25 years ago this weekend, the 1983 US Festival

[estranged4life]

The 1983 US Festival left lasting impressions

By JOE ARDENT
The Press-Enterprise

Searing heat. Shivering cold. Traffic nightmares. Pollution. The music and the technology. The US Festival 25 years ago this Memorial Day weekend at Glen Helen Regional Park in Devore was about all of that, and much, much more.

The 1983 festival, which was the more newsworthy followup to the first US Festival eight months earlier, seems to carry a certain magic appeal to it to this day.

It's been called the birthplace of "The Creative Class," where "geek" became cool, and the second Woodstock. Motley Crue's Vince Neil said "new wave died and rock 'n' roll took over" during the festival.

A then-record 670,000 attended the four-day music concert/tech expo, sponsored by Apple Computers co-founder Steve Wozniak. Top bands from the era were there, including Van Halen, A Flock of Seagulls, The Clash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., INXS, U2, David Bowie and the Scorpions.

Despite the huge turnout, the festival was a financial disaster for Wozniak, who lost a reported $20 million on the event.

It was also a nightmare for some area residents, such as Liz Grogan, 82, who served on the US Festival committee representing Devore-area residents.

"Traffic and pollution, you name it," Grogan said. "It was awful. It was supposed to be a computer festival, but it was a rock festival. The whole thing was rather poorly managed."

For Inland resident Mike Kovalcik, 42, of Yucaipa -- along with other Inland residents and rock musicians -- the festival was memorable for different reasons.

"It was an awesome experience. It was overwhelming and awesome," Kovalcik said. "We still talk, to this day, about how much fun we had at that time."

Klaus Meine, of the Scorpions, who played during the second day of the festival, said in a phone interview from Germany, it was a "milestone" for his band.

"When you think of it, it was one of the first big shows ever," he said. "Ozzy Osbourne was in front of us, Motley (Crue), Judas Priest were in front of us. To be on a bill like this, with all those amazing bands, and then be in a co-headlining position with Van Halen, it was spectacular."

’83 Festival Lineup

Saturday, May 28
Divinyls
INXS
Wall of Voodoo
Oingo Boingo
The English Beat
A Flock of Seagulls
Stray Cats
Men at Work
The Clash

Sunday, May 29
Quiet Riot
Motley Crue
Ozzy Osbourne
Judas Priest
Triumph
The Scorpions
Van Halen

Monday, May 30
Los Lobos (side stage)
Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul
Berlin
Quarterflash
U2
Missing Persons
The Pretenders
Joe Walsh
Stevie Nicks
David Bowie

Saturday, June 4
Riders In The Sky
Thrasher Brothers
Ricky Skaggs
Hank Williams Jr.
Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band
Waylon Jennings
Alabama
Willie Nelson