Mike Johansen
From Clairemont (Electronics Tech)
It was Wall of Voodoo opening up for Oingo Boingo. This was at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara. It was an old opera house at one time. They have these lights that look like tiny stars in the ceiling. It’s like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Wall of Voodoo started with their cover of “Ring of Fire.” I was only 14 and didn’t even know the original version of that song. They played “Factory,” which sounded great.
Philippe Cesson
From San Diego (President of French-American Chamber of Commerce)
My first concert was U2. That was in Nice, France. It was in the early ’80s. It was a venue called Parc West, and they would bring some big-name bands there in the summer. Pink Floyd played there, Madonna, a lot of artists. When I saw U2, I was 16.
Indriyas McDowell
From Ocean Beach (Artist)
I am almost embarrassed to say. It was Whitney Houston, up in Oakland at the Coliseum. It was on a date. Oh wait…in high school, at our grad night at Disneyland. That was my first. We saw Samantha Fox and New Kids on the Block. I didn’t know much about music. I was focused on my sports and things. And back then, your opinions have a lot to do with what others like. The guys all thought Samantha was hot, so we enjoyed the show.
Ali Spencer
From South Park (Humane Society)
The first concert I went to wasn’t for fun. My mom and her hippie friends dragged me to an Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger concert. That was in Michigan. The first one I went to on my own was Bryan Adams. My friend just got her driver’s license. I wasn’t much of a fan. He’s a Canadian weenie, and we lived half an hour from Canada. Actually, he still is a weenie.
Kristi Sindelar
From Mira Mesa (Waitress)
It was a Santana concert at the Music Theatre in Michigan. I was 12 years old at the time, and my babysitter took me. I’m sure most kids don’t get to go to concerts when they have a babysitter watching them. Our seats were great. At that time, I didn’t know any of the songs.
Sally Hoffman
From Georgia (Hotel Industry)
It was Billy Joel, around 1985, at the Sports Arena in San Diego. Well, it was called that then. And I’m going to see him again next month. I knew most of his songs, since I was 16 and he was popular then. It was on a date with my future husband. Our first dance wasn’t to one of his songs. I’m not sure if we played any Billy Joel at the wedding.