Not to rip anyone, but these shows made for some rough days and/or nights because of various circumstances that can be classified as "bad" and/or "ugly." You've been there, I'm sure.

1. Ted Nugent et al, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa., August 1979

The "Pennsylvania Jam," sort of a 10th anniversary of Woodstock deal, had a lineup that started about 10 a.m. with the Scorpions (before anyone over here had heard of that German import) and concluding with Sweaty Teddy. In between were the Henry Paul Band, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush, Edgar Winter and Blackfoot.

Throughout the hot summer morning into the night, each band seemed to keep turning the amplification system up louder and louder. That worked fine through Frank Marino, whose set was the definite highlight and well worth seeing. Then Edgar upped the ante, and the rest of the show felt like a jackhammer against the brain.

(BTW, check out Edgar's Web site. He's looking happy and healthy these days! Good to see.)

Now, I realize that anyone who plans to attend, say, Ozzfest is wondering what I'm complaining about. But amplifying a rock concert in the '70s was a different proposition than today, and anything turned up that loud ended up coming across as deafening aural sludge.

Speaking of which, I'm pretty sure that the trouble I have hearing today started around the time Ted Nugent was screaming into the microphone and hitting the opening chords to "Stranglehold." Which leads me to wonder: How do any of those guys hear a thing anymore?