The Rocking History of the Long Beach Arena
From Spike Jones to Snoop Dogg, Long Beach has a long, storied musical history, particularly when it comes to rock and pop. For nearly 60 years, the tie that binds that history has been the Long Beach Arena, which has hosted a jaw dropping lineup of A-list bands and performers: Elvis and Elton, Rolling Stones and Run DMC.
And that makes up just a very small fraction of the icons that have performed in the Arena: Led Zeppelin, Linda Rondstadt, Rick James, Van Halen, Santana and Beastie Boys. In fact, the Arena’s rock rep is regularly paid tribute to by the Long Beach Symphony, which performs its Pops program there. In 2023, the orchestra paid tribute to the Beatles and, in 2022, it staged “Remember When Rock Was Young: The Elton John Tribute.”
When the symphony, under the direction of Eckart Preu, and Craig A. Meyer, who portrayed Sir Elton, took the stage, it had been 49 years since the Rocket Man played to a sold out crowd in the Long Beach Arena in 1973, opening with “Bennie and the Jets” and closing with “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting.”
As the title of “Remember When Rock Was Young” suggests, rock was relatively young in 1973. Just 10 years before, the Beatles released their first album. Yet, by 1965, the Rolling Stones became the first band to perform in the arena. A few years later, the Stones played the Arena again. Opening for them that night? Stevie Wonder.
Go ahead, take a moment.
Yes, Stevie Wonder, already a huge star in his own right, opened for the Stones at the Long Beach Arena. And you could have seen it for, wait for it, $6.50. Even if you adjust for inflation, that works out to about $44 today, which probably doesn’t get you parking at most music venues.
Oh yeah, that same year, Elvis played, and left, the Arena. Twice.
The reason for Long Beach Arena’s popularity is obvious: it’s a large venue in Southern California. Of course, so is the Forum. What distinguished the Arena is that its slightly smaller capacity, about 15,000 compared to the Forum’s 18,000, made for a cozier environment, one that many performers credit with creating an atmosphere that allows for a better flow of energy between themselves and their audience.
“It has great arena seating,” said Preu, who performs in the venue multiple times each year as part of the Pops program. “So, despite it being a huge space you feel close, you feel connected to the audience.”
Given the energy that accompanies such a connection, it’s not surprising that there is a long list of live albums that have been recorded there. Everyone from Red Hot Chili Peppers to Leon Russell to Boston to Rick James to Deep Purple to ELO to No Doubt have released material recorded in the Arena.
In 2003, Led Zeppelin put out “How the West Was Won” recorded at the Arena in 1972 at a time when Zeppelin was arguably the biggest band in the world and, according to guitarist Jimmy Page, performing at their absolute best
One of the most acclaimed live recordings was Iron Maiden’s “Live After Death.” You can literally hear the connective energy Preu spoke of as Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson is heard through the album exhorting the assembled to, “Scream for me, Long Beach!” which became a catchphrase, and a T-shirt.
For all of its history, the fact is that Long Beach Arena was never intended to become a sought-after rock venue. When it opened in 1962, the very idea of rock ‘n roll arena shows was simply not a thing.
The first event in the Arena, in October of 1962, was the Ringling Brothers Circus, soon followed by what would become another arena staple, an ice show; The Ice Capades eventually giving way to annual, popular performances by Disney On Ice.
There would be Harlem Globetrotters and LA Sharks hockey games, trade shows, figure skating championships and the National Square Dancing Convention. The Arena has been the site of the NCAA basketball tournament and, during the 1984 Summer Olympics, hosted the Game’s volleyball competitions.
Still, whenever he and his orchestra take the Arena’s stage, Preu says he does so with some mindfulness about the musicians who have taken it before him.
“It's always a thrill to be on that stage,” he said. “Being in front of thousands of people is a special feeling. Being aware that other greats have performed there makes it even more special.”
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