Scorpions & UFO at Pacific Amphitheater + Goats, Donkeys, Llamas

by chris cunningham

I forgot to charge my camera batteries before leaving the house so all you get is cute goat photos at the OC fair’s petting zoo.

April 28th 1984. Twenty one years ago a group my friends from highschool went to see the Scorpions and Bon Jovi at the then fairly new Pacific Amphitheater. It was one month before highschool graduation and we were so freakin cool, oh yeah, you know it! The Scorpions were riding high on their albums “Blackout” and “Love at First Sting” and Bon Jovi was enjoying their very first hit “Runaway”. Chick band was all was thinking when I saw them. Turns out I was right. The amphitheater was eventually closed down because of the noise and traffic problem for the surrounding area but now during the O.C. fair they allow concerts. Anyway, I saw tickets for the show were going on sale and UFO was opening, who I also liked a lot. The last time I saw UFO was August 2nd, 1981. 24 years ago! Iron Maiden opened for them with original singer Paul Di’Anno, which became his last show with him in the states. So, I get to see two bands that I used to love in highschool on one night. Did you know if you buy a ticket to one on the concerts you get free admission to the fair? I didn’t. Bastards. There went 8 bucks. UFO was cool. Ran through most of hits except for Rock Bottom. The Scorpions came out and it’s almost like nothing has changed. Too funny. But, if you want to know how to be a current member of the Scorpions, here ya go. Scream a bunch of stuff into the mic that’s unintelligible because of your german accent, run around really funny in funny pants, as a guitarist occasionally hold your guitar like it’s giant penis and point it at the audience, during fast parts line up with your fellow band members in a line and rawk out while the crowd screams a lot, wear a hat because you’ve gone bald, show up at the wrong entrance and roll down your limousine window to get directions from a guy with an orange flashlight, if you’re not an original member of the band you can wear a Scorpion’s tour shirt like you’re a fan boy, if you’re said member and of look like your of american indian descent, you can wear a feather in your hair that occasionally flops forward and looks like a miniature diving board… oh just watch Spinal Tap for all the correct moves. One comparison that would be funny would be to weigh the crowd from 1984 and this crowd tonight. The beer bellies and implants alone would probably add 25%. Not saying I didn’t fit right in.