Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
There was probably no better time in the world for music and concerts than the 1970s. By then, rock was well-established with technique and equipment. The times were introspective during the recession and humbling following the war. Teens were not rebelling anymore so much as doing what they want, feeling their influence and power.
With a variety like The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Black Sabbath, Queen, Chicago, The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Styx, Doobie Brothers, Journey, Bee Gees, Foreigner, Cheap Trick, AC/DC, REO Speedwagon, ZZ Top, KC and the Sunshine Band, Steve Miller Band, The Ramones, Blue Oyster Cult, Abba, Simon and Garfunkel, Kansas, and Led Zeppelin, anything was possible.
Inspired by lyrics, we had philosophers, mentors, and stylish idols left and right. If we needed to know about life and how to take handle it, we found it in some wise musical poetry written by our peers -
And some days, it don't come easy
And some days it don't come hard
Some days it don't come at all
And these are the days that never end
And some nights you're breathing fire
And some nights you're carved in ice
Some nights you're like nothing I've ever seen before
Or will again
"I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) Meatloaf
Ooh, the wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'
I don't know where I'll be tomorrow
Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'"
Wheel in the Sky"
Journey
Goodbye my friend it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that spring is in the air
Pretty girls are everywhere
Think of me and I'll be there
"Seasons in the Sun"
Terry Jacks
The concert venues in the 1970s were off the charts. When asked the best concerts you ever attended, a great deal of the public will recite 1970s attendances.
Steely Dan, Allman Brothers Band, Bob Dylan, Blind Faith, The Who, Joe Cocker, Kiss, The Beach Boys, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, Santana, Frank Zappa, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Cat Stevens, Pink Floyd, Darryl Hall and John Oates, The Moody Blues, Styx, Journey....
Everyone had idols in the music world back then. Mine was Stevie Nicks. In fact, I even did a Stevie-inspired head shot to recreate her vibe.
There's those bands or singers whose lyrics and vibe you identify with. I was a John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, The Eagles kinda gal.
I was that am radio gal who lived for the weekly top 40 and Casey Kasem. I loved the pop stuff from Elton John, 10cc, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Captain and Tenille, as well as the American Bandstand show with Dick Clark. I made freestyle rollerskating routines to this music.
But when I hit the pavement with my skateboard, I was all about The Beach Boys.
And then in 1979, I found Van Halen! My favorite concert of all time!
Play some of your favorites from the 70s, sing along, dance, and really listen to the lyrics. They wrote songs back then. They were poets, philosophers, and their message was - tough times call for resilience.
Rock on!
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