A-Listers

A look back at the biggest concerts at UMD
by Daniel Oyefusi ’19 | Illustrations by Jason Keisling

Elvis 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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20 Comments

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.

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