When we got our first gig headlining at the Armadillo World Headquarters, we were all very excited. I brought a business associate and some of his friends to the concert that night, and they had eaten some brownies. They were in a highly altered state - which was quite unusual for them being quite conservative for the time. I got them seated and sat at the board to help mix the band.
The band came on and after a few songs the crowd, starting from the back, suddenly began getting up and running for the exits. I really had no idea of what was going on until I got a whif of tear gas. Then, along with the rest of the crowd, I ran for an exit. As I left, I noticed the band finally getting a whif of their own. I was quite proud of them, they handled the situation in a very professional manner. They sped up the section they were playing and finished the song with a very, very fast phrase, then put their instruments down gently and ran off stage.
The entrance I chose dead ended at a seven foot wood barrier fence in the alley next to the building. The tiny girl in front of me went over this like a cat and I easily followed as tear-gas gives one almost superhuman strength to flee. On the other side of the fence was a row of cars in a parking lot which is now Threadgill's. The only possible place to land was on these cars. I would estimate over 100 people landed on two or three car hoods. I would have loved to have seen the insurance reports; cause of damage: mob histeria induced by tear gas.
After getting down I ran for what seemed forever. Finally the effect started wearing off and I was able to find some water to bathe my eyes. When I went back, the concert had been called off so we packed up. I found out later the friends I had brought knew nothing about tear gas and (while very stoned) believed there had been a chlorine gas leak and they were going to die. They never accepted any of my later offers to come see the band.
I bet few bands have ever had as memorable a concert as our headliner at the Armadillo. FYI, no one ever figured out who threw the tear gas. If any one knows, send me some email at park@parkstreets.com.