The Plainsman headline (May 10, 1984 issue) was “Alabama disappointed with crowd turnout,” but by the looks on their faces they were spiritually wounded.
They blamed it on the inclement weather (including tornadoes) in the area that night (May 3). I mean, you don’t want to think the crimson whiff understandably clinging to a band called Alabama would keep the Auburn kids away from the CMA entertainers of the year out of spite, especially when you’ve gone out of your way to Tiger up for the show; guitarist Jeff Cook was in an Auburn T-shirt, lead singer Randy Owen was in an Auburn jersey. But whatever the reason, only half of the $13 Beard-Eaves seats available sold.
Owen called it “discouraging.”
Related: Elton John incites riot of excessive Auburn boogieing, 1973.
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Would have gone over better in ’94.
From as many times as I have heard Dixieland Delight played at the Supper Club and fraternity parties and every word sung by every voice in the place, if they’d had played there in my day it would have been sold out. That’s for sure.
I worked on the UPC Major Entertainment Committee at that time and Alabama basically wouldn’t let us near the place or have much to do with that concert. Typically we’d book the shows, take care of all the details, work with the acts and their management, etc, etc but not this one.
Randy *Owen
Fort Payne’d expressions.
I was at that show, 12 years old, one of the first concerts I ever attended. Roll On 18 Wheeler Tour I believe. Alabama were at the height of their fame at the time. Good times.
Front man Randy Owen’s daughter attends/attended Auburn, I know the University must hold at least a tiny place in his heart – for reasons I can’t disclose.
I skipped that concert to go see a little girl over at Georgia Southern. It was worth it! 🙂
I was at that concert too…I also remember the Plainsman or the Glom mentioning that it might have been hard to get AU students excited for the “Alabama Roll On” tour!
Michael Val
(who remembers that the Coliseum was rocking, even if only half full!)