February 27, 1974 - Auckland Town Hall

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Yesterday a fan, Suzanne McConnell shared with us some memories from the first  David Cassidy's concert in New Zealand, in 1974. Of course it was many years ago, so she could remember 'bits and pieces', the excitement, how he was dressed, that everyone in the audience wanted DC's white bow tie and his white gloves, and that at one moment David was almost pulled off the stage into the crowd (bc of long microphone cord grabbed by some fans)..Elton John surprised everybody playing and singing with David rock'n'roll standards..Suzanne :' All too soon it was over and David was gone.' We have another review about DC's concerts in Auckland  and his visit in New Zealand. It was repeated a few times that he'd looked very tired. I also read somewhere that he found time for water ski and some sight seeing.

http://www.davidcassidy.com/fansite/ConcertPages/1974Feb27.html

David Cassidy in New Zealand..a lot of PR and wishful thinking unrelated to facts. Promotion started in January 1974, a lot of sensational and exciting articles, that DC would be the first pop star to  perform at Eden Park, that no one would know (for security reasons) where and when he would land or stay. Eden Park was (and still is) the biggest New Zealand  stadium, and there were a lot of questions in which part of it DC's concert would take place. One of the tour managers told the press ' Cricket fans can be assured that every precaution will be taken to give a good concert and to ensure that the pitch is looked after..'

This is from Sydney's concert, but 'Summer Days' was also his opener in Auckland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_XDYPfJAmc

The negotiations to have Eden Park as the concert venue for DC started in November 1973. The tour manager said ' We had to have a prestige venue and one capable of seating up to 20 000 fans.' Already in January the manager talked about less number, 15 000 fans. And a lot was written that David and Elton John would perform in New Zealand at the same time..And Led Zeppelin..There were interviews with security  experts. At last DC arrived, on February 23. ' Teeny-bopper idol, David Cassidy protected by strict security measures. received a low-key welcome (..) Cassidy was welcomed by only 200 of his Auckland admires'. On Feb 26 appeared the news that ' David Cassidy performs Wednesday at Auckland Town Hall'

And after Auckland concerts ..'Cassidy was remarkably philosophical about his Auckland appearance, much more so than Harry Miller (the tour organizer) and his team who are still reeling under the blow. For Harry Miller last weekend's rain was a Godsend. It enabled him to cancel his booking of the 22.500- seat Eden Park in favour of 2000 seats twice in the Town Hall. When Miller made his decision only 3000 Eden Park tickets had been sold.'

http://www.davidcassidy.com/fansite/InPrintPages/News1974.html

ChewyPineapple, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

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