A timeline of the biggest concerts to ever play the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena
During the past century, the Rose Bowl has been much more than a football stadium. It was used for the cycling competition in the 1932 Summer Olympics, and more recently it hosted World Cup final games, “American Idol” auditions, fireworks shows and high school graduation ceremonies.
It also has been a venue for major concerts, including these…
Aug. 7, 1965 — Presented by KFWB/980 AM, Herman’s Hermits headlined an afternoon concert, with the Turtles, Lovin’ Spoonful and Bobby Fuller Four also on the bill.
Sept. 15, 1968 – “An American Music Show” featured The Everly Brothers, Joan Baez, the Byrds, Wilson Pickett, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Junior Wells with Buddy Guy and the Mothers of Invention.
June 20, 1981 – Merle Haggard, Don Williams, Alabama, Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, Rosanne Cash, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers Band performed during “A Day in the Country,” the first concert devoted to country music at the Rose Bowl.
June 6, 1982 – More than 85,000 people turned up for “Peace Sunday: We Have a Dream,” an all-star concert to promote nuclear disarmament. Performers included Jackson Browne, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Dan Fogelberg, Stevie Nicks, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Wonder, Timothy B. Schmit & Don Felder, Joan Baez and Gary U.S. Bonds.
June 18, 1988 – The last stop on Depeche Mode’s “Music for the Masses” world tour was filmed by acclaimed director D.A. Pennebaker for the “101” documentary. OMD, Thomas Dolby and Wire were the openers. It’s still one of the most talked about concerts in alternative rock history.
April 16-17, 1994 – Pink Floyd was the first act to perform two consecutive nights at the venue to support “The Division Bell” on its final tour.
Oct. 25, 2009 – U2 drew the highest attendance for a single Rose Bowl concert (just over 97,000) on its 360° tour, which was filmed for home video release.
Sept. 11-13, 2014 – One Direction becomes the first group to play three nights in a row. 5 Seconds of Summer opened.
May 14, 2016 – Beyoncé is the first female headliner at the stadium.
Looking for live music? Great places in Pasadena to catch some tunes
Ambassador Auditorium – Home to the Pasadena Symphony; 131 South St. John Ave., pasadenasymphony-pops.org
Beckman Auditorium – Chamber, world and folk music are presented, usually as part of the Caltech Live! series; 332 S. Michigan Ave., events.caltech.edu/series/caltechlive-performing-arts
Brookside at the Rose Bowl – Adjacent to the stadium, the golf course was the site of music festivals this past spring and summer, including Cruel World (Morrissey, Bauhaus), Just Like Heaven (The Strokes, Interpol), This Ain’t No Picnic (LCD Soundsystem, Le Tigre) and Palomino (Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves); 1133 Rosemont Ave., ticketmaster.com
The Mixx – This upscale restaurant with a bar and lounge area presents Latin pop, rock and country tribute bands, comedy nights Wednesdays-Saturdays; 443 E. Colorado Blvd., themixxclub.com
Old Towne Pub – Open since 1973, located in an alleyway, the establishment presents original music of various genres Wednesdays-Sundays; 66 N. Fair Oaks Ave., instagram.com/oldtownepub
Republik – The coffee lounge and wine bar hosts performers of various music genres on Saturdays-Sundays; 854 E. Green St., republikcoffee.com
Sorriso Ristorante & Bar – Dinner shows feature jazz, swing, pop standards and mariachi music Wednesdays-Sundays; 119 E. Colorado Blvd., sorrisopasadena.com
1881 – The cocktail bar, established in 1936, has local singer/songwriters on Tuesdays, jazz on Fridays, standup comedy, bossa nova and alternative music on Saturdays; 1881 E. Washington Blvd., 1881pasadena.com