I was recently asked, “What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?”. I have been debating that question within for the past few days.

I have attended 381+ concerts in 43 years. I am still fact checking that number because it’s probably been even more shows than that. It’s a tough question because I have seen some great concerts and musicians over the decades, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Santana, U2, Metallica (the last two listed in the same night…) to just name a few.

I have to say the best concert I’ve ever been to was The Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden on June 25th, 1975.

There is an electricity, an excitement that the Stones create that is unequaled by any other band. They exceed the claim they are the “World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.”. I am sure some might argue with that title . I’m open to hearing your opinion but only if you have seen the Rolling Stones will I entertain that discussion.

There are several reasons why the Stones in ’75 was the best concert I’ve ever been to see. The first was the adventure we had that night. I bought the tickets for this event by standing in line at Ticketmaster. The show sold out in record time and I got nose bleed seats at the Garden. By the time the night was over we were on the floor of MSG. We had so much fun eluding the ushers and finding unoccupied seats on various levels of the Garden. Each time we moved down a level the music and crowd intensified for us.

The second reason was how good The Rolling Stones were collectively. The stage started as a star folded up like an unblossomed flower. Keith Richards rang out the licks of Honky Tonk Women as he pushed the star edge down to reach the fans. He sounded sharp, brilliant as he played his guitar in a low slung fashion.

Mick Jagger was the rooster on acid, prancing about in his full body white sequinned costume. He implored us to love him and we did with every word he sang for us. Jagger put on quite the show, at one point he was added to a trapeze and flew out over the audience at us. Another time he rode an inflated dragon that spat confetti at us.

Ron Wood and Keith Richards jousted with their axes and played tasty, competitive riffs.

Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts held down the rhythm section. I was very impressed with Charlie’s drumming skills. He played that drop down beat on “Gimme Shelter” with all his strength.

It was a real coup to get tickets to see them that year. The luck of the draw for seats was the fact that they played the Garden six nights straight, which increased chances for a seat. I think its going to be next to impossible to see their 50th Reunion Tour, but we’ll certainly try to get to one of their concerts.

Watch this video clip of the forthcoming Rolling Stones documentary, Crossfire Hurricane and tell me you don’t feel the charisma they generate