March 13, 1971
Virginia Theater
Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.A.

My fractured memory was that Badfinger played at my high school. No Dice was my girlfriend's favorite album at the time. In the 1980s, an old buddy convinced me that we saw them at a nearby movie theater. I confirmed his recollection years later with a Washington Post newspaper clipping. I have two other dim memories of the show. The first is that we really enjoyed it and that Badfinger sounded good in person. The other is that one of them showed up a song or two late and they started the show as a trio.

2020 April 02

My first Badfinger concert was 13 March 1971 at the Alexandria (Virginia) Theatre. They did 2 shows that day, and those who attended the first show were invited to stay for the 2nd. My first fiancé, a local DJ, had given me an acetate of "Maybe Tomorrow," which I brought with me to the show. During the break between the shows, I approached the MC - a pompous DJ called Barry Richards who didn't have time for the little people, and who couldn't be bothered with my request to take or send the acetate backstage for an autograph. So, I went to the edge of the stage, where I asked one of the crew if he'd take it back to be signed. I implored him to bring it back safely, as it held sentimental value to me, as well. He agreed. A few moments later, the fellow came out from the back of the stage, withOUT my acetate, walking toward me, and motioned me to come up the side stairs onto the stage! A big bouncer-type guy standing at the stairs put his huge hand on my shoulder to stop me, and I gave this panicked look and pointed to the stage guy. Once assured it was OK, he let me continue.

As I walked toward the guy, out from the back comes Peter Ham himself, holding my acetate, saying "Where did you get THIS?!!" Talk about surprise!!! We met in the middle of the stage, in full view of the other patrons awaiting the 2nd show (including my 2 friends, who had the extra roll of film!), and he asked for my name, so he could sign the record for me. "Cary." "Oh," he replied, "like Carry On Till Tomorrow." "Yes, but with one R," I answered. He graciously signed my acetate and handed it back to me, then apologized for having to return to an interview he had left in order to come out and greet a fan. Wow. Totally awestruck, I turned to make my way back down the stairs to my 14th row seat, and heard a girl say "I'm Tommy's girlfriend, would you like to have a picture taken with him?" I realized I did have, swinging from my arm, one of these cheap 110 (?) cartridge-type cameras, with one frame of film left! So, of course, I said "Yes." Tommy put his arm around my shoulder and the photo was taken. It's an awful picture of Tommy, as he appears to be somewhat "out of it," shall we say, but it's my only documentation of the experience, apart from the autograph and ticket stubs. We bade farewell, and I started down the steps. When I stepped onto the first one (there were only 4) my knees were a bit rubbery, and I felt a stunned look on my face. I had just turned 20, still a kid, basically, and I'd never met anyone famous in my life, before! And these guys knew and worked with The Beatles! How nice it was of them to take time out of their own busy "work" time to pay attention to a "nobody!" They all proved to be this way, once I got to know them. It was a memorable first impression! Oh, yeah, the shows were great!

Cary Caldwell (2007)

© Copyright 2007-2021 Tom Brennan's Badfinger Library. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without permission is prohibited.
All trademarks used are the property of their respective owners.