VIDEO: Rolling Stones remembered for benefit shows at Oshawa’s Civic – 45 years ago today
Published April 22, 2024 at 10:34 am
From the pre-concert chaos outside the Civic Auditorium to the opening bars of ‘Prodigal Son’ inside the arena, Oshawa took its spot in rock ‘n roll history on this day with the (court-mandated) appearance of the Rolling Stones – 45 years ago today.
The Stones – the biggest band in the world – came to town to play two benefit shows at the Civic, with proceeds going to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). The concerts were guitarist Keith Richards’ sentence for his conviction in 1978 on heroin charges after being arrested at the Harbour Castle Hilton in Toronto the previous year.
It was not your average sentence – Richards could have faced as much as seven years in jail – but Richards was not (and is still not) your average recording artist.
With a courtroom full of Rolling Stones fans, some wearing t-shirts that said ‘Free Keith,’ it certainly wasn’t an average trial either.
After Judge Lloyd Graburn heard from a blind fan of the band who praised Richards, he sentenced the rock star to one year’s probation and ordered the band to play two shows to benefit the CNIB within six months of the sentencing.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs in the middle of a playoff run and the CNIB’s own auditorium only holding 250 people, the 5,000-seat Civic was chosen for the gigs.
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Six days before the event, tickets went on sale to the public. And that’s when the chaos ensued. Most of the stories from people who were at the show, in fact, were about the madness of obtaining tickets as much as the concert itself.
James Sexsmith remembered that people started camping in the parking lot four days before the box office opened, and when the Toronto crowd arrived two days later, prospective ticket buyers had to fight to keep their place in line.
“We went there Friday night and took turns holding our spot and drinking in a local bar,” he told indurham.com. “We waited all weekend, but by Sunday morning, people started crashing the line, and we sort of got pushed out.”
Fortunately for Sexsmith, they hung around “to watch the mayhem” and eventually spotted a buddy who had made it in and had extra tickets for the first concert.
Sexsmith said he had a blast.
“It was a great show,” he remembered. “But I couldn’t hear for two days.”
Sexsmith said a pal went to the second show and met Saturday Night Live star John Belushi, who was the emcee for the concerts and very well-inebriated by the time the show started.
“Everyone was just having a good time.”
Plenty of other concertgoers chimed in with their memories:
“I was at the second show, went back to Toronto and went to eat at the Good Year restaurant, and Charlie Watts showed up. It’s a marvelous story.” – Stephen
“Hitchhiked 700 kms the morning of with only $42.10 left and bought a ticket off a blind guy for $42. Just as the lights went out after the Barbarians I rushed from the stands to the front of the staged to witness Mick and Keith within arms length do an acoustic Prodigal Son. Hitchhiked a back next day with 10 cents. Unforgettable.” – Jacques
“I was there with some friends from Kitchener. We even waited 20 hours in the cold and windy Toronto street to get tickets.” – Richard
“I was there, 2nd row!!!!” – Karen
SET LIST
- Prodigal Son
- Let It Rock
- Respectable
- Star Star
- Beast of Burden
- Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
- When the Whip Comes Down
- Shattered
- Miss You
- Jumpin’ Jack Flash
VIDEO from the show:
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