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From: Steven Johnson,
webspies@home.com
I attended the 83 US Festival. It was the world's biggest party...and
food fight. Although it was hot and miserable (no water, crowds of people),
I'll never forget it. I was 16 and just got my driver's license in San
Diego. My parents said that I "could NOT go! That was it!" Well, I bought
a ticket anyway. My best friend had a car and no driver's license, so
we left at midnight the night before and got there at about 2 am. It was
a huge party in the parking lot all night with bon fires, fireworks, beer
, etc.
When the gates finally opened, the line to get in was at least a mile
long and about 100 feet wide. Then, they announced "No coolers and food
allowed." Everyone in line who had food and drinks immediately threw everything
they had into the air (water melons and 2 liter bottles included).
About an hour into the concert, the water cannons broke and there was
no water at all in the 100+ degree heat. People were passing out from
heat stroke. In all that, everyone watched in amazement as David Lee Roth
flew over in his helicopter and buzzed the crowds...I think he was pretty
buzzed too.
Anyway, we barely made it out of there alive. When I got home, I got grounded
indefinetly. I think I still am. But, it was worth it.
I still have my ticket stub and memories. Thanks for creating this web
site. I've been looking for the video, but can't seem to find it anywhere.
I know I'm in the video because I was in the front the whole time and
the camera zoomed in a few times.
By the way, I later became a network engineer for a couple of companies
in LA implementing and maintaining MAC computers.
Steve Johnson webspies@thepentagon.com
From:
russell cobleigh, russellcobleigh@hotmail.com
Steve, after much searching, I finally found your site on the US festivals.
I went to both of them, and had the times of my life. (belated) thank
you. I live in Sweden now and no one here has ever heard of them. Do
you have any further sites or info? rUSs
I can remember going to
the 83 US festival with my girlfriend. We were both 19. She had arranged
some sort of package deal where we were to take a bus from Cal Poly-Pomona
and camp out for the entire 3 days. So we packed an ice chest and a tent
and drove from the San Francisco Bay Area to Pomona to catch the bus.
It was Memorial Day weekend, right? The first day was The Clash, Men at
Work, Oingo Boingo, INXS I think, and Wall of Voodoo, and maybe English
Beat...all whom I enjoyed, even though I was a Metal fan. The steak we
had brought with us in the ice chest had gone bad, so we had to throw
it out and buy our food for the rest of the time... The next day was Quiet
Riot, Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, Triumph, Judas Priest, Scorpions and
Van Halen. The best Metal concert in history!!! I always bring the US
festival up when I hear people talking about the Warped tour or Lollapalooza.
This was MY Woodstock. It was so hot and I couldn't stand it, so we sold
the tickets to the 3rd day and used the money to get a motel on Sunset
Strip in Hollywood. I went in the Navy about 5 weeks later, thus bringing
an end to my youth. I will never forget it. When is the movie about it
going to come out? Hey Woz! When are you going to try it again? Chuck
Nave California
Almost
US
Okay, so I had some time to kill at work today and I thought I'd prove
to a co-worker (younger) that there really was this big rock music fest
in the desert that I was THIS CLOSE to going to with an all access laminate!!!
I was lamenting the fact that my parents wouldn't let my older brother
and I do half of the things we wanted to as teenagers *gee, why not?*
I had
every intention of marrying David Lee Roth
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So here's my
US Festival story: I was about 13 or 14 and my brother is two years
older. My dad's Uncle Bob had passed on (he was a great guy who always
teased me about my fondness for mashed potatoes) and we drove out for
the funeral in Joshua Tree, CA (I think). It was so nice to see relatives
I hadn't seen in years. My dad's cousin, Linda, readily comes to mind
as she was so full of energy, so much fun, even after a funeral. They
were all such nice, friendly people.
As it turns out, Linda was (is?) married to Mike Markkula who was involved
in this up and coming computer company. He was telling my brother and
I all about this concert that Apple was sponsoring and asking my parents
if he could arrange for us to attend!
Are you kidding??? At that point in my life I had every intention of
marrying David Lee Roth so I REALLY wanted to go! What stopped me? My
overprotective parents! Imagine the cruelty of not letting their 14
and 16 year old children attend a rock music festival in the desert!!
;-)
Only now that I have children (12 & 5) can I see their side!! BTW- I
happen to run a high school computer lab full of Macs! You think I should
contact that distant relative of mine????
Wendy Bjork
The
Memory Lives On
Hi, I happened upon you website at work tonight.. I was at the last
day of the US festival.. and boy did these pictures bring back some
great old memories.. I tried to remember the names of who I went with
and they were aquaintances and I dont even remember.. I worked with
some of the people and we went in a van. and thats about all I remember
about who i went with..
But the concert I do remember more about.. I saw this guy with a mohawk
hairdo and he was holding up a sign of cardboard with lsd written on
it.. that was the times I guess.
I
was younger and life was just a open canvas that I was writing on
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I remember Stevie Nicks and David Bowie.. it was cool seeing David Bowie
and all the hype since they said he had not played in seven years. and
there were people that were from England to see him..
I remember the bronze statue of John Lennon up in the front to the right
of the stage, and Steve Wozniac saying something about his death. I
think Steve's wife was there either very pregnant or she just had a
baby..
I remember something about that I remember there was a rumor that afterward
there was a man found in a sleeping bag that had died or something..
I wonder if that we true.
I really had a fun time at the US festival.. it seems so long ago now..
but I was younger and life was just a open canvas that I was writing
on.. I loved all those fun times we had.. I hoped you enjoyed me reflecting
about the US festival.. thanks for the pictures and bringing back the
old memories from when I was a bit skinnyer and had a little more hair..
see ya Steve...
Steve Woods
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