A-Listers
A look back at the biggest concerts at UMD
by Daniel Oyefusi ’19 | Illustrations by Jason KeislingElvis gyrated. Kanye rhymed. And U2 rocked. Some of the biggest names in music stopped at Maryland on their way up—or down—the Billboard charts. The boom in bookings, according to Terrapin Tales, followed a 1969 letter to the editor of The Diamondback, voicing disappointment in the lack of concerts on campus. Cole Field House, Ritchie Coliseum, McKeldin Mall and even the Stamp and Tawes Hall began hosting duties. Now, as the campus celebrates the 35th anniversary of Art Attack—whose headliners were Vince Staples and Lil Yachty—Terp looks back at 30 of the top acts to perform at Maryland.
Ella Fitzgerald – Cole Field House, c. October 1961
Chuck Berry – Ritchie Coliseum, Dec. 8, 1971
Ike and Tina Turner – Cole Field House, Mar. 19, 1972
The Jackson 5 – Cole Field House, Aug. 12, 1972
Stevie Wonder – Cole Field House, Mar. 25, 1973
Bruce Springsteen – Cole Field House, April 18, 1973
Aretha Franklin – Cole Field House, Aug. 11, 1973
Elvis Presley – Cole Field House, Sept. 27 and 28, 1974
Frank Zappa – Cole Field House, April 30, 1974; 1976; Oct. 14, 1978
Queen – Cole Field House, Feb. 4, 1977
Billy Joel – Tawes Theater, April 30, 1977
The Grateful Dead – Cole Field House, March 7, 1981
Bob Dylan – Ritchie Coliseum, May 3, 1981
Ozzy Osbourne – Ritchie Coliseum, Feb. 14, 1983
U2 – Ritchie Coliseum, April 25, 1983
Cyndi Lauper – Ritchie Coliseum, May 3, 1984
Ice T & Public Enemy – Ritchie Coliseum, Nov. 24, 1992
A Tribe Called Quest & De La Soul – Ritchie Coliseum, Feb. 27, 1994
Fugees – Cole Field House, Nov. 3, 1996
Run DMC (Art Attack 14) – McKeldin Mall, May 2, 1997
Outkast (Art Attack 17) – May 5, 2000
Black Eyed Peas (Art Attack 18) – Maryland Stadium, May 1, 2001
Wyclef Jean (Art Attack 19) – Maryland Stadium, May 3, 2002
Kanye West – Grand Ballroom, Feb. 26, 2004
The Roots – Nov. 14, 2004
All American Rejects (Art Attack 24) – Maryland Stadium, May 4, 2007
Ben Folds and Weezer (Art Attack 27) – Maryland Stadium, April 30, 2010
Big Sean & Wale (Art Attack 31) – Maryland Stadium, May 2, 2014
Chainsmokers & Logic (Art Attack 32) – Xfinity Center, May 1, 2015
2 Chainz (Art Attack 34) –Maryland Stadium, May 5, 2017
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Jimmy
Feb 22, 1976. Took Robin. Joni Mitchell. Loved Joni Mitchell (still do). Joni was "ill" and left the stage before completing her first song. The concert was cancelled.
chuck bausell
saw jefferson airplane at ritchie mentioned previously; lights out; met Jorma walking thru the crowd as we began to exit (lights on) and shook hands.
Bob
I remember seeing George Thorogood in the late 70s
Mary Strope
Does Anyone know if there was a recording or video made/ produced of the Janice Joplin Concert on 6/19/1970. I'd like to purchase one if it exists! Please call or reply if anyone knows how to get one? My husband attended and he said it was the best concert of his life!. Thank you, Mary
Fred Baer
I also remember seeing Roxy Music at the Stamp. What an amazing show. I can't find it listed on any of the Roxy Music tour sites, thought. Anyone remember the date? Also saw The Faces at Cole Field House. Monstrous fun show.
Matt Galella
My senses and ears were assaulted by Hot Tuna in a free concert at Cole Field House in August of 1976 or 1977. We’d listen to Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady for a while, retreat outside for some relief and then return with our ears still ringing! Also enjoyed Rod Stewart and the Faces in the fall of 1975 at Cole. Ron Wood was on guitar, before departing for The Rolling Stones full time. Good times!
Tom
Got to see Danny Gatton play on the chapel lawn at a pep rally before the Alabama football team came to town. Danny was fantastic and got the crowd dancing, the night sky clear and beer cold and sweet
Joe Schmidt
George Thorogood and The Destroyers sometime between 78 and 82....Studen Union Ballroom I think......
Jim Twark
Don't Forget: --Janis Joplin with Van Morrison at Cole Field House on 6/19/70 --Simon & Garfunkle at Cole Field House on 10/11/68 I saw 3 concerts at Ritchie Coliseum but I don't have dates ? --Sha-Na-Na on _________ --The Hollies on _________ --Chuck Berry on_______ Please help me Terp World!
Bonnie (Feldesman) Lefkowitz, '60
Great article but you missed one of the earliest big concerts: Kingston Trio, Cole Field House, October 24, 1959 Audience of 13,000 from up and down the East Coast See Diamondback, October 27, 1959. As editor I got to interview them -- took place in a car which was somehow "backstage" at Cole.
Jim McCauley
Off the top of my head I saw - Ritchie: Jefferson Airplane Graham Nash solo J. Geils Band The Ramones The Clash Cole: Grand Funk Railroad Stephen Stills & Manassas w/Leon Russell opening Stamp Union: Roxy Music The Ramones Rockpile featuring Dave Edmunds & Nick Lowe
Barry Young
Oh yes, you missed Count Basie and BB King...are you also count Ritchie?
Alan Kazdoy
I would have to include Bob Hope in 1968 and two Simon and Garfunkel shows (‘67 and ‘68), and Sammy Davis, Jr. in 1965, all at Cole.
David Canine
Jefferson Airplane played Ritchie on 11/14/69, the night before the Moratorium March in DC. James Brown played Ritchie, probably 1970. The Hollies played on a Sunday afternoon, perhaps 1972. Other Ritchie shows from around 1971-73 - Richie Havens, Booker T & the MGs, Poco, the Youngbloods, and UMD's own Bobby Brown. B.B. King played Cole Field House, probably the same 1970 summer as Van and Janis. The Guess Who played Cole Field House, perhaps 1971.
Thomas, '18
Kanye West. The greatest musical genius to ever set foot on this campus. We are all truly blessed that he came here.
Scott Leffler
Ritchie Coliseum: The Clash, Saturday 9/29/79 Elvis Costello & the Attractions w/Squeeze, Wednesday 1/28/81 The Pretenders, Monday 1/18/82 The Jam, Friday 5/14/82 Gang of Four / Fleshtones / Urban Verbs, Thursday 9/30/82 Grand Ballroom: Ramones w/Slickee Boys, Sunday 6/8/80 Jorma Kaukonen – Sunday 10/25/81
Helene Buchman
Joe Cocker was also at Ritchie around '69-'70.
steve
I was on the student stage crew from 1971-74. picked up Graham Nash at Baltimore airport in a 1968 AMC Hornet hatchback with State tags. He was awesome. the j geils concert was the loudest ever.
steve
Steve Martin, 1972? Cole Field House. Greatest opening applause and cheers for any artist I have ever seen. He was 45 minutes late opening the show. He must have apologized 5 times to the audience. It was at the height of his popularity.
Andy
I remember seeing Neil Diamond at Ritchie in 1967, before he became a big name. Went with Jeanie (no contact with since 1969), in case she reads this and remembers differently.