The Paha Sapa Music Festival was held July 2, 1989 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, South Dakota. On the bill were Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Neil Young, John Denver, Kris Kristofferson, Timbuk 3, John Trudell, Floyd Westerman and Buddy Red Bow.
This was a benefit show for several organizations on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation - KILI Radio, Oglala Lakota College, and the Pine Ridge Alcohol and Family Wellness Coalition.
I remember that those of us with media passes spent the entire show backstage except for the first song or two of each performer when we were allowed to move to the front of the stage and shoot pictures. One of the stranger feelings I've had was standing backstage watching John Denver perform when I realized the guy rubbing elbows with me and also watching the show was Kris Kristofferson.
A reporter friend that was with me was a huge Jackson Browne fan and asked him for an autograph. I figured she would like a picture of her standing next to him as he signed her program, so I fired off my flash in the near-blackness of the backstage area. I wanted to be sure I got the shot, so I took another one. That's when Jackson Browne looked up and directly into my eyes and said very slowly, "Don't...do that...again." I mumbled my apologies and walked away sheepishly.
Here's Jackson in a happier moment on stage.
It's Willie and "Trigger" again!
And Neil Young.
Neil with Willie.
The entire cast of the show gathered on stage at the end to sing a couple numbers.
On the left, that's Timbuk 3 ("The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades"), Neil Young and Willie Nelson in the center, and Kris Kristofferson on the right.
Again, did that really happen and did I really photograph that much talent on one stage at one time? I wish there was a DVD of that night that I could buy.
11 comments:
How was John Denver. Odd as it may sound, I'm a fan.
I never knew that! I'm a huge John Denver fan, so to not only see him perform, but meet him backstage was a huge thrill.
This was the second time I'd seen him and he was great both times. A huge talent that the world was robbed of much too soon.
I was the guy doing dressing room security at this concert. I got to help Kris Kristoferson feed his kids in the catering line, had Daisy Duke wrap her arm around my waste and sign my tee-shirt across my belly, chatted with Jackson Brown and John Denver, took Willie to his press conference, and escorted Neil Young over to Willies RV the Honeysuckle Rose for a little pot. I still have the tee shirt I had them all sign with a laundry marker. First time I ever met Billie Nelson. He came back the following year and I got him a hot date from the audience both years. He was a really cool and friendly guy. One of my highlights from this was chatting with him. BTW John Denver walked in with his dog and the first thing the dog did was lift his leg and piss on one of the concrete supports. LOL
Thanks for the stories Al. Fun to hear from someone else who was there that night.
I was there! I was 16 at the time. The biggest thing I remember is being supremely disappointed when Kris Kristopherson got on stage and said Sting was supposed to be there, but he was in South America saving the rain forest. LOL
I was there. It was a great concert. My late uncle got tickets for me & my mom. I was only a teen at the time but I knew about all the artists who played the concert. I even had a t-shirt of the concert. I wish it was recorded & released as a dvd. A concert i will NEVER forget.
Wow! Great story. I attended the concert. No lie. Great concert. I enjoyed the vibe of the concert at the time.
I didn't know that. But nonetheless it was a still great concert.
Do you remembe the free outdoor concert earlier in the afternoon? All Lakota Bands played for several hours to a great local crowd. My band "Steel Heart" did a six song set of original music. We rocked! I just found a cassette of that performance. I'm wondering of there are any more recordings or videos of that afternoon? Thanks Frenchy
Great concert, and great stories!, but listen to mine...I am from Italy, and at that time I was on vacation in SD with friends, and I got the news of the event by a local newspaper in my hotel room; RRRUSHED there, and it was the BEST concert I ever attended...all my music idols were there...at once! I am a photographer, but I had no permission to shoot (I even had to show my Italian passport to the security guy to get closer to the stage after the concert). All these years I've been looking for a recording, but (from here) there were no way; can anyone of you help me find it? maybe through KILI Radio. Great to know the memory of that event still burns in so many hearts after so much time. And we all can say "I WAS THERE!". BrunoBartolucci - Milano - Italy
I drove for 13 hours straight through the night from Madison, Wisconsin to do some good for the folks at the Pine Ridge Reservation Health Center. I pulled in to the parking lot at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center and just as I took my seat the lights went down to total darkness and Neil Young began to his guitar. It was so potent I burst into tears (admittedly I was lacking sleep). The energy in that place was electric. Amazing performances by all and the first time I was introduced to the music, poetry and drumming of John Trudell and Quilt Man and the incredible slide guitar of David Lindley. The experience was life changing for me. After the concert was over I headed to the bar at the Mt. Rushmore Hotel where many performers were staying in the hope of meeting Jackson Browne. I was making my way toward him near the bar when Neil Young walked in front of me and asked me “what are ya having?” and bought me a drink. Jackson walked away and I never did get the chance to meet him. Can you imagine being pissed at Neil Young for being nice enough to buy you a drink but screwed your chance of meeting Jackson Browne! It was a magical concert experience… never to be repeated.
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