the last minute. The Four Seasons, who were to perform last Monday, wired Summerthing officials shortly before the concert that they preferred to use that day in a New York recording studio.
Scharer said yesterday that the two cancellations were "completely unrelated." Both were originated by the groups without Summerthing's knowledge, he added.
Scharer said that the Chambers Brothers booking was "absolutely definite." He also added that like and Tina Turner would definitely meet their concert date next Wednesday, despite rports earlier that they would cancel out.
Also on Monday's program is John Hammond.
Bovver
The Summerthing concerts have been marred by incidents of fighting and petty theft during and after the performances. Several fights broke out during the Ray Charles concert June 24, and aftenward in the Square a small group of youths snatched pocketbooks and wallets until the arrival of two Cambridge Police cars.
Despite statements by some Boston police that police officers-who have so far remained outside of the Staduim-would be stationed inside during the concerts, no move has been made to introduce policemen.
The Grateful Dead have cancelled their concert in the Stadium, which was scheduled for Monday-but Summerthing has scheduled the Chambers Brothers instead.
The Dead told Summerthing Wednesday that they would not keep the date, which has been set since the Spring. John Scharer, a booking agent working with the Schaefer Summer Festival, said the rock group provided no explanation for the cancellation.
The cancellation marked the second time in a week that a group has backed out of a Summerthing date at the last minute. The Four Seasons, who were to perform last Monday, wired Summerthing officials shortly before the concert that they preferred to use that day in a New York recording studio.
Scharer said yesterday that the two cancellations were "completely unrelated." Both were originated by the groups without Summerthing's knowledge, he added.
Scharer said that the Chambers Brothers booking was "absolutely definite." He also added that like and Tina Turner would definitely meet their concert date next Wednesday, despite rports earlier that they would cancel out.
Also on Monday's program is John Hammond.
Bovver
The Summerthing concerts have been marred by incidents of fighting and petty theft during and after the performances. Several fights broke out during the Ray Charles concert June 24, and aftenward in the Square a small group of youths snatched pocketbooks and wallets until the arrival of two Cambridge Police cars.
Despite statements by some Boston police that police officers-who have so far remained outside of the Staduim-would be stationed inside during the concerts, no move has been made to introduce policemen.
Let It Be
BRASS TACKS
JOHN P. REARDON JR. '60 and Archie C. Epps III have little to gain personally from authorizing the proposed Grateful Dead concert tentatively slated for April 24 at the Stadium. Neither the athletic director nor the dean of students has publicly proclaimed
himself a Dead Head.
But both men should give serious consideration to plans for the first major campus concert in four years, an event that would draw publicity for the Undergraduate Council while providing entertainment to a substantial segment of the student body.
The need is substantial. Harvard holds embarrassingly few campus-wide social events, and many House-run activities, such as Quincy's fall cookout concert, exclude members of other Houses. Events too big for a single House just don't happen.
The Undergraduate Council is supposed to change all that, and the Grateful Dead condert would be a major first step. Not all students want to see the Dead, nor would any be forced to do so. But that is not the point, The Dead concert would open the door to more concerts and more events. Future concerts will surely range full circuit from AC-DC to Barry Manilow.
The council has already obtained financial backing for the Dead concert and is at no financial risk; on the contrary, it stands to reap a few thousand dollars.
Crowds at Dead concerts are generally peaceful. The Dead "is a very good show for a college, because it attracts crowds that are better than the crowds other groups attract," says the Worcester Centrum's director of security. The council's proposal to hire 65-75 policemen and 100 additional usheres and guards should be adequate.
Opponents of the concert point out that regardless of how the crowd behaves, most of the concertgoers would have no Harvard affiliation. The idea of entertaining those unordained by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid sends a shiver down the upright spine of those who can't look past percentages to see the large number of their fellow-students who would attend the show.
One potential stumbling block remains--the effect the concert would have on the Stadium's $50,000 turf. If a way to protect the grass can be found, Epps and Reardon should let the people hear the music.
Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III will give his decision Wednesday on whether the rock band The Grateful Dead will be allowed to give a concert at Harvard.
In a meeting yesterday with student organizers of the project, sponsored by the Undergraduate Council, Epps notified students of the postponement of his decision--scheduled for today--and added that he was "not very optimistic" about the project receiving approval.
Epps said he put off the decision until the completion of voting on a student referendum on whether the Dead should play, conducted by the council in dining halls through tomorrow.
The council had previously decided that if Epps did not approve the idea, voting would cease on the non-binding referendum.
"It would be impolite and inappropriate [to interrupt the referendum]--as if we're not considering what the students are saying," Epps said.
He added that he needed more time to consider logistical matters. Those include security and facilities use, and financial arrangements. For instance, Epps called the financial proposal of the concert's backer, businessman James Adler, "quite imprecise."
Voting on the referendum began yesterday in the Houses with moderate turnout, according to Council officers. The Council expects a 30 percent turnout over the three-day period, said Vice-Chairman Brian R. Melendez '86.
Melendez added that he is disappointed with the postponement of the decision. He explained that the council will have to proceed with the entire referendum, although the question may prove moot if permission is denied.
"It's very inconvenient," Melendez said.
An Eliot House junior has begun an effort to encourage all Harvard undergraduates to sign a Christmas message to Margaret M. Cimino '87, who was injured by a falling goalpost at the 100th Harvard-Yale game.
Beginning today, the Undergraduate Council will set up posterboard "Christmas cards" for the signatures in all College dining halls alongside its Grateful Dead referendum materials. Representatives in some Houses began collecting signatures last night.
William A. Spencer '85, who conceived the idea, said yesterday he hopes that "a lot of people are interested in cheering the girl up" and will sign the cards.
The posterboard card Spencer posted yesterday in the Eliot dining hall has drawn a "tremendous response," said Felicia A. Eckstein '84, an Eliot representative to the council Spencer made all of the cards himself.
When Spencer first got the idea, he said he thought he would carry it through on his own. He wanted to make the Christmas message a gesture "from the entire College," he explained.
Another Eliot resident, R. Scott Falk '85, suggested that the project be handled through the council. At its Sunday evening meeting, the council voted unanimously to foot the bill, mainly as an expression to Cimino of "Christmas spirit," Falk said.
Although Spencer has never met Cimino, Eckstein said she believes he felt "Harvard, especially through the Undergraduate Council, should be making some response of sympathy."
Slight Improvement
Cimino is still partially paralyzed, but improving "slightly" in Westchester County Medical Center at Valhalla, N.Y., according to Betsy Weiner, a public relations officer at the center. Whether she will remain hospitalized over Christmas is uncertain.
The Undergraduate Council is covering costs up to $25 for the scheme. Meanwhile David C. Finn '86, a council representative from North House, said yesterday he plans to draw up a report to suggest possible solutions to the problem of unruliness after football games.
If the report attracts attention, he said he hopes it may "prevent goalposts from being torn down at Harvard or elsewhere," in the future.
An overwhelming majority of students approved a resolution that the Undergraduate Council should sponsor a Grateful Dead concert at Harvard this spring, Council officials reported last night.
Seventy-one percent of the students who voted in a non-binding campus-wide referendum this week favored the proposed concert. Fifty-one percent of undergraduates voted on the question.
The fate of the concert now depends on Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III, who said last night that he would announce his decision today. "As a matter of courtesy, I wanted to wait to see the [referendum] results," he explained.
But Epps added that he was "not very optimistic" that the event would take place.
Administration voiced concerns about the kind of crowd the concert may attract, as well as its impact on the Allston community and possible damage to the $50,000 stadium turf.
Give and Take
The Undergraduate Council has been debating the possibility of a Grateful Dead performance since Dudley House representative David Vendler '84 first presented a proposal to the Council's Social Committee in early November.
Sensing strongly divided undergraduate opinion, the Council decided to poll the student body to find out "if this is the kind of social activity that we should be sponsoring," said Brian R. Melendez '86, the government's vice-chair.
Vendler overcame initial financial obstacles by arranging for James Adler, a Brookline car importer, to foot the band's $100,000 bill and $80,000 for other expenses.
From the council's perspective, the event is not intended as a money-making activity, Vendler said. Although the proposed concert could gross more than $400,000 in ticket sales, he added, less than $6000 would remain after Adler and the band collected their shares of the receipts.
But because Council by-laws prohibit the body from charging admission to events for profit, that money would be donated to a charity or scholarship fund, Vendler said.
If Epps grants his approval, the Dead will rock Harvard on April 28. "It's the day after classes end, and everyone will go for a good sort of celebratory event." Vendler commented
The Undergraduate Council last night tentatively agreed to sponsor a spring benefit concert
at the Bright Hockey Center featuring the rock group R.E.M. The event would replace an earlier proposal to host the Grateful Dead, which was vetoed by College officials for safety and other logistical reasons.
Proceeds from the March 22 concert, which would be open to students from local colleges, would go to the American Cancer Society.
The council voted to sponsor the $18,000 event contingent upon raising at least $3000 in donations from local businesses.
Council officials said yesterday they expected sufficient donations to hold the performance.
According to Stephen W. Waters '85, chairman of the council's social committee. College officials have agreed to help organize the concert. The earlier plans for a Grateful Dead performance were scrapped in December, despite a student referendum endorsing it, when Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III said the large event would create insurmountable safety problems.
R.E.M. was named the "best new group" of 1983 by Rolling Stone Magazine.
In other business last night, the council approved its fiscal year 1984 budget of more than $77,000, including $13,654.18 in spring term grants and loans to 24 student organiztions. Thirty-two organizations had originally applied for spring funding.
The group also sent back to committee funding requests for four other organizations, and urged several others to reapply for emergency grants.
The grants ranged from $1525 to the Harvard International Development Forum to help fund an upcoming symposium on world hunger, to $65 to finance a Scottish dancing party.
The two-hour debate on the budget was marked by protests from several groups whose grant requests were denied.
A representative of the Leverett House Art Society, which had applied unsuccessfully for $4770 to purchase lighting equipment, last night criticized the council as "unprofessional," overly concerned with technicalities, and for failing to adequately consider the group's request "due to impatience" of the members.
By the final vote on the budget, only 40 of the council's 88 members remained in the room. He a quorum count been officially requested, the council's spring grant decisions would have been invalidated
R.E.M. ConcertMay Cost Council $6000
Only 1000 of 2500 Tickets Sold
Critically acclaimed rock band R.E.M. will perform tonight at the Indoor Track and Tennis Center, but Undergraduate Council members expect that receipts from the concert will not cover costs.
"There is concern among council members that ticket sales have not been more enthusiastic." Undergraduate Council Chairman Gregory S. Lyss '85 said yesterday.
$6000 in the Red
About 1000 of 2500 tickets had been sold by yesterday afternoon, meaning that the council could lose as much as $6000.
The council needs to sell 1800 tickets to break even, Lyss said.
If ticket sales fall short, the council will cover the cost of the concert with $4045 from its social fund--but would not be able to sponsor any more events this year, representatives said. The council might also have to appropriate funds from its grants account as well.
"It was stated as a risky venture and now it's proving itself as such," Lyss said.
James M. Barber Jr. '85, music director at WHRB, was instrumental in persuading R.E.M. to schedule the Harvard date. Barber attributed the slow ticket sales to the fact that "Harvard students are too conservative and they're not willing to take a chance."
Tickets, at $8 for Harvard students and $8.50 for the general public, are available in all dining halls, at the University Information Office in Holyoke Center, and also at Ticketron outlets. Any profits will go to the American Cancer Society.
The Council is also counting on donations from area businesses to pay for the $18,000 event, Lyss said.
R.E.M. will play as a replacement for an earlier proposed outdoor concert with the Grateful Dead. Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III vetoed the Dead plans for safety and logistical reasons, and also out of concern for the turf on Harvard Stadium, which will host Olympic soccer quarter-finals this summer.
The four-man band was scheduled to put in an appearance at WHRB's studios in Memorial Hall at 11 p.m. last night, but got tied up in New York and could not make the shuttle, WHRB staffers said.
Tonight's concert comes as the band is gearing up for what has been described as a major tour, to accompany the release of the group's second album, expected in April.
In these efforts, the band can be expected to come under sharp scrutiny by fans and critics, eager to see if the group's acclaimed debut album and touring success were more than a fluke.
That album, "Murmur," was one of the most critically praised of the past year, ranking high in a number of yearend polls.
It remains to be seen, however, whether the band will be able to transcend their status as a favorite solely of college campuses and trendy night clubs and win a broader following--a route the group seems determined to avoid.
