Bob Iversen

Story by Bob Iversen

CREEDENCE APPEARED AT THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS DURING THE SUMMER OF '71. IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED IT FOR THE WORLD.

THE INTERNATIONAL AMPITHEATER IS A HUGE ARENA, IT WAS OLD EVEN THEN, REALLY MORE SUITED FOR POLITICAL CONVENTIONS, RODEOS, AND HOCKEY GAMES THAN CONCERTS. I REMEMBER THAT THE CONCERT WAS A SELLOUT- I KNOW BECAUSE WE HAD SEATS NEARLY IN THE LAST ROW. I'M SURE THERE WERE 20-25,000 PEOPLE THERE.

ANYWAY, THE OPENING ACT WAS SOME LONG FORGOTTEN BAND, BUT THE NEXT ACT WAS BO DIDDLY, AND HE WAS FANTASTIC. I DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS GOING TO APPEAR, I DON'T BELIEVE HIS APPEARANCE WAS PUBLICIZED. HE IS A TRUE SHOWMAN, AND PUT ON A GREAT PERFORAMNCE, REALLY BETTER THAN THAN CCR'S!

BUT EVERYONE THERE PAID TO SEE CREEDENCE, THERE WAS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. WHEN THEY FINALLY TOOK THE STAGE, I REMEMBER JOHN TOOK OFF THIS POWDER BLUE COWBOY HAT HE WAS WEARING, AND SAILED IT INTO THE CROWD LIKE A FRISBEE. THE SONG LINEUP WAS BASICALLY THAT OF THE 'LIVE IN EUROPE' LP. TOM HAD ALREADY QUIT THE GROUP, AND 'MARDI GRAS' HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED. DOUG SANG A SONG OFF MARDI GRAS, I BELIEVE IT WAS 'TEARING UP THE COUNTRY'; AND STU SANG 'DOOR TO DOOR'. HIGHLIGHTS WERE 'HEY TONIGHT', 'FORTUNATE SON', 'TRAVELIN BAND' AND 'UP AROUND THE BEND'; IN OTHER WORDS THE HARDEST ROCKIN' STUFF IN THE REPERTOIRE, THE SCREAMERS THAT SOUND TAILOR MADE FOR LIVE CONCERTS. A FRIEND OF MINE WHO WENT WITH WAS CONVINCED THAT THERE WERE OTHER MUSICIANS PLAYING ALONG OUT OF SIGHT BEHIND A CURTAIN. HE COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THREE GUYS COULD MAKE THAT MUCH NOISE. CCR MUSIC IS DEFINITELY MEANT TO BE PLAYED LOUD, AND THEY DEFINITELY WERE.

I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW JOHN PLAYED 'FORTUNATE SON' AND ESPECIALLY 'GREEN RIVER AS THE SOLE GUITARIST. IT REALLY WAS AMAZING-HE SOUNDED GREAT. YOU REALLY COULDN'T TELL THE DIFFERANCE FROM THE RECORDED VERSIONS. MY ONLY CRITICISMS WERE THAT THE BAND PRETTY MUCH JUST RIPPED THROUGH THE SONGS WITHOUT A LOT OF BANTER, TALK, JOKES, ETC. THEY PLAYED ALL THE HITS WITHOUT MUCH DEVIATION FROM THE ORIGINAL ARRANGEMENTS, AND DIDN'T PLAY ANY MATERIAL THAT HADN'T ALREADY BEEN RECORDED. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HEAR SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THE CROWD LOVED IT ANYWAY.

IT SEEMED THAT SOMEONE WAS CALLING FOR 'PROUD MARY' AFTER EVERY SONG. THEY FINISHED WITH 'KEEP ON CHOOGIN' AND LEFT THE CROWD SCREAMING FOR MORE, LITERALLY. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ENCORE, ALTHOUGH THE CROWD CLAPPED THEIR HANDS AND STOMPED THEIR FEET FOR A GOOD TEN MINUTES AFTER THE SHOW WAS OVER.

BOB IVERSEN, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA