Look for it to be in the '70s all summer

by Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News, February 22, 2003

Maybe it's appropriate that the two hot sellout concerts of the year so far are the Rolling Stones and Phish. Both have a '70s vibe, the Stones having helped define the decade and Phish emulating it.

It's appropriate because we're looking at a back-to-the-'70s summer season already. For one thing, stadium tours are back. We'll get two, possibly three, this summer.

And check out who's taking to the road: The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Kiss/Aerosmith, Santana, ZZ Top/Foreigner, Journey/Styx, Jimmy Buffett, AC/DC, Boston, Neil Young, The (formerly Grateful) Dead, James Taylor and more.

Two of the biggest bands of the '70s are also the subjects of reunion rumors.

Word is rampant that The Police will re-form for a handful of summer stadium dates, with No Doubt opening the shows - rampant on the Internet, anyway. According to highly placed industry insiders, talk of a Police reunion died a couple of months ago, and the only planned reunion at the moment is three songs at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductions ceremony in March. Things could change, of course. Denver is one of only a dozen or so cities that would get a Police show (at Invesco Field) if it were to happen, but it's looking unlikely.

Rumors of a Led Zeppelin reunion for a summer tour have been hot and cold for months - hot as the band got hot on it, cold as the band grew cold. Sources say it's down to the moment of truth - a huge guarantee was recently extended to the band. Expect a decision soon, but the tour could be pushed back to 2004. A live DVD and CD is still on track for a spring release, regardless.

Most if not all of those acts will come through the Denver market, but we're also going to see some significant changes closer to home.

CityLights Pavilion, opened last year heavy on middle-of-the-road acts such as Barry Manilow, Frankie Valli, Kenny Rogers and Engelbert Humperdinck, will reportedly shift its focus this year, with a plan to bring in more urban artists, hip-hop and harder rock acts.

Clear Channel Vice President Chuck Morris declined to talk about what specifically would be booked into the 5,500-seat amphitheater on the grounds of the Pepsi Center except to say, "It's going to be a potpourri of musical acts - music that appeals to everyone."

Lollapalooza is back, with Jane's Addiction headlining a slate that includes Audioslave, Incubus, Queens of the Stone Age and Jurassic 5; a Denver date is scheduled.

Rumors include a reunited Black Sabbath on Ozzfest and Rob Halford's fronting Judas Priest yet again. But at the moment, Ozzfest looks to be skipping the Denver market.

Bruce Springsteen is still scheduled to come back across the country, and he has reportedly been booked for Invesco.

Fleetwood Mac's tour starts after the band's April 15 Say You Will record release; watch for a July date at the Pepsi Center. Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake are hitting arenas together; tickets went on sale Friday for their June 23 Pepsi Center show. John Mayer reportedly will tour with Counting Crows. matchbox twenty is finally mounting a big tour. R.E.M. has said it's going out. Radiohead is planning to tour.

Shows already announced for the Denver market include Santana, Norah Jones, Coldplay, Jimmy Buffett (on sale Monday), Pearl Jam and James Taylor. Pete Yorn is due at the Fillmore on April 27. Widespread Panic will do three nights at Red Rocks starting June 27. The Dixie Chicks are looking at summer dates at the Pepsi Center; Shania Twain will be there in the fall.

The Eagles' studio album isn't finished, but they're taking the road anyway for some summer/fall dates. The bad news for fans: Insiders say the sound problems at Invesco Field in 2001 have left such a bad taste in the band's mouth that we may get skipped. Eagles reps deny that, saying this part of the country simply isn't in the routing.

The Beastie Boys could be back; they've agreed to headline the Coachella Festival in California. Peter Gabriel may be back with his amazing show - this time at reduced prices.

Overall, it shouldn't cost as much as last year. One of the big topics two weeks ago at the Pollstar Awards in Los Angeles was war, terrorism and keeping prices down. Watch for Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Zeppelin and select others to be able to command top prices, but watch for other acts to try to keep a lid on things.

Mountain West Music 2003