Apollo Theatre, Glasgow
Originally an entertainment complex with a cinema and ballroom, it was known as Greens Playhouse and became a music venue in the late 1960s. Its iconic status came in the 1970s and 1980s after it was renamed the Glasgow Apollo Theatre.
In addition to a 3.500 capacity theater, there was a smaller ballroom above, which went under a few names; Clouds, Satellite City, and The Penthouse, for example. It was used by many then up-and-coming bands, names like Simple Minds and Elvis Costello had early gigs there.
Glasgow audiences were legendary for bringing the party in and enthusing the acts. Listen to the crowd on the Status Quo Live! album for a feel of that Apollo atmosphere in the downstairs venue. The Quo gigs were one of many where the balcony came in for special mention. It was designed to flex with movement.
The Glasgow crowd took great pleasure in making it bounce visibly as bands urged them on. From the first two concerts by Johnny Cash in 1973 to the last by the Style Council in 1985, it was a favorite venue for many top acts. The original building is now long gone, and another cinema complex is back in its place.
Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
One more old but great venue to close out this iconic dozen list. The Spectrum opened as a sports arena in Philadelphia back in 1967. It was the home for basketball and ice hockey, housing the Philadelphia 76ers from the NBA and the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL. Other sports were played there, and the indoor arena with its capacity of around 18,000 soon became a top music venue too.
Many bands used it regularly on tours. The Grateful Dead played over 50 gigs there, Bruce Springsteen has over 40 dates to his name, and Yes hit the bill close to 30 times there. Springsteen and the E Street Band played an emotional set there the evening after John Lennon had been killed.
Many other top bands make up a very strong list that have played there. Cream, for example, weren’t around long enough to hit those top numbers above, but did play at the Spectrum on their farewell tour.
It all came to an end with Pearl Jam closing the original venue in 2009. It’s since been replaced by Philly Live!, which incorporates shops, restaurants, and entertainment alongside the city’s main sports teams at the Wells Fargo Centre. But, like all of these venues above, it remains sadly missed.