by Jim McGuinn, Program Director and Host, Y-Rock on XPN

First Concert – The Clash at the Aragon Ballroom, 1982.
Second Concert – U2 at the Aragon Ballroom, 1983.

I probably should have just stopped right there. Instead, I’ve seen about 3,000 shows in the past 25 years, but am still hard pressed to think of many that even come close to those first two. The Clash had just released their most commercially successful album Combat Rock and it was the last time they would headline their own tour. I think they played 25 songs that night. Years later I met Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine – we’re about the same age and from the Chicago suburbs, and it turns out that the show that changed his life was the same August night at the Aragon. I used to think that it was just because it was my first show that made it seem so great, but after looking at the set list online I realize – it was an amazing show. I consider myself so lucky to have seen them. A few months later I saw U2 at the Aragon – the War tour, this show just a few weeks before the Red Rocks taping that became Under a Blood Red Sky. Flag-waving Bono climbing speaker stacks while the band roared behind him – passion, commitment, songs – a total inspiration, and at the time they were just graduating from clubs to theatres and beginning to emerge as one of the most important bands of my generation. I’ve gotten to see so many great shows since then – a few that were earth shattering (Radiohead’s sonic session, Neil Young solo at the Tower, and Iggy Pop at the Khyber) but probably none that had as much effect on my life as those first two – and it came full circle a few months ago when I interviewed the Clash’s Paul Simonon and was able to thank him – he said he remembered the Aragon shows as being some of the good ones.

The Clash and a live version of “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” 1982

U2 with “Sunday Bloody Sunday” from Red Rocks, 1984