Goodbye Irvine Meadows Amphitheater "When The Music's Over"

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Michael Hepworth

ANOTHER GREAT MUSIC LOSS…

Goodbye Irvine Meadows Amphitheater

By Peter Peterson

Irvine Meadows Amphitheater – Irvine CA (Perfect Music Today/4/1/16—–We’ve lost another music great this year along with David Bowie, Glenn Frey and Keith Emerson. Yes, the rumor is true; this will be Irvine Meadows Amphitheater last season. Irvine Meadows Amphitheater will close its doors December 31, 2016.

Irvine Meadows Amphitheater has been an icon in Irvine for over 30 years and it is true, the Irvine Company will NOT renew the lease and this WILL be the last Summer you will be able to see live music under the stars.

The Irvine Amphitheater was built in 1980 by the Irvine Company and it opened its first show on August 21, 1981 with the Charlie Daniels Band. The grand opening celebration was held on September 11, 1981 with Kenny Rogers. This venue brings back memories for most of us living in Orange County. I know I’ve been going to this place for over 30 years and I could tell you so many stories, from sneaking in through the Rhino pit to having to give up my shoes to prevent Irvine PD detention! Great story! No matter what your story may be, remember and embrace it because next year all memories will be gone. It will be sad to see Irvine Meadows Amphitheater replaced by apartments and I hope that the Irvine Company has plans to rebuild another amphitheater, perhaps in the Great Park or some other place in the Irvine Companies master plan for OC. Otherwise, outdoor music lovers will be stuck going to the Pacific Amphitheater, located in Costa Mesa. Not that it’s a bad venue, but it is smaller compared to Irvine Meadows. On the plus side, parking is way better!

I am fortunate to be a part of Irvine Meadows Amphitheater’s last year of history. The venue opened its first season with The Charlie Danial’s Band and on its final season Flogging Molly and Fall Out Boy have started the beginning of the end. Both bands put on a great show. Flogging Molly played this St. Patty’s Day. They have a unique fan following being an American Celtic band. There were a lot of happy hipsters, beards, and very creative skin art. Not to mention the beer consumption! It’s always great to see the progression of alcohol and music. Watching this can be worth the price of the ticket!

Fall Out Boy played last Saturday 03/26/16 playing top hits like “Dance Dance” “Sugar were going down” and “I don’t care”. They filled the night with music, pyrotechnics and a whole lot of confetti! Surprisingly, the crowd consisted of mostly 20 and under girls and their parents. It was very interesting to see the difference in crowds with each band. The Fall Out Boy crowd mom’s got a little tipsy compared to the Flogging Molly crowd! So glad to see moms are still rocking!

Again, it will be sad to see Irvine Meadows Amphitheater leave. It has been a hotspot of live music for over 30 years. Irvine Meadows Amphitheater has been popular for hosting music festivals, live bands and hosting the “Pacific Symphony Orchestra” as well as the KROQ “Weenie Roast”. Irvine Meadows Amphitheater has also hosted such historic shows as Michael Jackson on his 1988 “Bad” tour, Chris Brown’s “Fame” tour and the Smiths 1986 “The Queen is dead” tour. The list of performers also includes top-selling bands like Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews, Jimmy Buffett and Coldplay. The list can go on and on about the amount of talent that is passed through this amphitheater.

Live Nation (formally SFX entertainment) purchased the lease to the amphitheater in 1998 and on April 24, 2001 it was renamed Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. The seven year sponsorship deal between Verizon and SFX entertainment, then owner, was a multi-million-dollar contract. Verizon renewed the contract for another seven years extending it to 2014. Verizon did not opt to renew a second time and the name reverted to its original “Irvine Meadows Amphitheater” in 2015.

I guess this venue has come full circle. It started out as Irvine Meadows Amphitheater and it will spend its final year as Irvine Meadows Amphitheater, such a grand way for a huge OC icon to go out. Over the summer there’s going to be over 30 shows, 30 plus bands and special events. If you want to be a part of history, show up and save your ticket stub as this will be the last opportunity. I will truly miss you Irvine Meadows, I’ve had a lot of memories and I’m sure Orange County has a lot of memories as well. Until next time, ROCK ON!

Journey performs May 12, 2016 at 7am. Get your historic tickets though LIVE NATION.com!