2301 N. Highland Avenue,
Los Angeles, CA./ (323) 850-2000
The
ultimate musical amphitheater is, of course, the Hollywood Bowl.
Despite what Paul
McCartney says in his song "Rock
Show" ("there's rock & roll at the Hollywood Bowl!"),
the fact is that most of the concerts at the world famous Bowl are of the
classical variety.
But there are a few special rock
and pop concerts held each year at the Bowl, and it's a beautiful spot
to watch a concert under
the stars. In October of 1997, for instance, Fleetwood Mac
performed to a sold-out crowd in a reunion concert
at the Bowl; and it came only a few days following a concert by
Prince/
at the Bowl.
Paul
and his fellow Beatles were
the first rock band to ever play the Bowl, back in August of 1964 (they
returned the following year for two more concerts). But they weren't the
last. Over the years, the Bowl has seen concerts by the likes of The Doors,
Bob Dylan, Elton
John, Janis Joplin,
Sting, Jimi Hendrix,
Simon & Garfunkel, the
Monkees and the Moody Blues.
Pop artists who have played
the Bowl recently include Rod Stewart,
Tom Petty and
the Heartbreakers, Jimmy Buffett,
Natalie Cole, Luther Vandross,
Amy Grant, Dionne Warwich
&
Peter, Paul & Mary.
Others
who have appeared at the Hollywood Bowl have included Barbra Streisand,
Bernadette Peters, Chicago,
Steely Dan, Garth Brooks,
Judy Collins, John Denver,
Victor Borge, Michael Crawford,
Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy
Lee, Rosemary Clooney,
Ray Charles, Mel
Torme, the Manhattan Transfer,and Randy Newman.
In June of 1999, Paul Simon
& Bob Dylan performed together
at the Bowl, and the celebrity-studded audience watching them included
Warren Beatty and Annette
Bening, Jack Nicholson,
Rob Reiner, Woody Harrelson,
Paul's ex Carrie Fisher, Penny
Marshall, Elisabeth Shue,Val
Kilmer and Dustin Hoffman,
who (according to Army Archerd) was walking down the aisle as Paul Simon
was singing "Mrs. Robinson."
In 2000, Garth Brooks
was the special guest at the Bowl's Opening Night Gala. Glen Campbell
was there for this year's Fourth of July fireworks concert,
and the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson
will appear in concert on Sept. 24, as part of the Pet Sounds Symphonic
Tour.
In October 2011, Lady Gaga, Bono and Usher all appeared on stage at the Bowl with former President Bill Clinton.
And
each June, Bill Cosby hosts
the annual Playboy Jazz Festival here.
Most concerts take place from
June through September only (although there are occasional pop concerts
scheduled throughout the year). Ticket prices usually range from $77 for
box seats to $12. for the back rows - depending upon who's on stage. For
a free brochure and a schedule of upcoming concerts, just phone the Bowl.
But prices go higher for special
concerts.Rod Stewart's Sept.
25, 1998 concert at the Hollywood Bowl set a record for top ticket price
for a pop/rock show at the Bowl: $150 for prime seats (balanced by a more
reasonable $20 to $40 for lesser seats).
Getting
there:
From Hollywood & Vine, go three-quarters of a mile west on Hollywood
Boulevard to Highland Avenue. Turn right (north) on Highland Avenue, and
drive a few short blocks to the Bowl.
[For more information
on this subject, you can access the Hollywood Bowl's official website at:
http://www.hollywoodbowl.org.]
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