Say Goodbye to The Spectrum

One of the country’s great arena rock venues meets its demise starting today as The Spectrum in Philadelphia meets a four-ton wrecking ball. At noon, Philly’s mayor and Spectrum officials will say a few words about the former home to the 76ers and Flyers before the exterior demolition, a process which the Philadelphia Inquirer reports will take four months, begins.

The Grateful Dead hold the record for most shows played at The Spectrum with 53. Other notable concerts from the venue’s history include a Doors’ gig in 1970 released as Live in Philadelphia ’70, numerous Phish and Yes performances, a Bruce Springsteen concert that took the place the night after John Lennon was shot and a Pink Floyd show featuring the only song the band ever performed without Roger Waters after the bassist was taken to the hospital just before the Us & Them encore.

Pearl Jam closed out the arena’s life as a rock venue with four epic shows last October. Comcast-Spectacor owns the property on which The Spectrum resides and plans to replace the 43-year-old arena with a giant mall called Philly Live! R.I.P. Spectrum, rock fans everywhere will miss your unmatched vibe that only decades of historic rock shows can provide.

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Have you seen any concerts at The Spectrum? Any shows in particular stick out? Let us know all about it by leaving a comment below…