Before MTV, There Was Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert

Don Kirschner Rock Concert

Photo: By Rogers, Cowan & Brenner, Beverly Hills-publicity (eBay front back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

During the 1960s and 1970s in the middle of the classic rock era, the only opportunity fans had of seeing their favorite bands was through the acquisition of concert tickets. Before the age of MTV, VH1, YouTube, and all the other modern-day musical video outlets, fans for the most part only knew what bands looked like from album covers and magazine articles. However, in 1973 an opportunity arose that would offer rock music fans a chance to see their favorite artists on television for the first time. It was a limited ninety minute a week opportunity, but at the same time, it was, for the most part, the only opportunity.

Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert premiered for the first time on broadcast television in 1973. In the early 1970’s most homes around the world only received televised programming from less than a dozen broadcast channels. Cable TV had not yet infiltrated mass culture. In 1973, no one had really yet even heard of the concept of cable TV. Nonetheless, once a week, usually on a Saturday night at 11.30 pm, we all gathered around the television set to watch Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert. It was spellbinding to see the bands that we had never seen in concert perform live or from taped live concerts.

The Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert series that began in 1973 had originally started as a show called “In Concert,” in 1972.” The show’s performance in the 11:30 pm time slot began to draw huge ratings. Don Kirshner who had been associated with the “In Concert,” series left the show to develop the iconic Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert television series that lasted from 1973 to 1981 and was broadcast on American Television.

The show featured such well known acts as, The Allman Brothers BandBad CompanyBadfingerBlack Sabbath, David Bowie, Alice Cooper, The Eagles, Pat Benatar,The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Edgar Winter, Rory Gallagher, George HarrisonBilly JoelJourneyKISS, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rush, The Ramones, Steve Miller, Van Morrison and so many more. The first band to ever appear on the show was the Rolling Stones in a live appearance from London. Check out the complete list below.

There were other music specials that began to broadcast in the seventies including “The Wolfman Jack Show,” featuring the notorious radio disk jockey from the 1950s. The Midnight Special, also became a very popular late night music program. With the premiere of Saturday Night Live in the mid-nineteen seventies opposite Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, competition for viewership increased because of Saturday Night Live’s popularity. Saturday Night Live also had a penchant for attracting the most popular music artists of the time period to perform live on the show.

In the 1960’s and 70s’s we never imagined the advent of MTV, cable television, and even the internet. Our only opportunity to enjoy music was from the vinyl grooves of the albums we loved, and the concert performances we attended. The Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert series began a series of events that would eventually change the music industry, and the fan experience.

Don Kirshner’s Career

While most rock fans who grew up in the 1970s only associate the name Don Kirshner with his rock music television show, many do not know the man’s musical success before his legendary television show. Don Kirshner first foray into the music business was when he began working with Bobby Darin collaborating on jingles.  In the late 1950s Don Kirshner co-founded a successful music publishing company called Aldon Music with Al Nevins.

Don Kirshner and Al Nevins utilize that Publishing Company in association with the Brill Building songwriters such as Carole KingNeil Diamond, Paul Simon and so many more of those wonderful songwriters during that time. Eventually, Don Kirshner  sold the company to Columbia Records.

Don Kirshner would go on to manage many legendary musical artist. As the head of Screen Gems Music Don kessinger was responsible for the eventual success of the band The Monkees and their successful television show. Don Kirshner also launched the career of the band The Archies. Even on the Progressive music side, Don Kirshner was known as the man who discovered the legendary rock band Kansas.

Don Kirshner never stopped working in the music business in some form. He continued promoting music and finding new talent up until the age of 76 when he passed away due to heart failure. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognized his contributions to rock and roll by inducting him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, a year after his passing.

Rock and Roll bands and artists that appeared on the show. Not all of these artists performed live but sent clips to the show to be played. 

10cc

The Allman Brothers Band

Ambrosia

Angel

Argent

Average White Band

Bad Company

Badfinger

Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Bar Kays

Black Sabbath

Brownsville Station

Joan Baez

Pat Benatar

Black Oak Arkansas

Blood, Sweat & Tears

Blue Öyster Cult

David Bowie

Eric Burdon

The Byrds

Harry Chapin

Cheap Trick

Alice Cooper

Jim Croce

Devo

Dixie Dregs

The Doobie Brothers

Eagles

Earth, Wind & Fire

Edgar Winter Group

Electric Light Orchestra

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Bryan Ferry

Fleetwood Mac

Focus

Foghat

Rory Gallagher

Genesis

Golden Earring

Grand Funk Railroad

The Guess Who

George Harrison

The Hollies

Hot Tuna

James Gang

Rick James

Billy Joel

Journey

Kansas

B. B. King

KISS

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Mahavishnu Orchestra

Mahogany Rush

Meat Loaf

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

Frank Marino

Don McLean

Molly Hatchet

Montrose

Mother’s Finest

Maria Muldaur

New Birth

New York Dolls

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Ted Nugent

Gary Numan

Ohio Players

Outlaws

Robert Palmer

The Police

Billy Preston

Prince & The Revolution

Pure Prairie League

Rainbow

Raspberries

Lou Reed

Martha Reeves

REO Speedwagon

The Rolling Stones

Linda Ronstadt

Todd Rundgren

Rush

Santana

The Sex Pistols

Seals & Crofts

Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Slade

Slave

Sly & the Family Stone

Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes

Sparks

The Spinners 

Starz

Steely Dan

Steppenwolf

Steve Miller Band

Cat Stevens

Marc Bolan and T. Rex

Ike & Tina Turner

UFO

Uriah Heep

Joe Walsh

Van Morrison

Walter Murphy

War

Weather Report

Wishbone Ash

Stevie Wonder

4 Comments

  1. Avatar Tom Neokleous March 16, 2016
  2. Avatar jeffrey heff October 6, 2016
  3. Avatar Greg Hertfelder February 27, 2020
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