US Festival Guest Log

I was 23 and my friend Beaver and I were stationed at the Navy ASW base in San Diego.

My friend Jon Dus got us all tickets but me and Beaver had to work on Friday so we missed most of the first day.

I think that Oingo Bongo was playing by the time we got there.

We never did find our buddy John - TOO many people and No cell phones :-)

My best memory was when Eddie Money started singing "Give me some water" and they turned the water cannons on the crowd. Too rich. It is one of the coolest things I ever did and my last year of freedom because I got married a few months later.

Thanks SO VERY much Woz. You are my hero to this day.

Too bad they never made a movie about it- like Woodstock!

It was amazing and everyone had a great time even with the heat.

I have 1983 us tickets... if ur interested... contact me immediatly... egghead220@aol.com

Well, some of you may have heard that the Field Day Music Festival was denied the Mass Gathering Permit and was forced to move to Giants Stadium. Alot of politics involved. We had a good show despite the rain storms. Ran into someone there with an US Festival past. He is Glen Hamilton, who played drums for Pat Benatar in the early eighties and performed at the 1982 festival with her, good conversations, very cool!

Oh Man, finally got a great site, with some cool pictures. Here's my story, I drove cross country from Boston to San Diego to visit a friend of mine who lived out there. Once I arrived, he surprised me with the tickets to US83. We stayed at our friends Uncles house, who turned out to be the Bass Player from The Safaries (Wipe Out, Surfer Joe). I remember walking the roads to the festival and seeing people hanging off the roofs of the shuttles buses, and thinking to myself "Man, this is history in the making, and I'm part of it". Some of that weekend is a bit foggy, at best, but I wouldn't have changed a thing. It was the experience of a lifetime.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for me was the best rock show I'd ever witnessed that day. Any others? we should pay thanks to Howie Epstien who was on stage that night for the Heart Breakers playing bass - watching Mike and Tom just battle each other. Mr Epstien passed away this year of 2003

From G.W.Skinner At glennskinner000@hotmail.com. I was at day 2 of the 1983 US Fest. I think I actually may have made the news that day. I am disabled, in a wheelchair. I was vary close to the front of the stage, when things got a little crazy. Anyway, to make a long story short, I ended up getting tossed on stage! The first security guy I came in contact with said I was not allowed up here! I told him it was'nt my idea to be up here in the first place! I was then escorted off the stage, and ended out in back, behind. I then made a "b" line back into the consert area, and watched the rest of the show. Lost everyone I came there with, and had to hitchhike back home to Azusa Calif. Quite The experiance. I too still have my ticket stubb, and an US fest. hat. Thanks for the memories. Your reply is welcome.

(((((UsFest25)))))Make sure you have plenty of seats in your bus Mike,,because I'm sitting shot-gun with you on that ride to(((((UsFest25)))))

Hey everyone, this is great, what memories. I have loads of US Festival Stuff I'm going to get up on the site. I'm knee deep in summer projects right now, but as soon as I'm free!!!! Good things come to those who wait! And yes, I do hope to put together a 25th, and we'll do it together. Just spread the word. Summer 2007 & 2008 Mike

I attended the 83 festival (Heavy Metal Sundaay). I am going nuts trying to find my pics!When I find them I will send ya some for your site.It was such an incredible time in my life.Our high school band director and a few of us were Joe Walsh fans so we all decided to go see him on Meteal day.Well, as you know,he got moved to the next day and was replaced by Quiet Riot or Motley Crue.It was cool though. After all,Van Halen made their only 1983 appearance at the US Festival and I was there!My ears are still ringing! After I graduated from high school,I landed a gig at a radio station in Southern Cal. as a DJ. I remember getting some program records of the Us Festival for airplay but our PD did'nt want to air them.Well, I aired them anyways and then kept them. I got some heat for it but they got over it.I really wish I knew where those lps where now.The highlighted some of the best performances at the event and it was a great memento. I even got my pic in either Circus Magazine or Hit Parader. It was a crowd shot during Ozzy's set from the stage.ONE MORE WOZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Add to the below post) PS: I still have my US Fest T-shirt (no -it won't fit anymore!) - never wore it or even washed it, & kept my ticket stubs from all 3 days too. (can we start writing to the SHOWTIME network and get them to release this event to video?, or at least show it again?) ~Bill McDonough - palerider79@aol.com

A buddy of mine & I had heard about the '82 US Fest and agreed to fly out to the '83 US Fest from our home State of Connecticut. We flew to LA and spent the night in a motel, and Friday we visited Venice Beach & Westwood, then caught a bus down Route 10 to San Bernadino and hitched a ride to Devore from there. When we arrived at the park, we were astounded at how huge the crowd was already. We pitched our tent in the parking lot/camping area, then just "party-hopped" into the night. The party just got bigger by the hour and I got a bad sunburn that day. My memories of the fest include: The very friendly people of Southern California...The singer in Oingo Boingo screaming into the mike "Woodstock is DEAD!"...Lots of beautiful women...Topless women...Punk rockers...Rainbow-hued Mohawk haircuts...Metal heads...New Wavers...Squirting water bottles...Helicopters dumping water on the crowd on the metal day & Bonfires at night to keep warm...Scorpions & Judas Priest kicking ass...Joe Walsh being introduced as "the drinking man's musician"...David Lee Roth threatening some dude in the audience with "Shut up or I'm gonna come down there and F*%K you girlfriend!"...English beat, Missing Persons, & U2 were great...The video montage at the conclusion of every days performances with the Native American Man that said "Black, Brown, Yellow, Red, or White - there is no reason for us to fight!"...Video of Soviet kids dancing to some lame music at the conclusion of the first day...Not being allowed to bring in any food, drinks, or containers of any kind...Accidentaly running into a buddy of mine from Rhode Island in that huge crowd of a half-million...Endless partying!...Waking up the morning after the fest concluded and the campground looked like a cross between a DMZ and a ghost town...I went to LA with about $300 and got home with about .90 cents in my pocket...I could go on and on...We are coming up on the 20th anniversary of this event and I searched the internet hoping to see a mention of some special on TV, and found this website. I saw MTV personalities there and know they were reporting the fest on MTV. I also remember that the SHOWTIME network made a documentary of the event, so film was made! But to date nothing had been released to video (besides bootleg crap)or disc, Why? I have been to over 100 concerts & music festivals, and now at age 41, the US Fest stands out as my most memorable. I'll never forget it. I hope to see a video, DVD, or CD of the fest released some day. Bill McDonough - palerider79@aol.com

Although I was not fortunate enough to go to the 83' US Festival. Especially for the Sunday May 29th Heavy Metal Day, but I do remember vividly seeing all of the pictures of the heavy metal/hard rock bands on Circus magazine, as well as some video footage, as well as coverage on MTV. Being a die hard Van Halen fan, I was able to purchase the entire Van Halen US Festival 2 hour show from a bootleg video company in Canada. Which a few years ago I accidentally recorded over it! (FU%# ME!!!) Anyway, aside from watching Diamond Dave being trashed from quote on quote "Heavy Narcotics" throughout the show. (Which by the way, was quite comical) The VH set was awesome, ESPECIALLY with some extra jam sessions previewing their material for their next album 1984 in which we had no idea would be their biggest selling album. In all, I wished that I could have been there checking out some young and upstart heavy metal bands in Quite Riot, Motley Crue, & Triumph, along with some Monsters of Rock legends like the Scorpions, Judas Preist & Van Halen. WOW!!! WHAT A LINE UP!!! This is a great site! Just reading all of the other messages from the people who experienced the Festival(s) really confirms what the Rock N' Roll as well as musical spirit is all about!!! I was 14 at the time and living in the east coast dreaming of becoming a drummer for a heavy metal/hard rock band, but now I live in San Diego, CA still dreaming, but now asking the California natives if they were able to experience the US festivals. Let me tell you all, when I mention it to someone that did get to go, their faces light up with excitement, and proceed to tell me about one of the greatest times of their lives, and I just sit there smiling along with em, and telling em, "WOW that's awesome I wish that I was there man!" p.s. Mike, Great job on this website, your work is very much appreciated by us dedicated music fans! Keep up the great work! By the way: Somehow, someway let's bring back the US Fest for a 20th or a 25th anniversary show with some of the original acts included and mixed in with the new acts of today. Thank you Steve (Woz) for creating such a great musical show for those fortunate ones that attended, to enjoy, as well as to experience! To all: Please keep posting up your memories of the US Fest,(Good or Bad) cuz they are great to read about, as well as try to captivate those thoughts in our minds. Muchas Gracias! Marcos San Diego, CA markymarcos@yahoo.com

I (TimSundogNv@aol.com)want to go to an "US" Festival 25th. If you want to see an "US" Festival 25TH Aniversary, please say:(((((UsFest25)))))

The Sun, The Heat, The wait (for Van Halen to take the stage) Above All I'll remember us coming to a stand still leaving and every body turning off their engines and parking (on the freeway) for a few hours until the traffic/crowd cleared up. The 4 of us in our car woke up around 6 am parked IN THE FAST LANE OF INTERSTATE 15 with cars zipping by us at 70 miles an hour!! Talk about "Hittin' the ground runnin'" All in all, I tresure the memory along side other historic shows I've seen, (Queen @ Wembley in '86, The WALL in Berlin in '90, The Ronnie Lane ARMS benefit, Castle Donnington '88 & '90) I wish someone would put on another show like this. Fredie Vinson FVinson42@hotmail.com Costa Mesa, CA

Wow 20 years ago I was stationed at 29 palms in the Marine Corps and all my buddies wanted to go to the Heavy Metal day 1983. We got there the first night and heard the last few bands from the parking lot. By morning we were ready to party. On the way in we all dropped acid (4 way rainbow). I think the gates open some time around 11:00 am ? Shortly after getting inside I had to pee so I told my buddies to hold tight, but by the time I came back they were gone. So spent the day tripping with 350,000 of the coolest people I ever knew for such a short time. Quiet Riot and Motley Crue started things off with a bang (head bang that is). Rudolf Schenker's (Scorpians Rock)bumble bee pant's and upside down guitar playing blew me away. Rob Halford rode out on a bad ass bike and then kicked all our asses with some killer jams. I saw Angie Dickenson in the audiance (I'm pretty sure I wasn't just tripping). Smoked pot with some guys from my base who I just ran into. Got pulled up and out of the front of the crowd while Ozzy was playing. That was really bizzare. Some old hag backstage was claiming to be Ozzy's mom (surrounded by hot bimbos trying to get with bands). Crazy Train - you bet. I saw a guy passed out in the river of piss comming from the porta potties (probably worse trip than mine). The spriklers were great to cool off durring the day but when the sun went down and sunburn was kickin' we froze our asses off. Does any one else remember all the little fires onthe hill then the bigger ones (what a kick ass sight). The huge monitors were a new thing back then and you really got into seing the bands backstage partying before thier shows. Then Van Halen came on and I'm talking the only Van Halen configuration to ever matter in my book. David and Eddie and crew were the most entertaining band I've ever seen bar none. At about 3 am I hooked back up with my friends at the car totally spent entirely fulfilled. Wow! Thanks to all that put it together. And Hi to all my friends for that great day. Jay Bauer, Al Bowen, Stephen Troy Schlutz, Chuck DeJonge - Guys if you happen to read this where ever you are these days lets get in touch. Troy A Bloomquist tabloomquist@lambtech.com

Hi, My name is Scott Furman. I was at US festival heavy metal Sunday. This show was very awesome. Ive been looking for a replacemnt shirt for this event for quite some time, but with no luck. If anyone can help with this please email me at powerge65@hotmail.com. By the way, to prove I really was there. KMET the radio station was wandering around in the Van Halen party backstage amongst the mountains of Jack Daniels!! The kept asking wheres Dave??? Well they fond him alright. They opened a door off to the side, and low and behold there was dave doing what Dave does to come chick that was on top. See YA Scotty

Saturday June 4th: Country Day I wanted to go to all 4 days but could not go. The US Festival was my first consert and the only one I have ever been to. If there Is ever another one I sure would make the trip back to S. CA. and this time bring my kids. If there is any footage of the US Festival I would like to get hold of it. I know there was film crews there because the cameras would some times swing over my head.If any one knows let me know cdp@centurytel.net Chuck

If anyone has footage they shot while at the US please e-mail me at: shootingstar@socal.rr.com I am compiling footage for a DVD project soon to be released! This is a great opportunity to contribute and help this memorable event be known to millions of people. Thank you!

Thx for the great site. As 20 years from 83 approached I was looking for a good memory hit and found it on this site. In 83 3 of us drove straight from Manitoba, Canada to LA (about 40 hours) where we caught a bus to the site. Best memory is a bunch of us sitting around in the campground after Metal day when a small group approached with a big cooler. They said the ice was gone and figured it was better to share than have it get warm. What a great nite and weekend Randy

I went to the Festival in 83 and it was great. We got there the night before Metal day and slept in the car and in the morning we walked miles to get to the show. It was more than worth it. The day was hot the music even hotter and everyone was loving it. I was 17 and I went with my boyfriend but I would have had a better time if I went without him. The people there were so much fun. I have my us festival t-shirt among others from other concerts and my daughter wears them all the time now. Her teachers are amazed to see them. Terry at manesse@sbcglobal.net

I was a cadet at West Point, and bought tickets thru mail order after I saw the ad in Rolling Stone Magazine. $20/day. My tickets arrived about an hour before I had to leave. My friend and I drove straight thru from West Point NY to Colorado Springs, Ithen took a military flight (alone now) to somewhere in northern California. I hitched a ride to the bus station in Sacramento. (it was now Friday night, the concert started at noon Saturday) I took a Greyhound bus from Sacramento to San Bernadino, and then paid $3 to stand up in the back of a pickup truck with about 10 other people to get to the festival site. I think I arrived at about 10-11AM. I was there all day for all 3 days, and I remember it was about 100 degrees everyday. I had everything with me in a canvas laudry bag, and I slept in a ditch in the parking lot, using the bag as a pillow. As I had little money with me, I ate Stuffe Potato skins from a vendor fothe 3 days, as this was the cheapest, most filling meal I could find. Some kind folks who were camping near where I slept kept an eye on me (I was 18 and alone, 3000+ miles from home) and fed me some breakfast. When I fnally found my way home to Albany NY, I looked in the mirror, for the first time in days, and what a sight I was! I have managed to get videos of a couple of days, and a couple of bands. I will never forget this great concert, and great adventure. I was able to get very close to the stage for most of days 1 & 3. Frank Conley email me at fjconl@aol.com

No, they used the house system (Clair Bros.), but all of the stage equipment was their's

I did not have the chance to go because I was too young(12yrs old at time) but I would by a dvd of this event. This music is vever going to be replaced in my heart. I wish replaca shits of the US 83 are availiable.

I was in the Navy stationed in San Diego and freaked when I read about the show in 82. I ended up going to both of them all three days each. I spent my last $10 going into the parking lot at the first one to buy a t-shirt. I had everything else I needed. I still have the shirt, a hat and the San Diego Union-Tribune newspapers. Mark, Wheeling, WV, chilipepper@dimensione.com

Steve "WOZ", please energize me! Its been 20 years and my battery needs a jump from another US gig! All these people need to love back again, and only you can make that magic happen! Life is short. Love you bro!

I can't believe it has been nearly 20 years since US Festival 83. I was a Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton California. Me (Rick) and some other buds from the Corps got an early start. We bought our tickets from Inner World (Still there) on Hill Street in Oceanside California. We headed out that Thursday and got a kick-ass spot right in front of the main entrance gate to the stage. From that day on until monday was one of the most incredible weekends of my life. I met a hot woman from Boston and we hit it off big. I was interviewed by MTV at the front row of the stage rockin to Ozzy. I wish MTV would air the segment again someday. I still have my ticket stubs with that killer holographic logo. It will be a concert that i will never forget. So many people from all over the country and world. Thanks Steve for giving me the opportunity to have such a memorable time. Rick E.

I was 16 when i attended the us festival.I went with my eighteen year old brother Dave. What an experience! I lived in palmdale with my aunt and uncle which is not special.However we arrived at 7:A.M. in the morning right off the side of the freeway.Enjoyed many hours of music and then during Judas Priest we ran into a cousin from San Jose.That is where we were supposed to be living instead of palmdale. What a weird coincedence huh. Several hundred thousand people and we find a relative. Oh ya when the concert ended my cousin troy could not find his ride so he ended up coming home with us. Thanks, Don James 35 Tacoma,WA

Send me a copy to please! If you need a blank and postage lemme know! Heck,,,we need a "US" 25TH Aniversary Festival!!!!! TimSundogNv@aol.com

Hi I was at the first and second day shows. I saw the MTV showing of the US Featival shows and I am looking for a copy of the two days. dose anybody have a copy please email me any info if possable to: rlaughton@imagemasters.com thanks

I was at the 82 and 83 festivals...best time of my life!!!!!!! I just heard on the radio that there is going to be an US Festival 3 in July in Phoniex...can't find anything on the web..what's up??? Is this true?????? Hope so......... stingswife83@yahoo.com

A bunch of "US" heads from Venice (Ca.) went in '82. I Remember the Dead stopped plying for a while on Sun. Am. till more of a crowd gathered. Don't remember seeing some of the other bands but I'm sure I had a great time anyways!!! :) :) :) Peace...Tom

I went to the 83 us festival on "Heavy metal sunday". I am hoping that someone out there might have some pics. of the crowd that I could show my son. it was one of the most awesome days I have ever had. Well, that is until VanHalen came on. I was standing in front of the "Priest" banner on one of the middle speaker towers. Any pics. of that day would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Wow,,my friend and I were just coming back home to Las Vegas today from L.A. California when we were on I-15 passing Devore. Needless to say it brought back a flood of memories from the US FESTIVAL 1982. I have been to many out-door music/camping festivals and NONE have even came close to what was offered at US FESTIVAL '82. To give you an idea (not that it was a high point) on how sweet it this festival was, we had all our cases of beer outside of our van. There were about 7-8 case stacked on top of each other, AND NOT ONE CASE WAS STOLENED from us. These daze,, that beer would have been gone in a matter of minutes!!! I heard that there was one death there,,but I don't know if it was a rumor or not. I would do anything just to see Steve Wozniak organize another US FESTIVAL. Some day, my festival will be as grate as his was,,but mine will just take a little time longer. My goal will come true as did Steve Wozniak's goal came true. How Steve,,give me a shout TimSundogNv@aol.com if you can use me for your next "US". Thanks to all who made it SHINE. A big thanks to the WebMaster (((HUGS))) :-) http://sundogsummershakedown.itgo.com http://zappening.freeservers.com http://mightyhost.com/sundog

Hi. I attended all of the 82 and 83 festivals. I camped at first one (or was it the second?. I remember the first one (and second) as hot and dusty. The industrial sprinklers set up to cool the audience were great. We joked about the heat and dust and called it the "dust festival". Fantastic sights and sounds. British bands (punk, ska and the likes of the Clash, U2 and the Pretenders all put on fantastic shows. People were nice, not roudy. It was fantastic to be part of a few days of music sharing with a huge family. At the time I thought too of Steve Wozniac "Woz" and how cool it must have been for him, despite the likely headaches of orchestrating such a huge, complex and incredible affair, of being at a point in his life to actually make a dream come true (and share it with hundreds of thousands of others). Thank you! Most memorable: watching the Police play at night and at some point, Sting said that it was the largest crowd they had ever played (reminded me of the remark by CSNY at Woodstock)and just then, as they launched in Roxanne and I heard the combined scream of the crowd, like some sort of humming, throbbing single organism, I turned around to see a sea of flames -- lighters held overhead by thousands and thousands of fans -- swaying to the music. Incredible!!! --- Scott in San Diego

My buddy, who lived down the street from me, had a step-dad who owned a concesions biz, travelling to fairs/concerts/rodeos..etc. He needed some help selling "Linquisa Burgers" and for breakfast "Linquisa-egg Sandwich's" out of his travelling food trailer. So, a bunch of us, all 17 & 18 years old, caravaned down from the Bay Area and worked the 83 concert, getting in for free, eating for free, getting paid and watching the best rock-concert ever held in one location! It was classic! We slept in sleeping bags, on the ground next to our cars in the parking lot. Doing drugs, drinking, chassing skirts, all weekend long. So many great memories and laughs, what a way to end high school. Man it was hot, hot, hot. Great music!!

May 29th, 1983 was my Birthday!! 400,000 (according to some newspaper stories) people at my Birthday party, along with Ozzy, Van Halen, Triumph, Scorps, and everyone else!! God that was almost 20 years ago!! They sure don't make concerts like that anymore. Sigh.... smpoet1@aol.com

There are tapes available, I've searched google and found some, take a look there

My name is J.Y. Song in Korea. It was 1990 when I saw the 1983 US festival video, and I was 20 yrs old then. The video tape was my friend's one, and 2 years later, the tape was missed. I could not forget the emotional shock when I saw the video... So, I want to ask and wish you to make me know how to get or buy the video tape(esp. 2nd day of the 1983 US festival). I would wait your reply...with wish... Thank you...(tommymd@kebi.com)

I WAS 15 YEARS OLD WHEN I ATTENDED US 83 HEAVY METAL NIGHT GOT TO SEE QUIET RIOT, MOTLEY CRUE, AND OZZY I WAS ABOUT 50 FEET FROM THE STAGE WHEN OZZY WAS PLAYING AFTER OZZY I WAS FEELING SICK FROM THE HEAT SO I LEFT AND WALKED BACK TO MY FRIENDS CAR AND WAITED FOR THEM IT WAS PROBABLY A 2-3 MILE WALK THIS WAS ONE THE MOST MEMORABLE TIMES IN MY LIFE AND GLAD I WAS ABLE TO A SMALL PART OF IT. GLENN

we were there for heavy metal day in 83. about 10 of US drove in from Phoenix. Dropped acid, lost all my friends. but found them the next morning hotchhiking down I-15. Triumph and Scorpions were by far the best, maybe because the sun was setting and I was peaking. I do remember the german fighter planes flying overhead. We were tore up afterwards and had to ride in the back of a truck through the desert to get home. I was 15 the best damn weekend I ever had

i went to heavy metal sunday! i was there for 3 days! ( it was awesome!! ) my me and some buddies rode with my sister and her boy friend. i lost them about the second day out side of the gates! i snuck in a boda bag full of jack daniels and a quarter of weed! lol. at the end of the concert when van halen was playing, my buddies and i decided to move from the front stage, to the back to see what it looked like from there! with 400,000 people in the park, when we sat down in the back, i looked up and my sister and her boy friend were sitting 10 ft. in front of me! they were both completely straight and bummed! i was thrilled and amazed to find them in that crowd, not to mention, i needed a ride home! lol. i've been to a lot of concerts, but never seen one yet that can compare to the us festival!! your web sight brought back some good memories! thanks! hunterboy926@aol.com

Has it been 20 years ago since I went to one of the greatest Music events of my life? I remember buying the tickets from the Morale Welfare and Recreation department onboard the USS Ranger for $5.00 for each day. Yes, I was in the Navy and stationed at North Island, Coronado Ca. I was only 20 years young and full of life with the Heavy Metal sceen that was popular then. I really only had one thought in mind and that was just how much fun was I going to have. I don't remember a lot about that day (29th) but I remember going in as the gates opened and it looked like a refugee camp with all the debris left from the day before. I shopped around for a bit noticing the different t-shirts, some said Joe Walsh was the opener and some said Quiet Riot was. Anyway got a 3/4 length shirt (which my ex threw away after 15 years of faithful wearage) and went on to look for a clean spot to sit. My plan was to sit halfway to the stage in order to work my way up to see my favorite musician, Ozzy Osbourne. As Quiet Riot concluded their set I started moving closer and closer. At the end of Crue's set I was exactly where I wanted to be, 10 rows back and center stage. As Ozzy played the heat from the bodies and sun was too much for some to handle as I saw people getting crushed against the barrier and fainting some security were pulling people over the barrier to keep from getting crushed. Some other people started throwing us water bottles from behind the barrier. Thank-you whom ever you are. At the end of the set I started moving back to the original area where I started, by the speaker stand closest to the stage. The rest of the day was outstanding and the music was the best I have ever experienced. I only wish that there had been more festivals like US. One last thought, even at 40 years old, the US Festival '83 will always keep me young at heart and a Die Hard/Hard Rock Music Enthusiest. Clay H Garrett (USNR) Udon Thani, Thailand

My dad thought it would be fun, so he took me...I was 12 years old and it was incredible!! I was probably one of the youngest kids there! I remember when the big letters SCORPIONS showed up on stage...and going up to the front speakers. I made my dad stay the whole day, I didn't want to miss Van Halen and they were the last band that played that night. It changed my life!! I must admit, this experience did not put me on the straight and narrow :) Since then, I've been wild & CRAZY!!! THanks US FESTIVAL!!! I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU!!!! p.s. I bought a US FESTIVAL shirt when I was there on Day 2 1983. Since then it got lost. If anyone has this X-large shirt with the bands that played on the back, I will buy it from you. My email is Larrytucker1@cox.net Larry Tucker, 31 Orange County, CA

My father thought it was going to be the next Woodstock. I was 14 and 15. We went to both years. It was really an incredible experience and a great time spent with me and my father. It completely changed the way and who I listened to musically. After going I became one of the cool kids at my school. No other kids went from my school and I became the one cool kid with the great Dad who took his son to the most amazing event of the eighties. Paul Canaletti, 34 Oceanside CA.

I saw Jimmy Buffet perform at the 1982 U.S. Festival he followed Jerry Jeff Walker,who came on right after Breakfast in Bed with The Grateful Dead I really didn't pay much attention to Buffet who was doing whhat seemed to be a greatest collection but the beer gardens seem to fill to overflow capacity during his set Peace....Bob

I wish I were there. I have the VAN HALEN, MOTLEY CRUE, some OZZY and somme JUDAS PRIEST videos footages. They all rock. Is there anyone out there that can hook me up with the enitre concerts, or know the company/people that have the rights to these videos, please email me. Thanks. Congrats to all for this historical event. Cheers from a Canadian fan. priestmetal@yahoo.com

Your right, Van Halen only performed at the 1983 US Festival. There were only a few acts that actually performed at both, they were Oingo Boingo, The English Beat and Stevie Nicks (with Fleetwood Mac in 82 and solo in 83.

Just was listening to the Van Halen "Off The Record" with Joe Benson on Arrow 93 here in LA and they said that Van Halen had performed at BOTH US Festivals, which I knew was wrong 'cuz I was at both, so I thought I'd look it up on the web and see what I could find- hence my presence here... What do I remember? 1982: I remember the dust and putting sun screen on which was a dust magnet... I remember all the bands were great... The full moon and Sting commenting on it... David Byrne and "the world's largest feedback"... The Ramones "One, Two, Three, Four" (Gabba Gabba Hey)... Burning the clutch out in my truck... Bill Graham (RIP) bitching out Ray Davies for being late in starting their set and the Kinks refusing to leave the stage- then during the change, calling out to Bill then saying "Fuck you" (Yes, he heard me)... Lindsey Buckingham almost clocking Stevie Nicks (accidently) with his guitar and she wandered up behind him and he turned around without looking... Jackson Browne's T-shirt was the same color as his guitar... 1983: The cheesy space ship (sorry) and the direct feed from Moscow during the Men At Work set... The Clash sounding terrible... Too many people with attitudes... David Lee Roth (need I say more?)... Burning Port-A-Potties... Bono climbing on the scaffolding... Dale Bozzio's Fishbowls... "Introducing the drinking man's muscian: Joe Walsh!"... Stevie Nicks being so coked up (sorry)... David Bowie being awesome... Driving into a gultch from the Oasis Watergarden in the Campground and smashing the front end of my truck (No clutch trouble that time though)... The '82 Fest was, by far, better than the '83. I think it had to do with the people. There was just a completely different attitude from the first to the second. At the '82, people were very mellow and friendly; the '83 crowd was very asshole-ish- I'm at a loss for a reason why. Maybe they wanted to be a part of the mystique created by the first... Kevin Olsen Garden Grove, CA kso211@yahoo.com

The largest concert crowd ever, as listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, was the 1983 US Festival, headed by Apple Computer's Steve Wozniak. It drew 670,000 fans over four days.

In all my years of looking I have not been able to find a commercially available video. I have loads of pictures and information about the events that I am working on getting up on the site. I work in the entertainment industry and have worked with many contractors who were involved with the US Festivals, they all have fond memories. My hope is that one day I can produce new Music, Career and Technology Festivals similar to the US Festivals, that is what TEAMwrks and TEAMexpo is all about. The one thing I did learn at the US Festival is that you can achieve your goals through hard work, perseverance and teamwork. Mike

Im an 80's musican and played in a few national acts and would like to get the 1983 festival on tape. I have a lot of band footage including ones that I were in and would trade or buy the 83 festival on video Thanks foghat@erols.com

well, I can't say that I was one of the lucky ones that went to the BIG events. I was going through Air Force boot camp and had to listen to it a little bit at a time on the radio. I did,however, hear stories from a friend who joined the AF a few months after me about how great of a show it was. I would love to see footage and will wait for it to come out(hint,hint Mr Wozniak). What an incredible story! What an incredible gathering of talent! Thanks- Randy

My wife wanted me to throw out my spritzer bottle.....I told her now way. I attended both of the Us festivals and would love to see it happen again! "The US Festival 1982 - Birth of the Creative Class" You bet!!!!!!!!!

It is nice to see this site getting better, when I first found it a couple of years ago; it was sooo small. I live in Sweden, so when I tell people about the 82-83 festivals, they find it hard to believe. I wonder if it will ever be releases on film. I know Showtime had it at one time. Hello to anyone who was there and yes....what a long strange trip its been.Russ

We are deeply saddened to confirm that Joe Strummer has passed away. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the members of Joe's family and his many, many friends around the world. An amazing, beautiful human being has left us. Your memory will live on forever Joe. We will miss you.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO ALL MY EARLY 80'S SHIRTS WERE STOLEN INCLUDING MY US FESTIVAL SHIRT. IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE OR KNOWS ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE ANY EARLY 80'S SHIRTS THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PART WITH PLEASE CONTACT ME AT LALAS3816@aol.com. I WAS DEVASTATED WHEN THESE WERE TAKEN AND WILL VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ANY HELP IN TRYING TO REPLACE THEM. THANKS EVERYONE!! SINCERLY, MARK

1983. The beginning of home computers, new wave, and also the year I graduated from High School. Some friends and I made plans to attend the 1983 US Festival. We purchased the tickets and went. We were there for the whole 4 days. We met alot of people and had a great deal of fun. Heck, I still have a ticket that the guy at the door didnt rip. I write this to share my memories and to find out if there are any plans for a 2003 US Festival to commemorate the 20 years of it.

hi * after all these years i was just sitting here on my day off (with a hurt knee) about the best rock festival i've ever attended & i was ver supprised to see a web site on ' us festival ' we drove from portland oregon & wouldnt have went if we did'nt have a girlfriend that bought the tickets in advance & then we we're obligated to go with her & we drove her little truck 2 in front & two laying in the back i said it was a small truck * we had two friends that flew in (they had money) so we picked them up at the airport & stole a poster from the airport (that my ex still has) & we headed out to san bernadino calif , we parked out in some thisle bushes & put up our tent & proceded to walk the mile or so into the park ** & had a wonderful time * one of the girls found out when we we're home , that she was pregant & named her dau's middle name after something like 'devon ' or something * i cant rememer the name & it's been years since i've talkd to her anyway * just wanted to say hey !!! it was one of the greatest things i've done in my life & i'll never forget it thanks marcia <Thepowderhounds@aol.com>

Thanks for the kind words of support, keep checking back, I'm always updating as I have time. I am planning to upload audio and video bites soon, so it should really be exciting!!!

My name is also Steve Wozniak, but not the individual who organized the US Festivals. My wife and I moved to Mountain View, CA in 1980. Prior to the first US Festival in 1982, I mistakenly received phone calls from individuals identifying themselves as agents representing Jerry Jeff Walker, Van Halen and others wanting to talk to the "other" Steve Wozniak regarding their performances. A few weeks later, I went to pick up a pair of perscription glasses at an optical store at the former Old Mill Shopping Center in Mountain View. I was presented with a bill for over $30,000.00! Upon receiving the bill, I immediately threw my ordered glasses on the counter and walked out. Later, I learned that the "other" Steve Wozniak had ordered from this same location many pairs of glasses for the US Festival that had the Apple logo colors across the lens and the famous Apple bite removed from a corner. Unfortunately, I never received the glasses and never attended either of the US Festivals! Steve Wozniak, too ----------------------

This must be the best US Festival site around. It's concise and on the mark. It brought back a lot of strong memories and feelings for me, and even taught me a few things I've forgotten. I'm way way behind on email (hundreds a day, most needing replies) and have a full-time business now, but you're welcome to email me at host@woz.org if you don't need an answer guaranteed. As a side note, I do stop extra long to shake hands with and smile at everyone I encounter who says they attended the US Festivals.