Hordern Pavilion
Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion has been a leading live music venue for more than 50 years. Holding around 5000 people many consider it to be an ideal sized venue.
Built in 1924, prior to the opening of the Sydney Entertainment Centre in the 1980’s, The Hordern Pavilion was the biggest indoor venue available. All the big acts played there. I remember seeing Eric Clapton, Dire Straights, The Church, Baby Animals & plenty more there. The first time I ever saw Cold Chisel was at the Hordern. They were supporting Foreigner and they were brilliant.
Just check the gig list below to see a sample of the quality acts that played there.
Images
Known Gigs
| Date | Artist | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/06/73 | Frank Zappa | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 25/06/73 | Frank Zappa | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 26/06/73 | Frank Zappa | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 08/07/73 | Frank Zappa | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| with Barry Leef | |||
| 17/02/74 | Geordie (England) | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| Billed as “Castrol GTX Fat Session” Support Bands: Buffalo, 69er’s, Hush & Sherbet | |||
| 24/03/74 | Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| Support Bands: Ginger, Stevie Wright Band & La De Das | |||
| 25/04/74 | Daddy Cool | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| Support Bands: Home, La De Das & Stevie Wright Band | |||
| 01/06/74 | Cat Stevens | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 05/11/74 | Black Sabbath | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| Support Band: AC/DC | |||
| 16/11/74 | Black Sabbath | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| Support band: Buffalo | |||
| 19/11/74 | Uriah Heep | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 20/11/74 | Status Quo | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 17/03/75 | Bad Company | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 19/03/75 | Bad Company | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 15/04/75 | Roxy Music | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| Support Band: Split Enz | |||
| 23/04/75 | Roxy Music | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| Support Band: Split Enz | |||
| 21/05/75 | Leo Sayer | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 31/05/75 | Focus | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| Support Band: Sebastian Hardie | |||
| 18/08/75 | The Sweet | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 28/08/75 | The Sweet | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 02/10/75 | Status Quo | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 07/11/75 | Wings | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 19/11/75 | Deep Purple | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 20/03/76 | Leo Sayer | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 17/04/76 | Queen | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 08/08/76 | Skyhooks | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 11/11/76 | Blackmore’s Rainbow | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 12/12/76 | AC/DC | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 10/05/77 | Jon English | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 31/07/77 | Sherbet | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 09/12/77 | The Angels | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 10/12/77 | Rose Tattoo | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 10/12/77 | Kevin Borich | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 10/12/77 | Skyhooks | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 13/04/78 | Cold Chisel | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| supporting Foreigner | |||
| 25/10/79 | Mi Sex | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 01/01/80 | Cold Chisel | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 21/03/80 | Radiators | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 31/08/80 | Cold Chisel | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 30/01/81 | Little River Band | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 01/03/81 | Cold Chisel | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 20/03/81 | Mi Sex | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 23/04/81 | John Farnham | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 19/03/82 | Elton John | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 04/03/83 | Dire Straits | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 05/03/83 | Dire Straits | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 06/03/83 | Dire Straits | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 07/03/83 | Dire Straits | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 08/03/83 | Dire Straits | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 09/03/83 | Dire Straits | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
More Gigs here
what about John McLaughlin?
I remember seeing Status Quo there. Must have been the late 70’s. Also a very memerable gig there was, Believe it, CHUCK BERRY!! Yes the one and only legendary Man himself! He was having so much FUN! It was infectious, he played every song of his that I knew of at the time and some others that all sorts of bands had covered. He duckwalked, he played guiter with so much style and ease. It was only years after that I realized what a legend I had witnesed.
Again in the 70’s John McLaughlin had toured as The Mahavishnu Orchestra and just stood in the middle of the stage and soared and soared to the climax of the show which left you almost falling down.
When he left the stage the crowd continued applauding for the ‘longest time’ and eventually John came back on and ‘floored’ us all over again.
As a Jazz Musician, he had completely re invented himself and infected me with his devotion and unparalleled ability and finesse.
He kept on evolving in many different styles and I felt blessed to become aware.
Yes John McLaughlin toured with The Mahavishnu Orchestra at the Hordern Pavilion on 12th and 17th November ’74 . Saw one of the shows. Amazing performance and very lucky to see them.
I saw Status Quo Friday 21 July 1978
I LOVE Quo…I wasn’t allowed to go to their concert back in July ’78…It would have been MAGIC….Lucky you.
Kind regards.
Maureen.
Me too,first of many.You remember the support band?
i saw bob marley @ the horden in 1978. 3 mates and i went to watch the speedway at the showgrounds but it got washed out. we saw all these people hanging around so we wandered over to the front of the horden. 3 people approched us and asked if we wanted their tix as they had to go, we were 15 at the time, so we got all our cash together and bludged cash off others to make the $8.00 (yep 8 bucks to see bob)
i remember walking in to a blue haze of pot smoke. some black dude gave us a big grin and passed us a joint.
great memories
Hi,
Does anyone remember the N>S>W ( Wallacia?) outdoor Music Festival in the 70’s
that starred Elton John ( In an elaborate coloured balls outfit) yet had bands like Buffalo ,Hush etc..
Can’t find it anywhere
Rob
G’day Rob,
Just finished reading Biily Thorpes’ book ” Most People I know think that I’m crazy ” His 2nd book. He gives an hilarious account of that gig & many others.
Hi Recko,
Many thanks for the info,as it was driving me nuts.
I do remember seeing Thorpie distinctly at St.Seorges Basin ( a re-union tour)
and even at Bondi Pavilion,as he was on a postage stamp of a stage, with TWO! drummers, Gil Matthews and Johnny Dick along side of Teddy Toi on Bass and Warren Morgan on Keboards of course, and Billy out front with large Marshall Speakers and me up front.
I have the Tinnitus to prove I was there (Very good set,though).
Cheers
Rob
G’day Rob,
Anyone who saw Thorpie has Tinnitus!! Did some gigs on the Lock up your mothers tour and his Marshall amp head was bloody heavy, it was souped up by some guy in the states. Check out http://www.aztecmusic.net there’s a pile of great old stuff been re released.
Went to do a gig at the Horden in the 90’s and nearly cried. They had pulled out the bleachers on either side of the room. When I had a bit of time to kill between set up and shows I’d go under the stands and check out the old posters that the house staff had put up under there they were in layers and all went to the tip. There was old boxing,wrestling, roller derby and band posters dating way back. All sorts of stuff. Remember an old Jackson five poster from the sixties and Michael looked about ten and still looked like a negro! Will dredge through the brain cells and try and get a bit of a list of gigs I did there.
What date did Little Richard perform at the Hordern Pavilion
Regards. Philip.
I saw Joe Cocker at the Hordern in ’72 before he was kicked out of the country for a pot bust. Yes, Clapton, Zappa, Rod Stewart in the seventies. There were more, but to many brain cells have been fried.
I saw The Sweet there, with Andy Gibb as support in the late 70’s!
I saw Jackson Browne there in the 70’s when he was very young and beautiful and the music was as fresh as his sweet shining face. Magical. I also went along to see Gladys Knight and the Pips around the same time I think which was equally as wonderful. I remember the acoustics being really clear and clean and the old wooden floor had soul that added to the sound. A while back now I went to see Long Way to the Top. Billy Thorpe rocked in his leather pants. So glad to have seen him up close and live, he was enjoying himself so much. Only thing was I felt the stage position had changed? I remember it being at the end of the room and it seemed to be at the centre of the side, am I mad?
Jackson Browne was in March 1977 with Maria Muldair as the opener. It was The Pretender tour. I think he did 3 shows.
David Lindley was in Jackson’s band and Amos Garrett was in Maria’s band.
No you’re not mad, they moved the stage to the end where you used to walk in when they changed the entrance to coming from the new car park etc..
I saw Zappa at the Hordern, front row seats (which we used to get by buying the tickets at the hole in the wall at the Showground on Driver Avenue – all the ticket places had the back and sides, the Driver Avenue office had the front and centre! Question for anyone who can help – who was the support act? I remember they did some wonderful stuff, with a cello instead of a bass guitar!!
Norman Gunston ( Gary Macdonald ) came out and played some great Harmonica during the set
Saw don mclean in 73 and 74, bo diddley 74 ?, status quo I think 76, slade 74, suzi quatro 75 ?, sonny terry and brownie mcghee 74, quite an early mix then many more over the years and last month I saw Guy sebastian and next month it will be the fabulous tea party. yes eclectic taste. love music. rock on.!
I too saw Don McLean there in 1973 – didn’t notice you there though !
[…] Was The First Major Concert You Ever Went To? Status Quo, Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, 1974: – Hordern Pavilion The Hordern Pavilion hosted many great Rock Bands through the '70's & […]
I saw Suzi Quato there in 74 or 75. Absolutely blew the place away.
The Hordern was probably the best place to see bands. Small enough to be intimate, big enough for a good crowd. I saw to many there to remember them all but some highlights over the years – Muddy Waters; Eric Clapton (on his 461 Ocean Boulevard tour); John McLaughlin and The Mahavishnu Orchestra; Jean Luc Ponty; Frank Zappa; Rory Gallagher; B.B. King (the night he collapsed on stage); John Mayall; Santana; James Taylor; Weather Report; Michael Franks with Crossfire and, memorable because I and most of the audience walked out, The Pogues when Shane MacGowan was so drunk he couldn’t stand up, let alone sing.
Santana Weather Report brilliant
Loved reading everyones memories of the Hordern. Saw Rod Stewart there Feb19 1977. Excellent gig. and believe it was given Bay City Roller tix for Dec 3 1976 concert…wild turned out to be ok. ps not a patch of tartan on me.
First major concert I saw was chicago in ’72’ at the Horden. I believe it cost me $3.15 for the ticket, and to this day it was the best performance i have ever seen.
Hi music lovers ….. wondering if anyone could help me here …trying to recall the dates that The B-52’s (supported by MAtt finish) played the Hordern ….. also Suzi Quatro …..Cheers from Darwin
yea! I’m looking for the B 52’s concert date as well
5/11/74 – Black Sabbath supported by AC/DC – the loudest concert I have ever been too.
Hey Steve, I was at that Sabbath gig too. I remember I thought Angus and the boys blew Sabbath away that night. Question – was Bon in the band at that stage?
Sorry mate didn’t see your reply – yea Bon was singing that tour – he joined the band mid 74 I think.
The Hordern was a great venue, everyone crammed together creating an exciting ( and hot) atmosphere but it was small enough that you could really get up close to the performers. I saw my first ever concert there (TRex) in 1972 I think. I was 14, so exciting. Also saw Ike and Tina Turner, still one of the most energetic shows ever, Chuck Berry was fun and he tried to entice me back to his hotel( I was 15 by then and perhaps he thought I was older) Black Sabbeth who were outshone by their support services AC/DC , Rod Steward who was having a thing with Belinda Green who came to the gig with him, Joe Cocker who swigged whiskey the whole concert but was awesome…happy days!
Rick Wakeman early 1975?
Wakeman 75 with all those keyboards and the blowup dinosaur’s. Who did the narration?
Steve, narrator was English actor terry taplin.
I saw Rolling Stones there approx 1964 and Big O
Saw jackson 5 in 73,t rex in 73 n one of the best shows ever was the Dutch band focus,jan akerman on guitar blew me away,also saw Suzi quatro,Gary glitter,tangerine dream n the last one at the hordern was evanescence
Hordern pavilion was the big venue in Sydney until the Entertainment Centre got going. I saw numerous bands during the Seventies early Eighties including John Mayall, Zappa, Little Feat, Lou Reed, Focus, Bad Company, Supertramp, Eric Clapton, and Roberta Flack
Little Feat gave one of the best performances I have ever seen. Lou Reed was so out of it he barely stand up and Roberta Flack was on stage for all of thirty minutes.
Oh yeah I also saw Stars supporting Joe Cocker but not Joe. I lost my pass out at interval and even though I knew my seat number and my friends inside had my ticket stub, the door Nazi’s wouldn’t even check or let me back in.
Saw Clapton there in the mid 70s right after he cleaned ups somewhat. He stumbled coming down the plane steps when he arrived and the press had a field day. Didn’t know what to expect for the show but it was excellent with a top band. Jamie Odaker on drums, Carl Radle on bass and Yvonne Eliman on backing vocals and a second guitar player who’s name escapes me now as does the keyboard player. The best part was after about an hour and a half Clapton suddenly turned green and made it to the side of the stage before chucking up all over the place. A roadie came out and whispered in Carl Radles’ ear and they finished up the song without Eric. Next thing out comes the tour manager and says Eric is unwell but if you all come back tomorrow night and bring you ticket stub he will do it all over again. (The show not the throwing up part). Well back we all went to witness what was to this day the best concert I have ever witnessed. No support just him for two hours. By the final encore his sound guy was standing on his stool and just about riding the mixing desk. I have been to hundreds of shows since and never seen anything to compare. Does anybody else remember being there?
Hey Paul, Bit of a late reply – I just found this site.
What a great EC story! I was at his first show on 17 Apr 75 (still got the ticket!) and remember it as a fantastic night, if a little more laid back than I was expecting. I read in Eric’s autobio that he was permanently pissed during this tour (having gone from being a junkie to an alcoholic without skipping a beat), but as it was Australia, nobody noticed! Got some reasonable photos of the gig which are good to have. As well as the members you named, the rest of the band was :
George Terry – Guitar
Dicks Sims – Keyboards
Jamie Oldaker – Drums
Marcy Levy – also Backing Vocals
There’s a recording of a Brisbane gig from this tour online at http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f145/eric-clapton-1975-04-14-brisbane-au-sbd-flac-169980.html#post1130769.
Hi Allan. Sorry not to reply sooner. I haven’t checked the site for a while. Thanks for the great information. I recently started playing with a drummer who has played around Fort Lauderdale/Miami with George Terry on and off for years. He’s going to ask him for me what he remembers about that night.
There was a great blues gig in the early 70’s too, I ‘m thinking Levis Blues concert. I can remember Captain Matchbox, Sonny & Brownie, Houndog Taylor, Duster Bennett & maybe Alexis Korner. Had a great day but the memory’s a bit foggy. Does anyone remember who else played there?
Hey Jim,
I was at that gig and the only performer you didn’t mention (Alexis was there), that I remember, was Renee Geyer. I remember Duster Bennett remarking with some conviction, that she was so good, she shouldn’t have been the support act. Still have some photos, including one of Mick Flett from CMWB doing something tasteless with a gramophone horn. Good times!
Thanks Allan,
You’re the only other person I know who remembers that concert. And it was special. I was there with my now wife of 42 years and her brother. We also used to dig Saturday arvos at the Rose, Shamrock & Thistle at Balmain rocking to Junior & the Gold Tops and the HouseWreckers (obvious fans of Hound Dog Taylor) and later on in the night going over to French’s to listen to the Foreday Riders in their early days. Maybe we crossed paths during those years Allan? Thanks again mate for your reply, Jim
PS Also saw Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, Eagles, Pink Floyd, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Joe Cocker, Frank Zappa and heaps of Aussie bands during those days. Yes good times indeed.
I remember The Don Mclean concert which was excellent. There was a stool on stage and he came out and started playing without any intro. The house lights were still up. Great performance that night.
I also remember Little Richard but can’t remember the date. What a showman! Very theatrical with oxygen administered between nurse and endless cries of “shaddup”.
I remember seeing Slade there in the afternoon & Elton John in the evening at Randwick racecourse on the same day. Both shows memorable.
Such great memories.
Hi.
Loving the memories of the Horden.
In the late 70’s I saw Osibisa , Deep Purple and Tina Turner (just after she’d split up with Ike. )
I remembered she’d lost all of her costumes at the airport but still put on an amazing powerful show.
Saw Black Sabbath on their first concert in Oz and now going to see them in their last concert tour tomorrow night.
Saw Sherbet there in’77 on the Photoplay tour…It was magical for a 12yr old fan. The Hordern was their second home as lot of Australian bands. Saw Moving Pictures, Goanna and The church in the 80’s…Then James Brown… He was amazing with all the theatrics. And lastly The Kinks.
I remember going to the Horden to a lot during the 70s and saw many bands, but sadly my memory of those years is a bit blurry, for reasons those who lived then can probably guess.
I do remember seeing Jethro Tull in July 72, Deep Purple in Nov 75 and also vaguely recall seeing Rainbow there, but not sure when.
My most vivid memory is of Deep Purple’s first set, they played for about 40 minutes non-stop belting out one hit after another. After the show they commented that the lack of screaming by the Aussie crowd made them think the fans were unhappy, so they kept playing harder and harder.
It was only when they couldn’t go on any longer and had to stop that the place erupted with a huge roar and they realised that the fans had been so busy listening to the music that they didn’t want to spoil it by yelling out.
Sadly by the time Rainbow came to Sydney fans had changed, and were more interested in being heard than listening to anything on stage.
Little Feat with Frank Zappa
Weather Report
John McLaughlin
B B King
Roxy Music
Jethro Tull
The Cure
!!!!!!!!!!!
When did ac/dc play horden with stars as support band
Suzi Quatro –
‘Hooks,
Sherbert,
B-52’s with Matt Finish as support,
AC/DC.
Far too many gigs there. I saw the good the bad and the ugly. I was fortunate that the greek “mafia” worked there and so I got in for free so as a music fanatic I was in heaven.
The most exciting white performer by far was Rory Gallagher in Feb 1975, wowee what a performer. Now for the rest, Ike and Tina turner’s first tour about 1976? were just sensational and exciting, Bo Diddley’s 1st tour was at the Pavlova in 74 when the Opera house was officially opened by the Queen, the dutch band Focus was quite impressive, Slade and Status Quo were crash hot as was Lou Reed. Now these were the days when the cops used to attend concerts keeping an eye on everything and the smell of dope was always present in the air.
Until the 1970’s most local bands who supported the international acts were booed, because the Aussie mentality was moronic when it came to our local bands.
Little Feet were an act that had everyone drenched in sweat from dancing about.
Paul McCartney i thought boring apart from the song “Give Ireland Back to the Iris” I think Uriah Heep were disappointing. The loudest band ever to play the Hordern in my opinion was not Thorpie but Ritchie Blackmore with Rainbow, ears still ringing for many today.
Yes John Mayall’s only Pavlova concert was memorable not only for the music but he announced at the end of the concert if there were any young girls interested in going to a party that night to go the back of the Pavlova!! The Pogues singer Shane might have been pissed but what a night of music and alcohol, a fantastic night.
The Bay City rollers? what can I say, crap.
David Essex did 2 concerts there in 75 & I went to both, the first night was full of teenyboppers and the smell of cum in the air was strong, the following night the audience was older later teens and early 20’s and on both nights he was brilliant. Chuck Berry was so so on the times I saw him there, once backed by the Keystone Angels who later changed to Angels and also another time backed by the Model Husbands.
The blues giant Freddie King was part of a blues package in 75 with Hound Dog Taylor, Alexis Korner (the father of British blues) Duster Bennett, Sonny terry & Brownie McGee, unfortunately as the concert started late and Freddie King was last performer & he was sizzling and he had to cut down his act to make way for a Lebanese concert that was on in the evening. Too many bands to mention here
Twisted Sister in 1985…I think. Loudest concert I think I’ve ever been to. Walked out onto the main drag (after walking across those parks) and couldn’t hear the traffic.
I do remember Dee Snider going ape shit at some in the crowd (who were sitting down) and yelled and yelled at them to “fuck off.
This was when the 5 bands for $5 bucks became big in Sydney and Lidcombe Oval was a venue. I think the Horden also did the $5 thing…can’t remember.
Oh, yes, the Pav. I recall the Stevie Wonder gig withJohn (then Johnny) Farnham in support. Stevie recognised Farnham’s obvious talent and invited him to sing a few numbers with him towards the end of the gig. I think there’s a similar quality in their voices and styles. Anyone remember what date the Muddy Waters gig was? Would have been mid 70s I’d say, but I’m keen to know the date. Enjoying some Muddy online as I write this! Were the Doobies at the Pav or the Ent Cent? I was a couple of rows from the front. Such a great gig. Shame that Michael McDonald left them. His vocals gave them a unique sound.
Cheers
Mitzidahlink
Saw the Cure in the early 80’s
Don’t ever forget Marc Bolan and T Rex played there now that is a master act!!
Well done!
Great thread. Was wondering if anyone can recall seeing JJ Cale playing in January 1976 in Sydney? I know he played in Melbourne but can’t find any info about him in Sydney.
Saturday November 3rd 1973
T – Rex with Marc Bolan. / Supported by Lobby LLoyd & The Coloured Balls
I was there, awesome show.
[…] I heard that Jimmy was playing at The Hordern Pavilion, (a venue I hadn’t been to since my 20’s when I saw Status Quo) I wrote again to see if […]
Saw Ugly Kid Joe , supported with Chocolate Starfish . Somewhere around 93 or 94
Jackson Browne was in March 1977 with Maria Muldair as the opener. It was The Pretender tour. I think he did 3 shows.
David Lindley was in Jackson’s band and Amos Garrett was in Maria’s band.
No you’re not mad, they moved the stage to the end where you used to walk in when they changed the entrance to coming from the new car park etc..
The Hordern has some great memories for me in my teen years.
The ones that I can recall…..
Wings – 1975 (with Norman Gunston in the crowd)
Jeff Beck – 1975 with Jan Hammer as support act (and band member!)
Rainbow – 1976 There was no encore, so a riot broke out!
June 8th 1974 Osibisa at the Hordern Pavilion
Who was the support band?
horden pavillion had a concert ‘ the rock circuit and 2 mmm present sunday live 5th of Ausgust 1984. i remember the angels playing, not sure of the rest
Remember Meatloaf at the Hordern 1978 ish. Supported by the Angels, who stole the show