July 22, 1972 (Saturday)
Concert Hall, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington D.C., U.S.A.

On Saturday, July 22, Badfinger came to Washington D.C. and appeared at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in one of their most exciting concerts ever. The acoustics were excellent, and I don't believe the Concert Hall had ever rocked before like it did that night. This was no symphony; this was rock!

And rock it did. My friends and I had good seats in the third row, far left, which provided a bird's eye view of a lively Joey jumping around and joking with Tom. As I recall, there were two encores, as people really enjoyed themselves and did not want to leave. The band came back and played feverishly, energetically. People crowded to the edge of the stage, dancing. Security guards had to hold them back. I didn't notice when it happened, but Tom shouted out that Pete was showing his "arse." Pete had split the seat of the black satin trousers that he wore that night. He was careful about his exit... I think he backed offstage.

At that point, I had the realization that they were remembering me now by face, if not by name. Earlier that afternoon, the same three friends who had accompanied me to Painter's Mill went with me to the airport. The control tower's digital display thermometer showed 96 degrees. It was humid. We didn't stay long, but we waited until their flight arrived and saw them from a distance at the baggage claim area. We were close enough to wave hello and get a wave back, but that was it.

The morning after the concert, we headed over to the hotel where the group had spent the night. They were checking out. We saw Pete in the hall, heading to the lobby. He said hello.

Impulsively, I pulled off a sterling silver bangle bracelet off my right arm, and asked if he'd wear it at least until the Buffalo, NY show a few weeks later. To my surprise, he said, "Yeah, sure," with his voice showing some interest. I fitted the bracelet on his right arm, and he smiled, testing it, raising his arm up and down. It remained on. "See you in Buffalo," he said, as he left. (The adjustable bracelet was an East Indian design with a raised diamond-cut pattern).

Debbie Randolph Harrison

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