Memories

From: Douglas Berry
My main memory of the 1983 US Festival was how I got my tickets.

I was a junior in high school, and in my Public Speaking class we had to bring in someone to interview. A classmate had a parent who was evidently one of the higher ups at Apple, and Woz came in to speak to us. He wound up sitting right behind me. I mentioned that I would have loved to have gone to last year's event, but couldn't afford the tickets.

He casually said "See me after class, I'll give you some for this year." On my way out, a friend who had the next period with me asked where I was going. When I told him, he laughed.

We get out to the parking lot, Woz opens his trunk and there are *cases* of tickets. He peels off two sets for me and my girlfriend. I mention that neither of us have our DL's yet, so he peels off another set for a friend to drive us. He then asks if we want to stick around for the country show. Sorry, Woz, but we had to get back to high school... When I walked into my next class, I looked at my doubting friend, and just fanned the tickets. I had a great time at the show, and count it among the highlights of my life. I still have my program and ticket stubs, as well as the memories.

From: "Rocco Barboni"
I have talked about this event for years. Always being the highlight of my many concerts. I was 15 and couldn't believe my mother let me go (so over-protective). My buddy and I had a blast. It was extremely hot, so hot that I got 3rd degree burns on my shoulders (oh darn, had to miss a few days of school). We were about 40ft. from the stage. Got soaked from the water hoses, got really muddy but, none of that mattered. All our favorite bands were playing. As we walked around you saw lots of drugs, women taking off their tops and people passed out on the ground. Quite the site, good thing my mother didn't know. Everything was awesome till Van Halen. I was so tired from the heat, lack of water/food it took everything to stay awake for them. Then he came out trashed. He couldn't even remember the words to any song, it seemed. Never went to see them again because of that. I still have my ticket and a KMET US 83' sticker. WHAT A SHOW! Sure wish they would do it again.

From: David Clay
My friends were driving south down the West coast on vacation and asked me if I would like to meet them in LA for the concert. I was 25 and single so I just took off work and flew out there. They picked me up and we walking up that long hill to the entrance. Like most people, we brought lawn chairs and coolers. But rather than toss all that stuff, two went back to the car and the rest of us went inside...and would see them when they came back in. It seemed plausible at the time. We soon were on our way to an altered state and wandered to the biggest led display I had ever seen. As the bands come and went, we realized the odds of us running into them in the crowd would be as likely as winning the lottery. But we looked all over all day and started getting worried. Several beer gardens later and ready to accept the fact we could not find our way back to the car and our hotel, out of the blue
here they come. We almost wept with joy since we were pretty ripped by
then. When the sun went down it got very cold if you were still wet from the water guns. We stuck it out till the Clash came out. Best i remember they soon were badmouthing us fans and Americans in general. I never saw so many people turn and bolt for the exit at one time in my life.(175,000 or so) We went into town with no reservations and slept in the most scary room I have had the pleasure of. But a shower and a few hours sleep and it was heaven. The next day we went back for a staggering lineup of talent. Some of my friends worked for Showco and Van Halen (Jimmy Putnam)so when I saw them back stage they let us in for a second. The beer was cheaper back there it seems. The whole UFO bit had us trippin'. By Sunday I was cooked, had major hay fever and was overwhelmed by the smog that rolled in each afternoon. Dont get me wrong, It was one of more magical 3 day I have had. Ironically 3 years later I went to work for Vari-Lite and have been there ever since. It has been a dream come true to work with Jim Bornhorst and for Clay Powers and Rusty Brutsche' for the last 16 years. Attending the US Festival drove me to work in concert business. If I can find some of the many fotos we took I will send them in.