Memory:Paul Ostby
INFO:
Aug. 28, 1972 Minneapolis, Minnesota
This show was at the Minneapolis Armory. There was no show at the St. Paul Civic Center as it didn't exist until Jan. 1, 1973!
My story:
I was 14 years old, which was much different then. We were all pretty innocent. I knew a couple Black Sabbath songs and us cool guys wanted to go see them. So, my mom drove us there in the station wagon. She had a bit of difficulty finding the place but we finally arrived (albeit, late). It was freak-hippie-dom at its "purest" peak. All these huge 17-24 year olds with a lot of hair and big coats (in August, remember?).
It took us a while to get through the crowd and we had no idea where are seats were. It was dark in the audience, there was already a band (G.G) playing and everybody was smoking pot everywhere (I miss that at concerts). A couple more songs and the lights came on. I was enthralled by this world I did not know. I remember looking at the stage wishing I could be there, leading this crowd or at least belonging to it.
We finally found our seats and the lights go out, the crowd roars. The guy sitting next to me handed me a big, unlit, steel head-shop chamber pipe jammed full with Colombian import ('lumbo). I was of no experience so he waved it on down the line. Sabbath was blisteringly LOUD. About 15 minutes later, the guy tapped me on the shoulder. Another unlit pipefull. We repeated this routine for the next 2 hours.
I didn't know but one song in the whole show. It was a blur then and it still is (but I vividly remember the blur). How I wish I could go back to that date! I didn't know what I was seeing.
I later saw G.G. on Don Kirschner's In Concert with Grand Funk. I didn't know the songs, but I remember seeing them!
FUN FACTS
The Minneapolis Armory, from the late 1930s through 1970s, was used for civic events, including trade shows, political conventions, concerts and sporting events. After World War II and until 1959, it was the site for the Golden Gloves boxing tournament, professional wrestling and Lakers' professional basketball games (the Lakers started in Minneapolis (which means "City of Lakes").