Chapter 13: Ya-Ya’s

Sun, Nov 9, 1969

JG, MG, Ali & I Rode one more time that morning. After cleaning up, JG & MG drove Ali & I, across the San Francisco-Oakland-Bay-Bridge, to Oakland. The Rolling Stones had started their Tour a couple days before, but I wanted to hang out with Jerry Garcia 1st. Ali & I would travel with the Stones for the rest of the Tour though.

This was their Let It Bleed Tour. They hadn’t Gigged in America since 1966, due to Drug Charges. This caused the USA to Deny them Visas. It was mostly due to Brian Jones’ continuing Drug Busts. Keith Richards & Mick Jagger only got Slaps on the Wrist. So, as soon as the Stones Replaced Brian, their Visa Issues cleared up. If Brian was still a part of the Band, they may have still been kept out. Hard to say for sure.

Jerry got along great with Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, so he was staying for the concerts. Jerry would be invited to strap on one of Keith’s guitars.

The Stones were Playing 2 Shows in Oakland. After the Shows, they were flying to San Diego for a gig the next evening. They had their own Charted Jet, too. It was a Boeing 720.

Yup, I said Boeing 720. It had 4 Engines like the Boeing 707, but also had some features from the upcoming Boeing 727. It was an Hybrid.

Flying Private was the way to go though. No Security Bag Checks, especially for Drugs, Missed Flights or Lost Baggage. The plane took off as soon as you boarded it too. Ali & I told ourselves that we needed to get one! Not that big, just a little 10-Seater. The Stones would continue to fly in comfort over the years, eventually flying in a Boeing 767.

This was the same Boeing 720 that many Bands would use over the next few years. They just changed the name on the Exterior for each Band’s Tour. Led Zeppelin comes to mind. I think it was the Starship.

This was our Itinerary for Nov, 1969

Oct 31, Fri= NYC. Fly to LAX. (Lease Sunset Tower Duplex Penthouse)

Nov 1, Sa= LA, CA, (Lease West 1/2 of 3rd Floor in the Bradbury Building)

Nov 3, Mon= LA, CA, (Fly to Lake Tahoe. Option on Thunderbird Lodge)

Nov 6, Thur= Lk Tahoe, NV, (Fly to San Fran)

Nov 7-8, Fri & Sat= SF, CA, Fillmore West. Grateful Dead

Nov 9, Sun= Oakland, CA, Arena, Rolling Stones’ 1969 Tour (2 shows)

Nov 10, Mon= San Diego, CA, Sports Arena, Rolling Stones’ 1969 Tour

Nov 11, Tue= Phoenix, AZ, Arizona Vet Coliseum, Rolling Stones’ 1969 Tour

Nov 13, Thu= Dallas, TX, Moody Coliseum, Rolling Stones’ 1969 Tour

Nov 14, Fri= Auburn, AL, Memorial Coliseum, Rolling Stones’ 1969 Tour (2 shows)

Nov 15, Sat= Champaign, IL, Assembly Hall, U of IL, Rolling Stones’ 1969 Tour (2 shows)

Nov 16, Sun= Chicago, IL, International Amphitheater, Rolling Stones’ 1969 Tour Rec (2 shows)

The Stones took a week off before the 2nd 1/2 of the Tour. We all spent it in LA.

Nov 23, Sun= NYC, Ed Sullivan Show, Rolling Stones’ 1969 Tour- CBS-TV, 8-9pm ET

(Taped b4- None of us were there) (we had a big Watch Party atop the Sunset Tower)

Nov 24, Mon= Detroit, MI, Olympia Stadium, Rolling Stones’ 1969 Tour

Nov 25, Tue= Philadelphia, PA, The Spectrum, Rolling Stones’ 1969 Tour

Nov 26, Wed= Baltimore, MD, Civic Center, Rolling Stones’ Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! Rec

Nov 27-28, Thu & Fri= NYC, MSG, Rolling Stones’ Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! Rec (2 shows on 28th)

Nov 29, Sat= Boston, MA, Boston Garden, Rolling Stones’ 1969 Tour (2 shows)

Nov 30, Sun= W. Palm Beach, FL, PB International Raceway, Rolling Stones (we Skip)

Dec 5, Fri= NYC, MSG, Johnny Cash’s At Madison Square Garden Rec

Dec 6, Sat= Tracy, CA, Altamont Speedway, Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter Rec (I asked Jerry & Mick to Cancel, as it was going to be bad. It was a Free Concert anyway)

As. Ralf, the Stones’ Get-Yer-Ya-Yas-Out was one of my favorites. Music Historians agree, saying it’s the 1st Great Live Record. Most of it came from the shows at Madison Sq Garden, in NYC. To be Backstage with the Stones the whole Tour would be crazy. Mucho Cocaine too! Wait, I didn’t say that.

While Ali & I were in each city, we’d scope it out for opportunities, especially Historic Theatres. As Ralf, in the 1970’s & 1980’s, I was appalled when I learned that almost every Theatre was due to be Torn-Down or had the Seats ripped out. Even Radio City Music Hall, at Rockefeller Center, was slated to be gutted & then rebuilt for Office Use. There would be a Famous Rant by John Belushi, as a SNL Editorial, during its Weekend Update. That wouldn’t happen until 1980.

I’d try to save as many Historic Theatres as I could, long before it became critical. I’d do the same thing all around America, as well as Europe. Soon, I’d have plenty of extra cash to snatch up most Historic Theatres, & most at Bargain Basement Prices.

I would have Ali & Barbie dedicate lots of their time researching where EVERY Historic Theatre in the US & Canada was. Then we would hire a Bunch of Young Lawyers, to either buy the Theatres ASAP, or at least arrange an Option to Buy, which would save them, until we had the money to buy them.

By 1974, only a couple Theatres would be lost, either Torn-Down or Gutted.

After taking Control of a Theatre, we’d research it’s History, saving most Original Designs. We would eventually renovate each one, but at 1st we just gave them a Deep Cleaning.

PastTimesRadio would then add them to the growing List of Historic Theatres we operated We’d book most of our PTR Gigs in them, unless the Act needed a larger Arena. The Grateful Dead loved playing in Historic Theatres. Tons of great Concerts over the years were recorded in these Theatres, as they have great sound, since they were designed to not need Amplified Sound. They usually Seated between 2,000-3,500.

Radio City Music Hall seated 6,000. But it still was too small for some Groups, so they played at places like Madison Sq Garden, which could seat 20,000. Those were Arena Tours.

Even that was too small for the Huge Bands, who would play in a Football Stadium for 60,000 or more! Those were called Stadium Tours.

I just did a quick count & we would eventually Own, Control or Sponsor a Grand Total of 519 Historic Theatres! I took tremendous pride in saving them.

Most of the Theatres had been Neglected for years, & were pretty dingy. Their Owners were barely Making it, as most were Single-Screen Theatres, but most Customers were going to Multi-Screen places. We wouldn’t care if they made money. We did it because the Theatres Demanded To Be Treated With Respect & Pride. They Deserved to be Saved & Preserved. The beauty was, all would became successful again & well used.

I’ll go into more detail about these wonderful Theatres in a later Chapter. I just want to encourage everyone to Patronize the Historic Theatres in your area. They are Priceless, all one of a kind.

But to get back to the Tour. This Stones Tour, was an Arena Tour. They were far too big to Play small Venues. They would mostly Play in Basketball & Hockey Arenas, averaging around 10,000-20,000 Seats.

It was going to be a long Night, as the Stones were due to Play twice that night in Oakland. They were used to it, but I’m sure they paced themselves for the 1st Show. The Concerts were at 6pm & 10:30pm. That meant combined, they Performed for over 30,000 in Oakland.

JG, MG, Ali & I arrived at the Oakland Arena before the Stones. It was almost dark, at 5:30pm, when the Rolling Stones arrived. The Stones wouldn’t finish their 2nd Show until 10 Hours later, at 3:30am, Mon, Nov 10, 1969.

The Stones did their Sound Check, then I introduced them to Foos Ball. I had the Store Box the Machines Up, so they could Travel with us easily. I wanted them moved when the Band moved. From the Hotel, to the Venue, to the Plane, to the Hotel to the Venue, to the Plane...

I can see how the Cities could become a blur. But, with Biking added into the mix, I thought we could find a nice area to Ride each day. I bet they remember the Bike Rides more than the Concerts. I had some of my Folding Bikes shipped to Oakland, enough for the Band & Crew.

The Stones were originally going to use a very Low Tech Closed-Circuit TV System, that would be Broadcast up on Screens. But with Chip Monck’s Light Shows & Martin Scorsese’s Top Quality Film Broadcast, it would be much better this time. They even had Sheets Covering the Amps & Speakers, making the entire Back Wall a Screen.

I had already encouraged the Stones’ Tour Manager, Sam Cutler, to Travel after each Show & not the next day. They had planned to stay at the nearby, Edgewater Inn, but I soon convinced Sam it was better, for the Body & Mind & Soul, to do it my way.

Before the 1st Show, the Stones held a Press Conference at the Edgewater Inn. Their Manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, at 25yo in 1969, was a real Control Freak. He had restricted the Press as to Access & Questions asked. The same Rules applied to Photographers at the Shows. All this was due to past problems caused by over aggressive Press.

There were 35 People in the Stones’ Traveling Party, including, 10 Production Crew, 5 Writers, Mick Jagger’s Secretary, Jo Bergman, & a huge Black Bodyguard. Tony Fuches, had been Jim Morrisons Bodyguard in the past.

There were also 28 Chrysler Cars & Station Wagons for their use.

The Stones had just come up from doing 2 great Shows the Night before. They were in LA at The Forum, which Seats 17,500. There were reports of crazy Girls Rushing the Stage. Mick Jagger fed off that Energy, but was often accused of Causing a Riot.

My friend Bill Graham had agreed to Promote the Stones’ Shows in California. He did his usual great job, but the Stones were using Brand New Amps, from Ampeg. They were also cutting edge Tech, which is cool, but no-one thought to Test them 1st?

All the Amps Blew halfway through the 1st Concert. The Show was halted, while they tried to figure out what to do. Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Bill Wyman & Jerry Garcia, went out & performed Acoustically.

At one point, some fans Rushed the Stage, trampling My Film Crew that were working with Martin Scorsese! That pissed me off.

Bill Graham then came out on Stage, trying to push kids off it. It almost looked like he was stomping on ants, he was jumping around so much. The Stones’ Tour Manager, Sam Cutler then came out, trying to get Bill offstage. Both were notorious Hot Heads, & Bill grabbed Sam & then the Fists came out.

This happened 5 Feet to Stage Left, out of sight of the crowd, but I sure saw it. The Stones were Playing their 14th Song, Acoustically, due to the Amp Issues.

It was ironically, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.

I gave both Bill & Sam a shoulder as I ran into them, causing all 3 of us to hit the Floor. I calmed both down, saying we could fix it if we all just worked together.

The Stones made it through the 1st Show, going back to the Edgewater Inn to relax. After introducing them to Foos Ball, they got a good workout, as these guys had some pent-up Anger they released Playing Foos.

Mountain Girl, Jerry Garcia’s girlfriend, said we should ask to borrow the Dead’s Personal Amps. They could get them to Oakland to be used for the 2nd Show. Jerry said that would work.

Jerry sent the Grateful Dead’s Top Roadie, Ram-Rod, to the Dead’s Warehouse in Novato, CA. Ram-Rod had to go across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, to get North of the Bay. It was about an Hour Drive in each Direction.

The Dead saved the Night. With their Fender Amps, was Bear Ousley. Bear dared anyone to mess with HIS precious gear. He was the one who built the Dead’s Sound Systems, always the best. He was also the same guy who made almost all the LSD in the 1960’s. He early funded the Dead, using his LSD profits.

Ike & Tina Turner opened up the 2nd Show, putting on their usual High Energy Set. Terry Reid, followed, but he was Booed Off. B.B. King was great, getting called back for the Tour’s 1st Encore. I guess that was before ALL Artists played the Encore Game, Bruce Springsteen being the worst. I lost count at his Born in the U.S.A. Tour, in Miami, Fl in 1985. He did at least 10 Encores.

The wait for the Stones to go on for the 2nd Show was way too long. I was going to really work on getting them On Stage sooner! But being behind the Scenes, there were often good reasons, but Hours Late?

I wasn’t paying attention, but the Scheduled 10:30pm Start Time was blown all to hell. All I know was, it was well past Midnight when Mick pranced out again,

By all accounts, the Sound was great for the 2nd Show, probably due to the Grateful Dead’s Fender Amps, that were tweaked constantly by Bear. There is a famous Bootleg Recording of the 2nd Show, which was so good, it forced the Stones to put out their own Live Album. That would be, Get-Yer-Ya’s-Ya’s Out. The Bootleg was called, Live’r Than You’ll Ever Be.

With all the BS & delays, the Stones still put on a great 2nd Show that night. Mick was in fine form. He really put his all into the songs. Jerry Garcia knew all their Songs, so he added some great Riffs. He, Keith & Mick Taylor got into more than one 3-Way Guitar Battle.

After the 2nd Show, JG, MG, Ali & I all hugged. It was after 3:30am by then, meaning we wouldn’t get into San Diego until 6am or so. Oh well, I had some Night-Time Edibles I shared that would put us all to Sleep ASAP when needed.

We got in Limos, & were whisked off to da Plane, Boss. We waited for the Luggage, which included the Folding Bikes, Foos & all their Guitars. The other Gear would Travel on Semi Trailers, that would travel all Night to get to San Diego. It was right at an 8 Hour Drive.

The Bikes & Foos I wanted handy. The Foos were OK to lay down on their Back or Sides to fit in the Plane, so they weren’t too much of a hassle. We found we could remove the Legs easily, so they were much easier to move that way. They were in sturdy Wood Crates, that Bolted together quickly.

It worked out pretty good to travel right after each Show. That way we woke up in the new City. Our Flights were pretty short too.

Mon, Nov 10, 1969

In San Diego, We were staying at the Hyatt Regency-Mission Bay, Hotel & Marina, which had opened in 1960. It was near Sea World, which opened 4 years later, in 1964.

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ali & I shared the Penthouse’s 3-Bedroom Presidential Suite. We enjoyed waking up to the Pacific Ocean.

Our Hotel was across the San Diego River from the San Diego Sports Arena, where the Stones were due to Play that Night.

The 1st thing I did after waking up, was to give each Band Member their own Folding Bike. Then we Rode all around the Marina & Sea World.

I asked Martin Scorsese to Film us as we Rode, thinking we’d get some fun shots. These guys were a hoot. Martin got some great Film of the guy’s antics. We would have lots of memories. Martin would quickly Edit the Footage, then he would Show it on Big Movie Screens behind the Band during the Show. This predated others doing it, like Jimmy Buffett.

I encouraged everyone to Ride each day. I had brought enough Bikes, that by sharing, all could Ride. Even the Roadies Rode. They probably needed it the most, as they worked their asses off. A couple Roadies became addicted to Foos, & they made sure the Machines were kept in good repair, greasing the rods daily. A couple more took care of the Bikes. I slipped all a few extra bucks as thanks.