Five Best Rockford Concerts of the Last 25 Years

A conversation with friends led to the creation of this list of concerts that were the best I've seen in the near 25 years I've lived in Rockford.

Before you take a look and start judging my list, there are a couple things you should know first:

• These are not in any particular order
• I've only been to 2 country music concerts and they weren't in Rockford

Five Best Rockford Concerts of the Last 25 Years (in my opinion)

1, Motley Crue Saints Of Los Angeles Tour

• February 15, 2009
• Rockford Metro Center

I've seen the Crue more times than any other band. This was the first time I've ever been all the way up front with my chest against the barricade.

Cheap Trick Silver Anniversary

• August 29, 1999
• Davis Park

A concert party like no other. Slash, Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins and even Art Alexakis from Everclear joined our hometown heroes on stage.

Cheap Trick Rockford Area Music Industry Awards

• April 1995
• Verdi Club

I had just moved here a couple weeks prior. My co-host and I were asked to present an award. For days leading up to RAMI Award night, rumor was all the members were in Rockford and it was believed they would also be presenting an award. What it turned out to be was Cheap Trick opening the night with a live performance. So much fog machine, so much volume... SO MUCH AWESOME.

Journey

* This was the debut of Steve Augeri, Journey's 1st Steve Perry replacement singer.

• July 2, 2004
• Davis Park

There's nothing quite like going to see one of your all-time favorite bands and singing every word, to every song, next to fans just as big as you are.

REO Speedwagon 97ZOK 50th Anniversary Party

• September 27, 1997
• Metro Center

Concerts are about experiences. Undoubtedly, at every concert you attend, a moment will occur that you will remember the rest of your life. This was a night to celebrate the 50th birthday of the radio station I've worked at for nearly 25 years. For their encore, REO played Roll With The Changes and invited everyone from the station to join them on stage to sing the choruses... an absolutely incredible memory. One more funny memory from that night came later during the afterparty at The Scoreboard Bar inside the Holiday Inn. REO Speedwagon lead singer, Kevin Cronin, came down to the bar to get a drink and it was a glass of warm milk before he went to bed.

What Rockford concerts will you never forget?