Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale

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Early US Dates for Procol Harum

Can you flesh out Bill Pellegrini's memories?


I was poking around and I seem to know of three Procol dates that seem to be missing;  unfortunately, so are my memories. I remember they were pre-Woodstock: I was at the show at the Fillmore East with Seals & Crofts, and Country Joe. I saw them there (Fillmore East) just after or just before that show with The Byrds, Ten Years After and Procol;  it was a fine show, and I remember it was at the time they released A Salty Dog – they had a quad set-up and the seagulls flew around the Fillmore. I remember thinking that night that if I died right then it would be OK. I think Stills was still with The Byrds; I remember them playing My Back Pages. I am sure Clarence White was on lead. I am afraid I judge all concerts before or since by that night and usually find them wanting.

There was a show at Jersey City College in 1971, I believe. I went back stage and had a beer with BJ. We talked about Paul Sebel,  a mutual friend from Woodstock. Trower was still on lead: I remember watching him squeeze a rubber ball to build up his hand-strength to vibrato whole chords. He had that strange tube preamp thingy on top of the Marshalls that night.  I remember being curious about the bare tubes [valves] at the Fillmore shows.

There was also a show in the town of Woodstock a year or two after the festival. The town was not happy about the prospect of a mob descending on them and the whole thing sort of fell apart at the last minute. People were showing up and (we took it as an insult) the local police directed us into the Woodstock town garbage-dump to camp. The stage was a few pieces of plywood and a rude sort of canopy. Procol played anyway, and was great; Trower was lead, David Knights I think was still bass; it was dusty and muddy and had to be the worst playing conditions they ever had to deal with.

I hope there are enough clues to do some research and fill in those dates: the captain's log should be complete!


Bill Mounce ('Bill from Philly') writes to 'Beyond the Pale' (July 2009

I read Bill Pellegrini’s recollections (above) of PH before Woodstock (shame they couldn’t play!  History might be different!), and he notes a date at the Fillmore East.   

27–28 September 1968 Procol Harum bottom of the bill with Country Joe and Ten Years after

14–15 March 1969 Procol Harum top of the bill with Pacific Gas and Electric and Collectors

27–28 June 1969 Procol Harum top of the bill with the Byrds and Raven (there’s a compliment, Byrds open for PH!)

12–13 June 1970 Procol Harum top of the bill with Rhinoceros and SEALS AND CROFTS

14–15 July 1970 Procol Harum top of the bill with Country Joe and Toe Fat

23–24 April 1971 Procol Harum top of the bill with Winter Consort and Teegarden and Van Winkle

27 June 1971 final show for the Fillmore East (no PH)

I gotta tell ya, as I scanned the list of the acts that played over the three years, I wish I had been there!  The greatest RnR in one venue!  We were born too late (and in the wrong place!)

BfP


Procol Harum tour dates


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