The Concert that Got Away

[Chris]

Ok lets hear the reasons you could not go to a 1968- 1970 - 1971 - 1974 or 1976 Cat Concert... better known as the Concert that got away !! Were you working, sold out or just plain to young, or better yet not even born.

I bet we could write a book on that faithful night the cat concert got away... or maybe we (as cat fans) would considered it more along the line of the Great Horror Story.

[Aisha]

I missed out...WAAAHHHHHHH You see, I was one of those obedient teenagers that every mother dreamed of. Yes, if mom said no I didn't persue it any further. Maybe it was because I was so easygoing or maybe it was because I didn't want to pick up my teeth from the floor. But one day when I was 15 Cat came to an area about 30 miles from my home. I asked my mother, "Can I go see Cat Stevens? He is at the Collessium." Mother's answer was, "No and I don't want to hear another word about it." Now, almost thirty years later I can honestly regret not obeying Momma because I missed my opportunity to see the CATMAN live..... OH THE AGONY AND GRIEF.....

Love,
A'isha

[ocaritas]

As for me, he never came near to Pittsburgh!!! And my mom would have never let me journey to Cleveland to see him there either! I too am so disappointed that I never was able to see him in concert!!!

We need to have ourselves a big pity party!!!

Sue

[70sCat]

Just plain too young I guess...I was only 10 in 1975 and wasn't really into Cat Stevens at that time... {{ducks!}}

peace and love,
Sakinah Susan

[Chris]

Ok let me think here... in 1972 I wanted to go to see him in concert. But I had just been released after an operation, so there was no way I would have been able to go. In 1974 it sold out as soon as the tickets were put on the market. I thought about driving 2 hours up to cleveland to see if we could scalp any tickets, but on part time dairy queen job, I didn't have the money. So I ended up working instead.

Funny, how you remember things.. I had heard about Cat complaining about the flashing of the cameras at the concert and asked the crowd to please not flash them, he was booed or something like that. I remember mentioning something to my father about it.. and his reply was.. " See now aren't you glad you didn't go??"

[Vivian]

[glow=red,2,300]DARN IT, A'isha!!![/glow]Why did you and I have to be such obedient teenagers!?!? Yes, I was one of the unlucky ones who was TOO YOUNG to take myself, and Mom and Dad wouldn't take me! And since I didn't have friends in those days who shared my passion for Cat, I couldn't go!! Of course, you all know by now, I was just

DEVISTATED!!

Peace,Vivian

[Girlhowdy233]

I had just begun my ATTACK on my folks, to get their permission to go all the way to Anaheim to see Cat at The Anaheim Convention Center !

Unfortunately, Cat had that accident by the hotel pool in which he DEEPLY cut a finger, and cancelled the show!

Hugs,

Shirley

[Vivian]

If I had a chance to go back in time, and do it all over again, this time, I WOULD NOT be such an obedient teenager! I would be at that concert, [glow=red,2,300]NO MATTER WHAT I HAD TO DO!!!![/glow] hippie flower wiggle

Peace,Vivian

[Satire]

oh....lol! this seems like the "Valley of Laments" hahahahahaha....well what can I tell you? I WASN'T EVEN BORN WHEN HIS FIRST CHILD WAS!!!!......I'm from the '82 generation....lol

I was even too young when I asked my mom to go to a Guns and Roses concert!!!!

ah, well....."Celebrate we will! 'cause life is short but sweet for certain!"

[cristalina]

I've been lucky enough to go to 5 concerts, the first was in 1971 or 1972 at the Belfry Hotel, Curdworth (UK) It was great, Cat was just making his come back after being ill. There was no stage, he just had a stool and his guitar and I was so close I could have reached out and touched him (I never did, aargh!) He sang beautifully, I never realised how popular he'd become (never knew any other fans back then) it was only a small venue. It was like a dream come true for me, I'd already been a fan since Matthew and Son. I can't remember how I got there, but I do remember being worried about the time when I left in the early hours of the morning and I started the long walk home! Only about 5 miles but I was a young teenager, not dressed for walking country lanes at night, I even accepted a lift from a stranger! My mom would have killed me if she knew, I was in trouble when I got in at about 4am, we had no phone. I too was an obediant kid, but miss a concert that was so close? I had to go and I'm glad I did, it was great and I never managed to get so close to Cat again.

[Vivian]

WOW, Cristilaina, that sounds wonderful! How lucky you were to be able to be so close to Cat! As a young girl, I would have done ANYTHING for that to happen, but alas, that wasn't meant to me! After Cat became Yusuf, and left the business in 1979, I was heartbroken, because I thought I would never have a chance to see my hero! Little did I know that some thirty years later, my dream would come true! As you can see from the picture at your left, I met Yusuf-not once, but twice! And let me say, it is an experience of a lifetime! He is so kind and sweet, and very appreciative of his Cat fans!

Peace,Vivian

[70sCat]

Cristalina I loved your story! How sweet You are very lucky to have such neat memories!

peace and love,
Sakinah

[cristalina]

Hi Vivian,
I read your story somewhere on your meeting with Yusuf, I'm green with envy! If I had the chance again I'd definately talk to him, I was too young and rather shy back then Still it was great and a good memory

[Vivian]

We would love to hear about your other times as well, Cristilina! Now, he did come to Miami, in 1973, but I was too young to take myself, and my parents wouldn't take me! No, I didn't have any friends who liked Cat either! Yes, I was left heart broken!

Peace,Vivian

[Chris]

Wow Christalina, 5 concerts!! Iwould have given any thing to be able to attend a concert like the one you mentioned in 1971. I did attend a 1976 concert.. But it was so full and in a mammoth auditorium, nothing like the one you announced. What a way to see Cat in concert.. WOW, I am so jealous!!

[Jancat]

cristalina, the performance you saw sounds like the best of any venue! When it's a small group, it just seems more intimate, and it really becomes a matter of the singer and the listener being woven together by the music in that small space.

You were soooo lucky... But then, I envy anyone who got to see him "in the day"! Back then, I was definitely old enough to go, but going to Cleveland was tantamount to going to the moon in those days! Now that distance seems like nothing!

Anyway, I love hearing about those of you who DID get to see and hear him in his heyday. I smile every time I read someone's account of a concert...

[Aisha]

Wow, Cristalina...you are sooo lucky. Thank you for letting us relive it through you. Some of us didn't get to see him.

Now, if I had been so close to Cat I don't know if I could have not reached out to touch him....

Love,
A'isha

[cristalina]

Hi there,

I know I can't believe it myself, that I was so close, of course us English are so reserved you know. There was no seating we just all stood round while Cat sang, we were a very attentive audience. Cat didn't speak much between songs, he seemed maybe a bit nervous or shy, but this most certainly didn't affect the performance. I recalled this rather than the other 4 concerts because the sheer simplicity made it so special and of course it can never be the same again.
The second concert I was shocked, I his 'true fan' was right at the back, Cat was a tiny speck on the stage and the sound system wasn't too good. But still, I was there, he was there, so I was thrilled. After this I had to make sure I got better seats, so joined the Fantasy Ring, the next 2 concerts I was near the front, both were fantastic, although Cat held things up at one because things weren't quite right and he wanted everything perfect! Just being there was good enough for me . He played alot of piano, Miles from Nowhere was one ,it was great.
The last concert was in London, Child for a Day, raising money for Unicef. I persuaded a friend to come with me(she didn't even like Cat) but Gary Numan was on too . I drove to London in thick fog, having trouble with my contact lenses, but I got us there. Cat was then known as Yusuf and was wearing white robes (do you call them robes?) There were several other artists on, but alot of us were waiting for Cat, he didn't let us down, it was a brilliant night, all the more poignant because we knew this was the last concert. Cat finished the night by singing a duet with David Essex, they sang Child fo a Day. I don't even recall driving home!

[Vivian]

WOW, that sounds so wonderful, Cristilina! It is almost like I was there also! For me, my closest concert experience was when I stayed up one night in 1973 to watch the ABC in concert special! I was 13 years old, amd madly in love with Cat! I was crying my eyes out as I sat glued to my TV screen! If only I could have been five years older when he came through Miami that same year, I would have been old enough to take myself!

And you were at the Year of the Child concert! WOW, I can bet that day was willed with a combination of joy and sadness! Joy at the fact of seeing Cat for his final performance, and sadness because it WAS his last performance! Every time I watch that video, I have tears in my eyes! Thanks so much for sharing that with us!

Peace,Vivian

[Jancat]

cristalina, that was a lovely story - thanks for the details!

[Vivian]

You know, it took thirty years, but my dream finally came true! Meeting Yusuf in May of 2000 and again in Feb of 2001 were definately dreams come true! He is such an incredible sweetheart!

Peace,Vivian

[Aisha]

OH WOW CRISTALINA..YOU GOT TO SEE HIS LAST PERFORMANCE...REAL HISTORY THERE. TOTAL WOW!!!

And alot of envy too.

Love,
A'isha

[bluegirl]

Cristalina, not many of us Cat-fans can say we saw him from such a small begining ( The Belfry Hotel, no stage!) to his final show at Wembley !! I really enjoy hearing stories like this, thanks.

[cristalina]

Hi
glad you all enjoyed my memories, I enjoyed recounting those days. I'm a bit surprised I don't remember more details, age must be catching up on me

Cristalina

[SuperTrouper]

How about... I wasn't born.

[cristalina]

Thanks SuperTrouper, now I feel really old!!
Cristalina

[boneheadedwoman]

February 3rd, 1976, The Inglewood Forum (Los Angeles). OMG
I will never forget that night as long as I live. I still don't know how I managed to focus during school that day (before the concert). Some of my friends had been to opening night on the 2nd, and they told me how great it was. My best friend and I were only 16, and neither of us had parents who would just give us the car keys for an evening (I don't blame them). But we got tickets, and my dad drove us all the way there, waited while we saw the concert, and then drove all the way back home! Greater love hath no man........
We didn't have great seats, but it was a wonderful experience, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Especially since it turned out to be my last opportunity to see him. I remember thinking that he was trying so hard to find Truth, or Happiness, or something that had, so far, eluded him, that he wouldn't stay in the business for much longer.

[Chris]

boneheadedwoman said:

February 3rd, 1976, The Inglewood Forum (Los Angeles). OMG
I will never forget that night as long as I live.

Hello BHW,

I loved your story, It's always nice hearing the stories and length people go to try to see Cat.

Since it was the LA Concert in 1976 you attended. I thought you would be interested in knowing that the '2002 Calendar Cover' photograph, which is in the Calendar/ Timeline section of Majicat, was taken at a Los Angelos concert in 1976. Since there were two concerts in L.A. in 1976, you have a 50% chance it was taken at the concert you attended. Calendar Cover

[boneheadedwoman]

Hi Christine!
Thanks! I hadn't seen the calendar section yet. Great picture. But I'm afraid I can't tell if it was taken on the 3rd or not!
Jane
(BHW)

[cristalina]

I've been searching through my loft recently for all my old Cat stuff and I've just found the ticket to my first ever Cat Concert. It was 5th September 1970, I described the concert earlier in this thread and had thought it was in 1971/1972. The entrance ticket was it fact a luncheon voucher! Can't remember what it cost though.