Gwen Stefani closes Irvine Meadows, Orange County first big venue

Orange County Register ^ | October 31, 2016 | Kelli Skye Fadroski

[EveningStar]

Gwen Stefani took the Irvine Meadows stage Sunday night as the concert venue's final performer, 26 years after her band, No Doubt, first played there as an opening act for reggae artist Ziggy Marley.

"Can you imagine? Tonight is one of the most special nights for all of us," she said. "We, together, will be closing down Irvine Meadows. This is it, right here ... I'm so honored to be from Orange County, and I'm so honored to be with you here tonight to celebrate music. Let's have some fun tonight. Do you want to?"

And with that, Orange County's first large-scale concert venue began its swan song. The 16,000-capacity amphitheater, which opened in 1981, will be razed soon to make way for the second phase of the Irvine Co.'s Los Olivos apartment community. The amphitheater, which opened in 1981, sits on land leased by the Irvine Co., with the last of those leases expiring this year.

[Lurking Libertarian]

I saw remnants of the Grateful Dead there in July.

So did I. A great show.

RIP Irvine meadows-- it was a great place to hear live music.

[Two Kids' Dad]

I remember when it was basically a tradition for Oingo Boingo to play Irvine Meadows on or near Halloween. That was a blast!

[Mr. Douglas]

I used to do blues jams in Seattle. They were a good way to get “trial by fire” chops.

I play Stevie Ray’s in Louisville on occasion. Rare occasion. I’ve done it five times in five years. But I live 80 minutes away, and it’s on a work night, if you get my drift...

That place has a following. Some others do. But you can see what’s going to happen, just as you see what’s happening in all the local small churches around here. To wit, the average age of the folks there keeps increasing. Eventually they will all come to an end and be replaced by other things.

[DAC21]

Wow, I didn’t know this was closing. Dropped many a penny at the venue going back to the earliest days. The Who, REM, The Kinks, Ringo Star’s All Stars Band just to name a few.

[wizkid]

Have no fear. My brother is the a Project Manager on the Orange County Great Park, Sports Park.

OC Great Park Sports Park

We were talking about Irvine Meadows the other day. He said that there were plans for an similar amphitheater at the park along with a pro soccer stadium.

I believe the park is where the old El Torro Marine Air Base used to sit.

[cicero2k]

Hey So Cal Freepers.

I live a mile from The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. A venue that holds around 350. This weekend “Three Dog Night”, next weekend “America”. Wife and I have seen many cover bands: Stones, Johnny Cash, Fleetwood Mac, Heart. All entertaining. Plus a few up and coming acts as well.

For the big stuff, just came back from Desert Trip near Palm Springs for a three day festival.

[bicyclerepair]

Never understood the attraction to live concerts when the studio version on my awesome sound system was so much better.

And no lesbians spilling their drinks on me like the last concert I attended (Pat Benatar/Neil Geraldo in hwd FL).

[bicyclerepair]

Well, I assumed they were lesbians by the way the two of them were all over each other.

[southern rock]

Never understood the attraction to live concerts when the studio version on my awesome sound system was so much better.

Live concerts are the whole point to music. Studio albums are just advertisements for the live shows. Nowadays, more so than ever.

[Bon of Babble]

So sad! Just what we need in Southern California - more “apartment houses.”

[T-Bone Texan]

I liked Irvine Meadows better when it was called Lion County Safari.

Because the consequences were so much bigger.