AlBrooks.com: Rock Concerts--The Ultimate Live Performance Experience

The history of live rock concerts dates back to the 1950’s and the birth of “rock and roll,” a coin termed by disk jockey and concert promoter Alan Freed.

In 1969, 500,000 people attended what many still consider the ultimate rock concert, the Woodstock Festival. The event took place over a three day period and featured 32 musical acts including Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, The Incredible String Band, Santana, Janis Joplin, The Who, Sly & the Family Stone, Joe Cocker, the Band, Canned Heat, The Grateful Dead, and Jimi Hendrix.

Rock concerts have grown in size and spectacle ever since. Some of the largest concerts ever held include:

- Steve Wozniak’s 1983 US Festival (670,000 people) featuring Flock of Seagulls, Willie Nelson, Motley Crue, Hank Williams Jr., Wall of Voodoo, Scorpions, INXS, U2, Stevie Nicks, Van Halen, David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Triumph, and Quiet Riot; - Summer Jam 1973 at Watkins Glen (600,132 people) with the Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers and The Band. - Rod Stewart’s 1994 Copacabana Beach concert, which attracted over 3.5 million people and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as largest free rock concert of all time.

Rock shows have become the ultimate live concert events, with riveting musical performances augmented by a variety of lighting, sound and visual special effects. Anything goes when it comes to creating a rock extravaganza, including elaborate costuming, dynamic presentation, pyrotechnics, inflatables, smoke effects and big-screen videos.

But the fun doesn’t stop on stage. When it comes to rock concerts, audience engagement and participation is de rigueur. Be prepared for fans shouting, screaming and whistling during songs, as well as, in some cases, head banging, slam dancing, moshing, stage diving and crowd surfing.

Last year, rock’s biggest touring acts were U2’s 360º tour with a "spaceship-on-four-legs" stage design, nicknamed "the Claw"; AC/DC’s Black Ice World tour, which won Pollstar’s "Major Tour of the Year" award, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band’s Working on a Dream tour with an audience participation segment in which fans held up signs requesting Springsteen oldies that the band would then play; Madonna’s "rock driven dancetastic journey" Sticky Sweet tour; and The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour, a “pop extravaganza” with a main stage and two satellite stages designed to look a three-ring circus.

Rock concerts have become a total sight and sound experience designed to keep fans entertained from start to finish, and this year’s tours are no exception. Premium tickets and seating are still available for all current tours, including Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga, Green Day and Santana. Don’t miss out on seeing these live performances and musical history in the making.

Jeff Brooks is President of Al Brooks Tickets (http://www.albrooks.com), located in the Wilshire Grand Hotel at 900 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 104, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Al Brooks Tickets provides tickets for venues throughout the US and internationally. For more information, please access our website at http://www.albrooks.com