Favorite Guthrie memories of fans and promoters

"The Grateful Dead were using two drum kits [in 1969] and they came with two women who were dressed alike and kinda preppy looking. They put each one at a drum kit and I realized they were two flight attendants from Northwest Airlines that they brought with them. I was standing there watching them and Jerry Garcia came up to me and said, 'Weird enough for you?' "

Suzanne Weil, who booked Guthrie concerts from 1969-'76

"The Who, June 1969, fourth-row seats, Roger Daltrey's mike seemingly right over our heads, soaring Marshall stacks, Keith Moon playing snare on some guy's head as he tries to grab Pete Townshend's destroyed Gibson at the end."

Gary Diamond, Minneapolis

At a 1971 concert, "Miles Davis played only 45 minutes and the lights went up. Carl Eller was there in his wolf coat with the other Purple People Eaters but they were too hip to ask if it was over. Nobody wanted to pick up their coats and leave in case there was a second half. So they stood around by their seats as though they knew what was going on. But nobody did. We finally went out and announced it was over, and they left."

Suzanne Weil

"The coolest beginning I ever saw for a concert was the Mahavishnu Orchestra at the Guthrie. From blackness, the lights came up to John McLaughlin slowly rocking back and forth, incense swirling around him, playing "The Inner Mounting Flame" on a double-necked Gibson SG guitar."

Alan Johnston

"In 1975, a friend and I saw Bruce Springsteen at the Guthrie, and I've never needed to see him in concert again. We were 30 feet away and we were 20 years old. It could never be that good again."

Laurie MacLeod, Minneapolis

"My college roommate and I took two dates to see Bruce and band. Ended up with front row seats, directly in front of [saxophonist] Clarence Clemons. During a brief lull toward the end of the show, I yelled, 'Rosalita!' Bruce said, 'Now how in the world did you know we were going play that?' Clarence came over and high-fived me."

James Delaney, Alexandria, Minn.

"I saw Patti Smith's concert [in 1976] after I'd met her and her band at the airport earlier that day. I remember she walked out and spit on the Guthrie stage, saying something like 'Pete Townshend played here.' "

Jay Snyder, Edina

"John Prine was playing, I think it was 1976, and he forgot the lyrics. As he continued to strum his guitar, I shouted out the words to him. He smiled and said, 'That sounds good to me.' "

Greg Morgan, Twin Cities

"I worked behind-the-scenes as 'go-fer' for promoter Dick Shapiro. My Guthrie memories include sewing a button on a shirt for the Knack and crawling in the rafters while Warren Zevon played the piano to take a photo of him from directly above. After a Melissa Manchester show [in 1977], Dick Shapiro said, 'Lani, get out your camera!' Shaking for this moment, I snapped a rare photo of Melissa with champagne and Bob Dylan in shades and scruffy.

Lani Hanson, Minneapolis

"Warren Zevon, assisted on stage using crutches, drunkenly fumbled through a couple of songs [in 1978] Someone in the audience was clearly heard: 'Are you going to play or puke?' He spun around on his piano bench and, with his back to the keys, feverishly pounded out 'Werewolves of London.' "

Jeff Olson, Minnetonka

"March 1979, six months removed from my move from England: Roxy Music with Bryan Ferry in red leather suit. And the guy who bought the spare ticket from me being Chan Poling of the Suburbs. Wow! This may not be as uncool a place as I thought!"

Gary Jarrett, Twin Cities

"In 1979, Graham Parker and the Rumour arrived at the Guthrie during the tour behind his new album 'Squeezing Out Sparks.' There were two things that occurred that night that may have been a first at the Guthrie: First, during the title song, many fans lit sparklers in the crowd, sending the security guards into a frenzy. Topping that, though, was GP's insistence during the encore of 'Hey Lord, Don't Ask Me Questions,' that the crowd not only rush the stage but actually crowd onto the hallowed ground of the Guthrie stage, surrounding him and the band onstage, which at that time was unheard of if you weren't a trained thespian!"

Dave Nevison, Champlin

"Tom Arnold, when he was opening for Roseanne Barr [in 1987], had fire in his routine that he didn't tell us about. Goldfish jumped through a fire hoop. Guthrie personnel freaked out and ran out there with a fire extinguisher. There was a big brouhaha and he was 86ed from the Guthrie."

Sue McLean, Guthrie concert booker since 1985

"In 1988, I won two tickets to see country music's alternative philosopher Jerry Jeff Walker. As we enjoyed cocktails before the concert, I was stunned to see my parents, excited as I was at the opportunity to see him live. That concert bridged our music gap."

Chris Olson

"I'll always remember Natalie Merchant of 10,000 Maniacs [in 1988] asking if we knew anyone working at Let It Be Records. Unlike stars who expect countless freebies, Natalie was determined to reimburse the person who had simply given her the money for a banana-nut muffin."

Melanie Ebert, Minnetonka

"Etta James would not go on until I paid her in cash [in 1989]. We weren't prepared for it so I had to scrounge at the Cabooze and from different friends. I needed like 5 grand or something like that. It held up the show while we were counting it in tens, fives and ones."

Promoter Sue McLean

"Tracy Chapman was opening for Gil Scott-Heron [in 1991] and she wouldn't come out of her dressing room. She didn't get a decent soundcheck and she didn't say anything about it and she just locked herself in the dressing room. So we had to do a soundcheck with the audience already coming in."

Promoter Sue McLean

"A guy would come to your dressing room and lead you to the stage with a flashlight through those infinite layers of curtains until finally you emerge in front of the crowd almost like emerging from the womb. It's all so Shakespearian, and you'll never feel so 'legitimate' in your life. Then the next night you're playing at the 400 Bar and you are taken back down a peg or two."

Kevin Bowe, Twin Cities musician who has opened two concerts at the Guthrie

"It was the first place I saw a cappella gods Rockapella in concert in October 2000. I have since seen them six more times at different venues, but the Guthrie can't be topped."

Barb Miller, Robbinsdale