Memory:Mark Korolevich

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This fan memory was written by Mark Korolevich.

I was looking at all of the concert dates and noticed that the entry for July 11, 1976 did not have a venue. Well, I believe that it was at The Bijou (long since gone.) I was a roadie for the opening band, Lightning, featuring Rocky Athas on guitar (Rocky turned me on to GG). Rocky went on to play a stint with Black Oak Arkansas. Recently he has cut a CD with Buddy Miles and plays some dates with him on occasion here in Dallas. He has recently signed with Armadillo records in Dorset, UK, and has done some concerts in England and Europe. Check out his site, he's still rockin'. www.rockyathas.com

I remember that was an amazing night. The club was packed tighter than I had ever seen it (we played there often.) It was so crowded that when I went out to the truck to get a piece of equipment they wouldn't let me back in!!! While I was out there I noticed that the line to get in, after the club was full, started at the front door and was about three blocks long!!! I had to sneak in the back way to get the equipment on stage. When it was time for Lightning to go on the Fire Marshal would not let them start because there were too many people in the club. They had to remove 45 very unhappy people.

Lightning played their usual set and then the Giant took the stage. I was mesmerized! I did not expect them to sound as good on stage as they did on record, but they did! I’m sure that I looked really stupid standing there with my mouth open and eyes glazed. They were incredible. That will always remain one of my fondest memories.