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Tom · 10-22-2000, 01:47 AM

The Elvis Presley New Year's Eve concert at the Pontiac Stadium on Wednesday night 12-31-75/01-01-76!

The Silverdome had just opened & my mom bought 6 tickets at the last minute around Christmas as a present. Since it was so late, the seats were not together...3 pairs of seats all over this massive stadium! Over 60,000 attended the sell-out. (Yes, it was a sell-out, Col. Parker put a limit on the seats available) The traffic jam getting to the stadium was unreal. I was a very impressionable 15 year old. I remember I had broke my ankle during gym at school so I had to attend the show wearing a cast

I sat with my best friend at the time & shared binoculars. It was the first concert I had ever attended, and I was excited. The ticket said show starts at 8:30pm, but The King didn't arrive until about 11:00pm. The circular stage was at the 50 yard line, about 25 feet high "Elvis in the round"! The band was at a lower stage about 20 feet up. It was really cold that night too! Elvis was way overweight, but his voice was in top shape. After the 2001 intro, the crowd went bananas as he sang "See See Rider". I've never seen so many flashbulbs go off to this day! He sang "And I Love You So" and the best version of "Polk Salad Annie" I have ever seen. My friend & I were fighting over the binoculars when Elvis started doing karate moves...he put down the microphone & started jammin! Unfortunately, he ripped his jumpsuit in the process & had to leave the stage!

The Stamps did a quick version of "Sweet Sweet Spirit" and Elvis was back...quipping that he was a "quick-change artist" lol After introductions he sang "My Way" and "Love Me Tender". Then it was countdown time....10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..,HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Elvis sang "Auld Lang Syne" as thousands of balloons fell from the balconey. He then did a terrific version of "How Great Thou Art" and with it now being 1976, the USA 200 year Birthday "Bicentennial Celebration" he sang "America the Beautiful" to a standing ovation! He finished the show around 12:30am with a short line of "Wooden Heart" and then "Can't Help Falling in Love". I could not believe the hero worship at the end of the concert. Elvis got down on his knees & put his hands up in fists & the place became unglued! It was a fun night, I remember being one of the last to leave after finding everyone again (my sister was on my brothers shoulders & almost got a scarf!

). As we were leaving the PA system started to play the intro 2001 again as a check, so I'm sure RCA recorded the show but has never been released. The reviews were good ("ELVIS STILL SHAKES'EM UP" Detroit News) and it was the best New Years Eve I've ever had!

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"...If YoU fEeL iT yOu BeTtEr BeLiEvE iT, yOu'Re GoNnA sEe It, YoU nEeD tO kNoW/iT iS rIsInG lIkE a FeAtHeR, dIpPiNg & DaNcInG fRoM bElOw/ThErE's A nEw WaVe ThAt Is BrEaKiNg In ThE wAkE oF a PaSsInG sHiP/eVeRy NaTiOn'S gOnNa Be ShAkEn, PuT iT tOgEtHeR, dOn'T lEt It SlIp..."

[This message has been edited by Tom (edited March 07, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Tom (edited March 09, 2001).]

10-22-2000, 01:47 AM	#2
Tom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Detroit, USA Posts: 280	The Elvis Presley New Year's Eve concert at the Pontiac Stadium on Wednesday night 12-31-75/01-01-76! The Silverdome had just opened & my mom bought 6 tickets at the last minute around Christmas as a present. Since it was so late, the seats were not together...3 pairs of seats all over this massive stadium! Over 60,000 attended the sell-out. (Yes, it was a sell-out, Col. Parker put a limit on the seats available) The traffic jam getting to the stadium was unreal. I was a very impressionable 15 year old. I remember I had broke my ankle during gym at school so I had to attend the show wearing a cast I sat with my best friend at the time & shared binoculars. It was the first concert I had ever attended, and I was excited. The ticket said show starts at 8:30pm, but The King didn't arrive until about 11:00pm. The circular stage was at the 50 yard line, about 25 feet high "Elvis in the round"! The band was at a lower stage about 20 feet up. It was really cold that night too! Elvis was way overweight, but his voice was in top shape. After the 2001 intro, the crowd went bananas as he sang "See See Rider". I've never seen so many flashbulbs go off to this day! He sang "And I Love You So" and the best version of "Polk Salad Annie" I have ever seen. My friend & I were fighting over the binoculars when Elvis started doing karate moves...he put down the microphone & started jammin! Unfortunately, he ripped his jumpsuit in the process & had to leave the stage! The Stamps did a quick version of "Sweet Sweet Spirit" and Elvis was back...quipping that he was a "quick-change artist" lol After introductions he sang "My Way" and "Love Me Tender". Then it was countdown time....10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..,HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Elvis sang "Auld Lang Syne" as thousands of balloons fell from the balconey. He then did a terrific version of "How Great Thou Art" and with it now being 1976, the USA 200 year Birthday "Bicentennial Celebration" he sang "America the Beautiful" to a standing ovation! He finished the show around 12:30am with a short line of "Wooden Heart" and then "Can't Help Falling in Love". I could not believe the hero worship at the end of the concert. Elvis got down on his knees & put his hands up in fists & the place became unglued! It was a fun night, I remember being one of the last to leave after finding everyone again (my sister was on my brothers shoulders & almost got a scarf! ). As we were leaving the PA system started to play the intro 2001 again as a check, so I'm sure RCA recorded the show but has never been released. The reviews were good ("ELVIS STILL SHAKES'EM UP" Detroit News) and it was the best New Years Eve I've ever had! ------------------ "...If YoU fEeL iT yOu BeTtEr BeLiEvE iT, yOu'Re GoNnA sEe It, YoU nEeD tO kNoW/iT iS rIsInG lIkE a FeAtHeR, dIpPiNg & DaNcInG fRoM bElOw/ThErE's A nEw WaVe ThAt Is BrEaKiNg In ThE wAkE oF a PaSsInG sHiP/eVeRy NaTiOn'S gOnNa Be ShAkEn, PuT iT tOgEtHeR, dOn'T lEt It SlIp..." [This message has been edited by Tom (edited March 07, 2001).] [This message has been edited by Tom (edited March 09, 2001).]