Cumberland County Civic Center

Surprisingly, despite a spirited reminder by yours truly on the BLM airwaves that “Robert Plant, the friggin’ Golden God was coming to OUR town” the show was not a sellout. How does that happen? It’s still a perplexing question that vexes me to this day.

Slick suit coats, heavy riffs with a little twang, soaring vocals, and TWO drummers…yeeeee haw!!

On June 28, 1981, Joe brought his There Goes the Neighborhood Tour to Portland. It was Joe’s first album since the break-up of the Eagles and it included the fan favorite, “A Life of Illusion”, which we heard in the beginning of BLM’s A to Z.

32 years ago today, Heart played the Civic Center. On June 26, 1987 Ann & Nancy the lovely Wilson sisters, returned to Portland for the 6th time.

After going through an intense battle with alcoholism and checking into rehab early in 1982, Eric Clapton returned to the Civic Center for a second time. On June 17, 1982, Blimpsters sold-out Portland's biggest venue once again for the guitar giant.

On June 14, 1977, Ronnie Van Zant and the guitar triple threat of Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Steve Gaines tore it up in Portland at the newly opened CCCC with Billy Powell on keyboards, Leon Wilkinson on bass and Artimus Pyle on drums.

35 years ago tonight, the Scorpions returned to Portland for their first headlining show at the Civic Center. The Scorps brought along a new band called Bon Jovi for their first show in Maine.

36 years ago tonight, The Kinks played for the second and last time ever at the Civic Center.

Wow! We found ZZ Top performing live on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1986 just a couple weeks before the show here in Portland. The play Sharp Dressed Man and Tush backed by the legendary trumpeter Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show band. Johnny and Doc put on long beards in their honor..…

40 years ago today, Eric Clapton played a sold-out show at the Civic Center. The Backless Tour came to Portland on May 26, 1979. This was his first time at the CCCC and the great Muddy Waters was also on the bill!