Opening Acts Who Made It Big

Saw the BoDeans open for U2 in Iowa City in 1987...both were incredible!
The BoDeans were a band that should have made it bigger than they did. I saw them last year at a small venue in Evanston, IL playing in front of maybe 100 people. They were still awesome.

I also saw Big Audio Dynamite II open for U2 at Camp Randall.
 
  • Like
  • Winner
Reactions: cayin and cyfanatic
In 1988 Gun N Roses opened up for Aerosmith at Hilton. About 3 weeks after the show Sweet Child of Mine was climbing the charts.
Was there & they...were not good live. Hadn't hit the big time yet & I was not familiar with the whole album yet, but they just were not good live.
Went with others who were there more for Aerosmith, which I was not. This was their comeback/reboot, and they wiped the floor of Hilton. It was Major League vs. Double-A, imo
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Agree
Reactions: cayin and cytor
Ac/dc opened in Omaha for Cheap Trick. The crowd was still chanting for them 3 songs into Cheap Tricks set.
 
Back in 2001 I saw a local band, Bowling For Soup play at a bar called The Beer Garden in Wichita Falls Texas. My civilian instructor at my Tech school told us that his grandsons band was playing there and that we should go check them out. A couple years later those goofy bastards took off.
My wife was in HS band with their drummer
 
Not opening act but a cool story nonetheless that I wanted to share.

My MIL went to Iowa late 60s early 70s (not sure of exact dates). A young folk singer was booked to play the basement of her all female dorm. She went and she said there were maybe 10 people there total. She sat on one end of a couch and the singer was on the the other end. That singer was John Denver. A few weeks later he exploded in popularity
 
The BoDeans were a band that should have made it bigger than they did. I saw them last year at a small venue in Evanston, IL playing in front of maybe 100 people. They were still awesome.

I also saw Big Audio Dynamite II open for U2 at Camp Randall.
No Sammy though...that partnership will never be put back together! And in my opinion...the BoDeans are Sammy AND Kurt...one guy can't do it alone...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Raymeus
Not opening act but a cool story nonetheless that I wanted to share.

My MIL went to Iowa late 60s early 70s (not sure of exact dates). A young folk singer was booked to play the basement of her all female dorm. She went and she said there were maybe 10 people there total. She sat on one end of a couch and the singer was on the the other end. That singer was John Denver. A few weeks later he exploded in popularity
1776083292812.png
 
  • Haha
Reactions: BCClone and BigTurk
I saw Foreigner open for the Doobie Brothers in the spring of 1977 at the old Iowa Field House. At the time Foreigner only had the one hit, Cold As Ice.
 
It's wild how fast some of them blow up. I remember seeing a few openers at small club shows that ended up headlining arenas a couple of years later.
 
Was there & they...were not good live. Hadn't hit the big time yet & I was not familiar with the whole album yet, but they just were not good live.
Went with others who were there more for Aerosmith, which I was not. This was their comeback/reboot, and they wiped the floor of Hilton. It was Major League vs. Double-A, imo
Sweet child was already a hit when they played at Hilton. More in response to who you responded to and not you.
 
In what has to be one of the most bizarre pairings (back in the 70s bands would jump on and off tours to get constant exposure). Anyway, this is true: 1 night Rush warmed up for Sha Na Na. That must have been 1 very weird night for those in attendance.
 
In what has to be one of the most bizarre pairings (back in the 70s bands would jump on and off tours to get constant exposure). Anyway, this is true: 1 night Rush warmed up for Sha Na Na. That must have been 1 very weird night for those in attendance.
Went to U2 in Omaha in 2005 when Kanye West opened for them. Weirdest pairing I ever witnessed live
 
Sturgill Simpson opened for Dwight Yoakam at the Surf back in 2013. My 1st introduction to him (now he is my favorite musician). That was a pretty badass night.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cytasticlone
Not sure what qualifies as “big”, but saw No Doubt open for Bush in ‘96 at Hilton.
I worked that show and No Doubt ate backstage with all the technical crew for Lunch. They had MTV playing and "I'm Just Girl" video came on MTV. I was watching that and then looked over at Gwen, did a double take. She said yes, that is us. The band sounded great that night, Gwen, not so much. I think she finally learned to sing and not scream into the microphone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: drlove
Saw Dokken open for KISS in early 80s. They blew KISS off the stage.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: BigTurk

Help Support Us

Become a patron