Opening Acts Who Made It Big

[Texbudman]

The Eagles opened for Linda Ronstandt, one time. She said screw that $hIt get me someone different these guys are too good.

They were her backing band. She was instrumental in them getting their start

 

[cyclones500]

I'm pretty sure BoDeans played at People's 20/25 years ago.

I saw BoDeans only once: First Avenue in Minneapolis, ca. 1990.

 

[cyclones500]

Two bands that opened for R.E.M., neither "hit it big," but they did achieve modest success for several years.

10,000 Maniacs, CY Stephens, November 1985
Camper Van Beethoven*, Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City, October 1986
* This show inspired me to explore CVB catalog, group remains one of my favorites from that period.

 

[Jim GBA]

1974 Vets Auditorium Styx opened for Doobie Brothers

I was at that concert as well. Styx opened with Lady if I remember correctly. Maybe this has been covered but Jimi Hendrix opened for the Monkees for a show or two. In 1982 the Go-GOs opened for the Police and while on tour the Go-Gos album was outselling the Police.

 

[cyclones500]

I didn't see any of these, of course, but within the general theme:

Led Zeppelin opened for Vanilla Fudge
Queen opened for Mott the Hoople
Prince opened for The Rolling Stones

 

[Porkchop]

Miranda Lambert opened for George Strait

 

[Buster28]

The Beatles opened for Brenda Lee in Germany in 1962. I think I remember hearing they were fairly big for a while. Nice to know Paul McCartney had a decent gig before Wings.

 

[mapnerd]

Not sure what qualifies as “big”, but saw No Doubt open for Bush in ‘96 at Hilton.

Goo Goo Dolls were part of this too right? Kicking myself for not seeing this one.

 

[jcisuclones]

Post Malone opened for Justin Bieber in Des Moines about 10 years ago.

Also saw Tom Petty play his last show in Des Moines right before he passed and had some young up and comer guitarist open for him named Joe Walsh.

 

[Texbudman]

Post Malone opened for Justin Bieber in Des Moines about 10 years ago.

Also saw Tom Petty play his last show in Des Moines right before he passed and had some young up and comer guitarist open for him named Joe Walsh.

Saw the same Petty concert in Dallas. Both were great

 

[AlaCyclone]

Post Malone opened for Justin Bieber in Des Moines about 10 years ago.

Also saw Tom Petty play his last show in Des Moines right before he passed and had some young up and comer guitarist open for him named Joe Walsh.

Saw them both too but earlier in their careers and separately.

I saw the Eagles (w / Joe Walsh) on the Long Run Tour in 1980 @ Birmingham.

I saw Tom Petty on the 1981 Hard Promises Tour twice: @ Boston Garden and @ Lakeland, Fla.

The good old days!

 

[JayV]

Saw Volbeat open for Nightwish at Pop's in East St. Louis. A few years later Volbeat was football team entrance music at Jack Trice.

Saw Sabaton open for Nightwish in Des Moines.

 

[Cyvilian]

Was in row 6 or so on the floor in Hilton for that. Remember it vividly thinking this guy is freaking awesome. Definitely top two of any concerts I've been to. 38 Special was spectacular with at the time what seemed like a 30 man orchestra. Good Times Indeed

Was at this Bon Jovi/.38 Special concert. IIRC, Bon Jovi had just been told their record went #1. They were pretty fired up.

 

[besserheimerphat]

The Wallflowers opened for Blues Traveler at CY, once upon a time. And I still love both of them.

I was at this concert as a high school kid.

 

[Pitt_Clone]

Saw Coldplay open for James in 2000. Had no idea who they were, but it was the only time I've ever seen an opening act beg the crowd to cheer louder so they could come back out for an encore. Everyone started yelling at them to get off the stage lol.

 

[cytor]

Saw Bon Jovi get booed off the stage warming up for the Scorpions.

 

[ISUnorske]

Saw Dierks Bentley open for Cross Canadian Ragweed at the Surf Ballroom a LONG time ago.

 

[Cydar]

AC/DC opening for Cheap Trick in Omaha.
Def Leppard - Triple bill with The Scorpions and headliner Ted Nugent
Def Leppard - Billy Squier as the headliner

 

[drlove]

Two bands that opened for R.E.M., neither "hit it big," but they did achieve modest success for several years.

10,000 Maniacs, CY Stephens, November 1985
Camper Van Beethoven*, Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City, October 1986
* This show inspired me to explore CVB catalog, group remains one of my favorites from that period.

I was at the CVB show.
Other REM openers I was lucky to see , Wilco and The National

 

[BigTurk]

It was probably 1991 and I went to see Skid Row at the Dubuque Five Flags Center. The opener was Pantera. I was not prepared for Pantera.