10 greatest concerts in Richfield Coliseum history
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Purple Rain, Purple Rain. Photo: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns
It all began with Ol' Blue Eyes.
The intrigue: Fifty years ago on Oct. 26, 1974, Frank Sinatra headlined the first concert at Richfield Coliseum, the northeast Ohio venue that showcased a who's who of music's elite from the mid-1970s through the mid-'90s.
Flashback: Cavaliers owner Nick Mileti built the venue in Richfield, Summit County, for his NBA team, but it also became a hotbed for the golden age of arena rock.
- Along the way, Richfield Township law enforcement and zoning commissioners tried to put an end to rock shows at the Coliseum to eliminate illegal drug use.
Yes, but: The Coliseum persevered, hosting major concerts until it closed in September 1994.
We're looking back at the 10 greatest concerts in the venue's history:
10. Stevie Wonder
Date: Oct. 28, 1974
Two days after Sinatra played Richfield, Stevie Wonder performed the first "rock" concert at the venue during his 1970s run.
- Rufus with Chaka Khan opened the show.
9. The Who
Date: Dec. 9, 1975
A sellout audience of 19,000 turned out for "The Who by Numbers Tour." It featured a 25-song set, including an eight-part medley from the band's "Tommy" rock opera.
Afterward, a wild party at Swingos Celebrity Inn in Cleveland took place that saw drummer Keith Moon dressed in a British police costume handcuffing patrons and singer Roger Daltrey.
8. The Rolling Stones
Dates: Nov. 16-17, 1981
The Rolling Stones were still one of the biggest bands in the world when they performed back-to-back nights on their 1981 tour in support of "Tattoo You."
- The trek featured singer Etta James as the opener and the Stones' biggest backing band to date, with an additional saxophone player and two keyboardists.
7. Davie Bowie
Dates: June 19-20, 1990
Bowie was entering a new era on his "Sound+Vision Tour," promising to retire his back catalog in a live setting with the help of guitarist Andrian Belew and a 60-by-40-foot transparent scrim projecting images and videos.
- During the second night in Richfield, Bowie brought U2's Bono on stage for a duet of Them's "Gloria."
6. KISS
Date: Jan. 8, 1978
KISS' "Alive II Tour" saw the band deliver its most elaborate spectacle yet, with pyrotechnics, fire and smoke bombs.
- The concert occurred during a blizzard that trapped a few thousand fans and the band members inside the Coliseum overnight.
5. U2
Date: March 26, 1992
U2 had been a mainstay on local airwaves since the WMMS days of the early 1980s, but the "Zoo TV Tour" took things to the next level.
- The Richfield stop was a multimedia event featuring dozens of video screens and lighting effects, two stages and a setlist of 20 songs.
4. Prince
Dates: Dec. 5-6, 1984
Prince played back-to-back nights at the coliseum on his "Purple Rain Tour," with setlists bookended by hits like "Let's Go Crazy" and a nearly 20-minute version of "Purple Rain."
Fun fact: A few months earlier, Prince performed under a fake name at Cincinnati's Bogart's music club as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming tour.
3. Bruce Springsteen
Dates: Dec. 31, 1978-Jan. 1, 1979
The Boss concluded his legendary 1978 "Darkness Tour" with back-to-back nights on New Year's Eve and Day.
- A fan hit Springsteen in the face with a firecracker during the first night, but that didn't deter him from returning to play 31 songs the next day.
2. Michael Jackson
Dates: Oct. 10-11, 1988
The Bad Tour was the King of Pop's first solo concert tour and drew 38,000 fans over two nights at the Coliseum.
Fun fact: The Richfield concerts, which featured massive video screens and a laser show, drew sports celebrities Mike Tyson and Don King, who were living in Northeast Ohio at the time.
1. Led Zeppelin
Date: April 27, 1977
Zeppelin's performance is one of the band's most celebrated shows, thanks to a soundboard recording that became the "Destroyer" concert bootleg.
- It was the first of back-to-back nights and featured 19 songs, including two incendiary guitar solos from Jimmy Page on "Achilles Last Stand" and "No Quarter."