History of Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Timeline
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, located near Denver, Colorado, is a renowned open-air venue owned and operated by the city. Famous for its unique geological formations, including Ship Rock and Creation Rock, it naturally forms an amphitheater that seats 9,525 people. While primarily a concert and music festival destination, Red Rocks hosts various events throughout the year, making it a significant cultural and entertainment landmark.
4 hours ago : Big Head Todd and the Monsters Rock Red Rocks with Special Guests!
Big Head Todd and the Monsters celebrated a milestone weekend at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, joined by Bill Murray and Warren Haynes. The band also performed at Bridger Brewing.
May 31, 1906: Grand Opening of the Garden of the Titans
On May 31, 1906, the Grand Opening of the Garden of the Titans was held, featuring Pietro Satriano and his 25-piece brass band.
1906: John Brisben Walker Purchases Red Rocks
In 1906, John Brisben Walker, a magazine editor, acquired Red Rocks.
September 5, 1908: Feast of Lanterns Held
On September 5, 1908, the Feast of Lanterns commemorated the opening of the scenic road up Mt. Falcon, featuring military bands and fireworks.
1909: Mount Morrison Cable Incline Railway Opens
In 1909, the Mount Morrison Cable Incline funicular railway began operations, transporting tourists up Mount Morrison. It operated for about 5 years.
May 10, 1911: Mary Garden Performs
On May 10, 1911, opera singer Mary Garden performed at Red Rocks, declaring it the finest venue she had ever performed at.
1927: City of Denver Purchases Red Rocks
In 1927, the City of Denver purchased Red Rocks from John Brisben Walker and officially named it "Red Rocks" Amphitheatre.
1936: Amphitheater Construction Begins
In 1936, construction of the amphitheater began, utilizing labor and materials from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as part of the New Deal program.
June 15, 1941: Formal Dedication of Red Rocks Amphitheater
On June 15, 1941, Red Rocks Amphitheater was formally dedicated with a performance by Helen Jepson.
1947: Regular Concert Seasons Begin
Regular concert seasons at Red Rocks have been held almost every year since 1947.
July 23, 1948: Igor Stravinsky Conducts Denver Symphony
On July 23, 1948, Igor Stravinsky conducted the Denver Symphony at Red Rocks.
1957: Red Rocks Selected for AIA Exhibition
In 1957, Red Rocks was chosen as Colorado's submission to the American Institute of Architects' Centennial Exhibition at the National Gallery of Art.
1958: Van Cliburn Plays to Sold-Out Crowd
In 1958, Van Cliburn performed at Red Rocks to a sold-out audience.
August 26, 1964: The Beatles Perform at Red Rocks
On August 26, 1964, The Beatles performed at Red Rocks, marking their only concert that was not sold out during their US tour.
August 29, 1965: First Country and Western Show
On August 29, 1965, the first country and western show at Red Rocks was headlined by Johnny Cash.
September 1, 1968: Jimi Hendrix Performs at Red Rocks
On September 1, 1968, Jimi Hendrix, along with Vanilla Fudge and Soft Machine, performed at Red Rocks. This was the first Red Rocks show booked by Barry Fey.
August 14, 1969: Diana Ross & the Supremes Perform
On August 14, 1969, Diana Ross & the Supremes performed at Red Rocks.
June 10, 1971: Riot at Red Rocks During Jethro Tull Concert
On June 10, 1971, an incident during a Jethro Tull performance led to a five-year ban of rock concerts at Red Rocks after police used tear gas on gate-crashers.
1975: Barry Fey Takes Legal Action to Lift Rock Concert Ban
In 1975, Barry Fey took legal action against the city after being denied a permit for the band America, leading to the court ruling the city's ban on rock concerts as "arbitrarily and capricious[ly]".
1976: Rock Concert Ban Lifted
Starting in the summer of 1976, rock bands were welcomed back to Red Rocks after the court lifted the ban.
July 7, 1978: Grateful Dead Performance
On July 7, 1978, the Grateful Dead performed at Red Rocks. The performance was released as part of the July 1978: The Complete Recordings box set.
July 8, 1978: Grateful Dead Performance
On July 8, 1978, the Grateful Dead performed at Red Rocks. The performance was released as a standalone album, Red Rocks: 7/8/78.
July 1978: Release of July 1978: The Complete Recordings box set
In July 1978, the Grateful Dead released the 'July 1978: The Complete Recordings' box set, including performances from Red Rocks.
July 1978: The Grateful Dead at Red Rocks
The Grateful Dead performed at Red Rocks 20 times, and recordings from July 1978, specifically the 7th and 8th, have been released in their entirety on "July 1978: The Complete Recordings" and "Red Rocks: 7/8/78".
June 5, 1983: U2 Performs at Red Rocks During War Tour
On June 5, 1983, U2 performed at Red Rocks during their War Tour. The filming of the show resulted in the concert film U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky and the music video for "Sunday Bloody Sunday".
1983: U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky
In 1983, U2's concert video, Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky, was released and became a bestselling long-form concert video. The performance of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" was played frequently on MTV.
July 1, 1986: Depeche Mode Performance
On July 1, 1986, Depeche Mode performed at Red Rocks.
August 1986: Stevie Nicks Rock a Little Tour
In August 1986, Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks released a 60-minute-long DVD of her concert at Red Rocks, filmed towards the end of her Rock a Little tour.
1987: Grateful Dead's Last Performance Until
1987 was the last year The Grateful Dead played Red Rocks until later.
1987: Gary Hart presidential campaign announcement
In 1987, former Colorado Senator Gary Hart announced his campaign for president with a press conference at Red Rocks.
June 7, 1988: Jethro Tull Returns to Red Rocks
On June 7, 1988, Jethro Tull performed at Red Rocks again after the ban was lifted.
1990: Depeche Mode Performs During World Violation Tour
In 1990, Depeche Mode performed at Red Rocks during their World Violation Tour on July 11 and 12.
1990: The Adventures of Ford Fairlane filming
In 1990, part of the film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane was filmed at Red Rocks. Opening sequences feature the fictional rock band "Black Plague" playing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre where lead singer Bobby Black (played by Vince Neil) makes a grand entrance hanging from the rock face of the landmark red rocks above the crowd swooping on stage via zipline.
1992: The Moody Blues with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra
In 1992, The Moody Blues performed live with a symphony orchestra for the first time for the PBS special "A Night at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra". The concert was also released on CD and DVD, along with a companion DVD, The Other Side of Red Rocks, which documented show rehearsals and preparation, as well as concert excerpts.
1993: Blues Traveler's Fourth of July Tradition Begins
Blues Traveler has played Red Rocks every Fourth of July since 1993, with one exception.
1994: Big Head Todd and the Monsters Perform
In 1994, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, a Colorado band, performed at Red Rocks.
1995: Big Head Todd and the Monsters performance
In 1995, local Colorado band Big Head Todd and the Monsters performed at Red Rocks, which became a local annual early season tradition.
August 1996: Phish Banned After Red Rocks Concerts
In August 1996, Phish was banned from performing at Red Rocks after fans without tickets allegedly started a riot. The nearby town of Morrison was unprepared to accommodate the size of the band's following.
1999: John Popper Unable to Play at Red Rocks
In 1999, Blues Traveler lead singer John Popper was unable to play at Red Rocks due to heart surgery.
1999: Red Rocks Award Created by Pollstar
In 1999, Pollstar magazine, after awarding Red Rocks the title of best small outdoor venue for the eleventh time, renamed the award to the "Red Rocks Award" and removed Red Rocks from future consideration.
June 28, 2000: Ringo Starr Returns to Red Rocks
On June 28, 2000, Ringo Starr returned to Red Rocks with his All-Starr Band, asking the crowd if anyone had been at the Beatles concert 36 years prior.
August 7, 2000: Film on the Rocks Series Starts
On August 7, 2000, the "Film on the Rocks" series began with a screening of Casablanca.
2000: Neil Young's Road Rock Vol. 1 filming
In 2000, the live Neil Young album Road Rock Vol. 1 and its accompanying DVD, Red Rocks Live, were filmed and recorded at Red Rocks during the "Silver and Gold" tour.
2003: Big Head Todd and the Monsters DVD and album release
In 2003, Big Head Todd and the Monsters released a DVD and live album of their 1995 performance at Red Rocks, capturing what has become a local annual early season tradition.
2003: Carved In Stone–Volume 1 release
In 2003, the two-volume album "Carved In Stone–Volume 1" was released, featuring live recordings of 10 artists including R.E.M., Ben Harper, Coldplay, The Allman Brothers Band, and Phish, with proceeds benefiting "Preserve The Rocks Fund", a donation-driven reserve dedicated to the rehabilitation and preservation of the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
August 26, 2004: 1964 Beatles-Tribute Concert
On August 26, 2004, the Beatles-tribute band 1964 was flown to Denver to reenact The Beatles' concert held at Red Rocks exactly 40 years earlier.
2005: Trey Anastasio performance excerpt
In 2005, Phish frontman Trey Anastasio included excerpts from his performance at Red Rocks on the DVD that accompanied his album Shine.
2005: Dave Matthews Band's Weekend on the Rocks
In 2005, the Dave Matthews Band released the CD/DVD Weekend on the Rocks, which is a compilation of the band's four-night run, their last performances at the venue.
2006: The Fray Perform at Red Rocks
In 2006, The Fray, a Colorado band, performed at Red Rocks.
August 2007: Gary Allan "Watching Airplanes" music video
In August 2007, country musician Gary Allan filmed the music video for his song "Watching Airplanes" during a live, sold-out concert at Red Rocks.
October 2007: Carved In Stone – Volume 2, Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre release
In October 2007, Carved In Stone – Volume 2, Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a follow-up live compilation CD, was released. Erik Dyce, Trevor Pryce of Outlook Music Co., and Jeff Giarraputo of Factory Labs were the executive producers, making it the first venue to issue a CD and the first commercial release of these live tunes.
May 2008: Insane Clown Posse Hatchet Attacks Super Show
In May 2008, Insane Clown Posse played with Twiztid, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Boondox, the Axe Murder Boyz, Grave Plott, The ROC, and Motown Rage at Red Rocks and performed the 'first annual' Hatchet Attacks Super Show, for which they released a video later that year.
June 2008: Big Head Todd and the Monsters performance
In June 2008, Big Head Todd and the Monsters recorded a performance at Red Rocks, which they later released in 2009 as a two-CD/1DVD set.
August 12, 2008: Jethro Tull Performs at Red Rocks
On August 12, 2008, Jethro Tull performed at Red Rocks.
2008: DeVotchKa Performs at Red Rocks
In 2008, DeVotchKa, a Colorado band, performed at Red Rocks.
July 2009: Phish Returns to Red Rocks
In July 2009, Phish returned to perform at Red Rocks after being banned since 1996.
August 27, 2009: Depeche Mode Performs During Tour of the Universe
On August 27, 2009, Depeche Mode performed at Red Rocks during their Tour of the Universe. The show was recorded for their live album project Recording the Universe.
August 29, 2009: Depeche Mode Recording the Universe show
On August 29, 2009, Depeche Mode recorded their show at Red Rocks for their live album project, Recording the Universe.
2009: Big Head Todd and the Monsters album release
In 2009, Big Head Todd and the Monsters released a two-CD/1DVD set from their June 2008 performance at Red Rocks.
June 8, 2011: Jethro Tull Performs at Red Rocks
On June 8, 2011, Jethro Tull performed at Red Rocks.
August 2, 2011: A Perfect Circle Live: Featuring Stone and Echo recording
On August 2, 2011, A Perfect Circle recorded the DVD portion of their A Perfect Circle Live: Featuring Stone and Echo box set. Also included in the box set is a CD of the audio from the show.
August 29, 2012: Mumford & Sons "I Will Wait" performance recording
On August 29, 2012, Mumford & Sons recorded their live performance of their first single, "I Will Wait" from their new CD Babel, at Red Rocks. The band also recorded their show at Red Rocks on August 28 and 29.
September 9, 2012: Mumford & Sons "I Will Wait" official video release
On September 9, 2012, Mumford & Sons released their live performance of "I Will Wait", recorded on August 29, 2012, at Red Rocks as the band's official video for the song.
2012: 3OH!3 and Pretty Lights Perform
In 2012, 3OH!3 and Pretty Lights, both Colorado artists, performed at Red Rocks.
2013: OneRepublic and The Lumineers Perform
In 2013, OneRepublic and The Lumineers, both Colorado bands, performed at Red Rocks.
September 1, 2014: OneRepublic Native Summer Tour performance
On September 1, 2014, OneRepublic, a band hailing from Colorado Springs, announced they would be heading back to Red Rocks for a special performance to close out the North American leg of their Native Summer Tour. While performing the song "I Lived" they recorded the band, the audience, and one of their fans (Bryan Warnecke) for the "I Lived" music video.
September 25, 2014: OneRepublic "I Lived" music video release
On September 25, 2014, OneRepublic released the "I Lived" music video, which was filmed at Red Rocks during their September 1st performance. The video featured aerial views of the venue and aimed to spread awareness for cystic fibrosis and share Bryan's journey with the disease.
2014: Colorado Symphony's Cannabis-Themed Show
In 2014, following the legalization of marijuana in Colorado, the Colorado Symphony played a cannabis-themed "Red Rocks on a High Note" show.
June 10, 2015: Barenaked Ladies performance on Last Summer on Earth 2015 tour
On June 10, 2015, Barenaked Ladies performed at Red Rocks on their Last Summer on Earth 2015 tour. The performance was aired on AXS TV, then later released on May 20, 2016, as a live album titled BNL Rocks Red Rocks.
June 2015: Colorado Music Hall of Fame opening
In June 2015, the Colorado Music Hall of Fame opened its doors in the Trading Post at Red Rocks.
2015: Grateful Dead's Sold Out Record Broken
In 2015, The Grateful Dead no longer held the record for most sold out performances at Red Rocks.
May 20, 2016: BNL Rocks Red Rocks live album release
On May 20, 2016, the Barenaked Ladies released a live album titled BNL Rocks Red Rocks, from their June 10, 2015, performance at Red Rocks.
2016: Strawberry Runners Perform
In 2016, Strawberry Runners, a Colorado band, performed at Red Rocks.
May 11, 2017: Opeth and Gojira performance
On May 11, 2017, Opeth and Gojira performed at Red Rocks. Opeth later released a live DVD and Blu-ray of their performance, and Gojira released the full concert on YouTube.
November 16, 2017: Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre History and Geology Retrieved
On November 16, 2017, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre History and Geology was Retrieved.
2017: Bad Company performance
In 2017, the English hard rock supergroup Bad Company performed at Red Rocks.
May 30, 2018: Vance Joy Nation of Two World Tour performance
On May 30, 2018, Singer-songwriter Vance Joy recorded his performance at Red Rocks during his Nation of Two World Tour.
November 2, 2018: Opeth live DVD and Blu-ray release
On November 2, 2018, Opeth released a live DVD and Blu-ray of their May 11, 2017, performance at Red Rocks.
November 16, 2018: Vance Joy Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre album release
On November 16, 2018, Vance Joy released a live recording of his performance at Red Rocks recorded during his Nation of Two World Tour, entitled Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
2018: Yo-Yo Ma Begins Bach's Cello Suites Tour
In 2018, Yo-Yo Ma began his tour of Bach's Cello Suites at Red Rocks.
October 5, 2019: AJR Sold-Out Show
On October 5, 2019, AJR played a sold-out show at Red Rocks for their Neotheater World Tour.
2019: NOFX "The Decline (EP)" performance
In 2019, the American pop-punk band NOFX released a live recording of their full 18-minute song "The Decline (EP)" featuring Baz's orchestra in a performance at Red Rocks.
May 20, 2020: Gojira Live At Red Rocks release on YouTube
On May 20, 2020, Gojira released the full concert from their May 11, 2017, performance at Red Rocks on YouTube, titled Live At Red Rocks.
September 2020: Virtual Shows and Other Events
In September 2020, Red Rocks hosted virtual shows and other events such as drive-in movies and the Denver Film Festival's red carpet movies despite closures due to the pandemic.
October 2020: Construction Begins on Stage Roof Replacement
In October 2020, construction commenced to replace the existing stage roof and enhance the structure's rigging capabilities.
2020: Colorado Symphony Strings Perform Acoustic on the Rocks
During the 2020 pandemic, Red Rocks hosted the Colorado Symphony Strings, which played sold-out Acoustic on the Rocks shows in July and August, following social-distancing guidelines.
2020: Red Rocks Temporarily Shut Down Due to COVID-19
In 2020, Red Rocks was temporarily shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 2021: Bill Burr comedy special filming
In September 2021, Comedian Bill Burr filmed a comedy special at Red Rocks.
2021: Top-Grossing Concert Venue Worldwide
In 2021, Red Rocks Amphitheatre was recognized as the top-grossing and most-attended concert venue globally.
2021: Red Rocks Temporarily Shut Down Due to COVID-19
In 2021, Red Rocks was temporarily shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022: South Park 25th Anniversary Concert
In 2022, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone held a live concert with rock bands Primus, Ween, and Rush at Red Rocks to commemorate South Park's 25th anniversary.
June 21, 2023: Hailstorm at Louis Tomlinson Concert
On June 21, 2023, a hailstorm with apple-sized hail injured over 90 people at Red Rocks before a Louis Tomlinson concert.
October 8, 2023: Noah Kahan Sold-Out Show
On October 8, 2023, Noah Kahan played a sold-out show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre as part of his Stick Season Tour.
2023: The String Cheese Incident's Many Performances
As of 2023, Colorado band The String Cheese Incident has performed at Red Rocks over 50 times.
June 2024: Widespread Panic Holds Record for Sold-Out Performances
As of June 2024, Widespread Panic holds the record for the most sold-out performances at Red Rocks, with 72.
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