August 6, 1972
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.

I traveled to Buffalo, N.Y. in my first plane ride ever, and stayed with a Beatles pen pal and her family. We attended the Sunday, August 6th concert in the War Memorial Auditorium. I saw the band briefly at the airport, the day before the show, with just time to say hello.

As they headed to the baggage claim, we looked for Pete, who was at the end of the entourage. Anxiously, I looked for the bracelet I'd asked him to wear after the Washington, D.C. concert two weeks earlier. Seeing me in the small group waiting on the opposite side of a glass, he smiled and raised his arm. "I'm still wearin' it!", he said, and I saw the silver on his wrist. My Buffalo friends did not understand, but that moment meant a lot to me.

During Badfinger's 1973 and 1974 tours, I had a few minutes to speak with Pete, and asked about the bracelet, which he had eventually stopped wearing. He said that he still had it. I believed him.

In 2002, I saw the "Without You" music video for the first time ever. I was moved when I saw the bangle on several closeup shots of Pete playing keyboard. I saw it again during the VH-1 "Behind the Music" program on Badfinger, which I also saw for the first time in 2002. I was very much moved by this. He had spoken the truth, which I valued. Pete's sincerity in receiving a teen's spontaneous gift showed me that he valued it and received it with the same sincerity with which it had been given.

My friend and I had seats so far from the stage that it seemed like Badfinger was performing in the next city. As I recall, there were many acts, and a lot of time was spent setting up and breaking down the sound equipment. The only non-Badfinger memory that I have from that show was Billy Preston's performance. He sang "That's The Way God Planned It, " which he performed at the "Concert for Bangla Desh" in New York a year earlier, and he did his "joy dance" during the instrumental portion, just as he'd done then. Billy had another popular song at the time, "Will It Go 'Round In Circles," which was another rocker. He wore his hair in a large Afro in those days. It waved as he did his dance.

Badfinger held their own and did a fan proud.

Debbie Randolph Harrison



Badfinger was my very first concert on August 6, (Sunday) 1972 in Buffalo, NY at "The Aud" (Buffalo Memorial Auditorium). I was 14 years old. I went with my big brother, "Mick" and friends. There happened to be an "extra ticket" and I was the lucky receipient. It was a really special time for the world and for myself.

During the concert I remember my brother wrinkling his nose and asking me if I smelled "it." "Smelled what ?", was my answer to which he replied, "marijuana!" I was a bit shocked by hearing the word "marijuana" coming from my brother's mouth. It meant that HE KNEW what marijuana smelled like!

I remember the climax of the concert was when Badfinger played "No Matter What". It was fantastic for me, a 14 year old kid who'd only heard that excellent tune on the radio (AM) and now they were right there in front of me playing it live!!

Other memories include Billy Preston playing that popular keyboard tune of his that I don't remember the name of because there were no lyrics, but it was pretty much a solo act on his part. Then, there were the 2 slutty-looking girls who stole our seats and gave us a hard time about getting them back....

First concert, best concert, thank you Badfinger!!

John Carroll


Saw them in Buffalo and they rate as one of the best acts I saw at the Memorial Aud, but they were never that big. We that found their music have that to treasure...

I was a good 10 feet away from Pete Ham's left shoe..

Stephen


I only owned Straight Up at the time, so I didn't know the first song ("Better Days"). They did play "No Matter What", "Day After Day", "Baby Blue", "Take It All", a long version of "Suitcase", "We're For The Dark" (I recognized after purchasing No Dice). That is all I can say for sure. The show ran late so I only stayed for about an hour of them. They also played some other "Boogie Numbers."

Louis Trotto

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