There were a number of memorable concerts at the Ice Palace-- IIRC the Doors, Zeppelin, and the Turtles did shows there. I'm trying to remember if the Doors also did a show at the Convention Center. I do recall the controversy county DA George Franklin raised when Jim Morrison was on stage-- Franklin promised to arrest him should he do anything considered "obscene." Somewhere online may be photos of that event, the Clark County Sheriff deputies stopping the show (this was before the County Sheriff and Las Vegas PD merged.)

Memory fails. It was only 2 months after Morrison's bust in Miami and it was the City Council, not Franklin, who tried to stop the show. Franklin actually acted against type and reminded the City Council about the Constitution and a problem with a little thing called "prior restraint." To be sure, Franklin was no civil libertarian, but a blind squirrel can find a nut one time. Franklin had nothing to worry about. Morrison never once opened his eyes and never touched his pants. Manzarek was the star of the show that night.

There was a Local band called the 'Scatter Blues' who opened the Convention Center show for the Door's. I was backstage working on equipment that day and met Morrison. He seemed quite shy at the time. As for why the eyes closed statement, I can say I saw something going on just prior to the show, but that would be heresay and I dare not. As far as the Ice Palace, I never remember the Doors there. I do remember CCR on several occasions and they also played an old teen dance venue called the "Warehouse". If memory serves that was off Industrial road. Country Joe and the Fish also played Ice Palace as did Sir Douglas Quintet. Ruby Weiss (part owner of the Riv at the time), also owned part of the Ice Palce and the Deli upstairs. It was an original intention to have pop acts there for locals only, like Sinatra etc. (an off strip local place, as it were) in fact even Jimmy Durante, Weiss's friend, had considered investing in the whole Idea and could be seen there several times a week. That all changed in mid/late 60's when it was realized that the up and comming entertainment was the new Rockers of the day and that the more sophisticated Pop era was fading. The rest is history, as they say.
Another note of Rock history you might like to note, is an apartment 4-plex on Bonanza across & west from Binions old place. It was owned by one of the Grateful Dead's parents as a rental investment (Bill Weir or Bob Kreutzmann can't remember which) the place has since been torn down and when the Freeway expansion that used to stop at Rancho was continued on, the whole area was razed. Anyway, many West Coast 60's R&R members would just be passing through town not necessarily on a gig but always had a "quiet place to stay" as few knew of it's existence in that regard.

I saw the original first album tour of Montrose, ZZTop tres hombres tour, black oak Arkansas, dr. Hook, jo jo gunn, some great concerts there. Oh and Stealy Dan bodisafa tour at the convention center

Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic post.Thanks Again. Fantastic.

Because I knew someone on the inside I went to the Ice Palace shows free. I was much more interested in soul music. I saw Credence, Buffalo Springfield, Led Zep and a few others. I had never heard music so loud! The highpoint was standing a few feet from Plant and Page as they soared for twenty-five mind-breaking minutes, Paige on the bow, soaring, Plant wailing. The interplay, ah.

Your such liars !! Led Zeppelin NEVER PLAYED LAS VEGAS.

James is Dazed and Confused I was there as well.

Born and raised in LV (1955), I attended concerts at the Ice Palace and the Convention Center (and the Aladdin). I understand memory lapse on who(and who didn't) actually played a concert in Las Vegas, as father time puts more space between that period (60's/70's) and now. Also at the same time, a personal account can reveal part truth, and part fiction. Then there are the downright 'fantasy'(fictional) accounts, and then, there are the 'nuggets'-the actual account(s) of something that DID take place.

Thus my friends, I'm the latter-I'm the real thing.

First, before I continue, I have some very pressing questions, that I can't answer. Did Alice Cooper ever play here in the late 60's or early 70's? Even as a non-headliner? Second, from what info I have gathered over the years, the Cream cancelled an appearance, and never did play here, while Led Zeppelin did (once in '69 at the Ice Palace), and the Doors played both at the Ice Palace and the Convention Center.

I attended a Steely Dan concert in the school year '72/'73, at the Convention Center. I swear it was on a week night. Does anybody recall that concert? At the time, that they just had the album 'Can't Buy A Thrill' out, even though I'm sure, "Ricky Don't Lose That Number" was close to being released (and played at the concert), if not already, as a single.

Anyway, back to my advertised factual accounts of my personal attendance at the following concerts.

I attended multiple concerts in late'67, and all of '68 through '77. To the best of my knowledge, I saw multiple Ice Palace concerts from '67 through '73, and as well as concerts at the Convention Center from '72-'77. The one concert I vividly remember at the Ice Palace was in '68. Eric Burden had just released 'Sky Pilot', and even though he was a year or two away from forming the group WAR, he was still billed as 'Eric Burden and The Animals'. Shadows of Knight (Gloria) was on the bill.

There seemed to be quite a few Bay Area bands at the Ice Palace during the '67-'69 period (Quick Silver etc.), but no appearance by the grand daddy of that area (and era), Jefferson Airplane. I saw where they had like a ten day gig at the Whiskey from late November through early Dec. in '66.

The Ice Palace had a resurgence of sorts in '73, when Montrose played with Black Oak Arkansas, with Ten Years After, Yes and ELO also doing spring gigs there. Now that was a stretch of class acts.(sans Black Oak)

Convention Center? I got a late start there, missing some good acts early ('69-'71). However I did salvage seeing; Humble Pie (Slade), Deep Purple (no show) with Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Chicago, Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers.

Next to the Beatle's in '64 and Zeppelin in '69, (and the Doors, wherever they played) the most notable concert of quality I missed, had to be Jethro Tull in '72. There's a consensus from that era, that this might have been the best concert ever, up until that time.

The Aladdin opened in summer'76 with Neil Diamond. Although I didn't attend that concert, I did attend the followings shows there; Aerosmith, J. Geils and Eric Clapton.

Personally the most enjoyable concerts I ever saw in person, were The Who at the LA Forum in Nov. '73, the Stones also at the Forum in July '75 and Wings at the same venue in June '76.

By the way, the mentioned 'Warehouse' was actually called 'The AwareHouse'-a definite play on words (and the psychedelic nature of that type of music). It was an actual warehouse (northwest corner of Sirius and Rancho-last one). They had just built that group of warehouse's back then ('67-'68) I remember.

In conclusion 'gang' (GL Vitto?-remember him and the teenage 'brace faced', sports tout Gordy Fink?), any serious discussion on Rock and Roll acts in Las Vegas history, begins (and ends really) with the Beatles' two concerts on that August day back in '64 at the Convention Center. ("Stan Irwin and the Sahara Hotel present The Beatles)

As a "kid" growing up here in Vegas on the east side of town I frequented the ice palace many times.starting out w\friday night hanging out, playing pinball games in the arcade and ,ugh,skating. I hated that!later in my teens started attending concerts. Was there for the zep show and also zz top.recall Eric burdon playing often and vanilla fudge too. Just remembered seeing John McLaughlin there too.didnt make the cream show but was aware that they were going to play there.saw a poster advertising the performance at the stop and go by my grandparents place when they lived at the world wide which would be where fashion show mall is now.moving on to convention center promotions saw eagles open for Jethro tull.humble pie,10 yrs after. Was there for the ill-fated deep purple cancellation.also am recalling spirit and sly and the family stone performing in a hall south of the rotunda. And remember going to a few shows in the " gold" room

Regarding Ice Palace and Convention Center concerts:
I saw every concert at the convention centre. My highlights were The Beach Boys, The Beatles (1st show)and the best shows were Jethro Tull with The Eagles, The Doors, The Sons of Champlin.
I was there for the disaster of Deep Purple not showing but the opening acts made up for it. . . Rory Gallagher and Fleetwood Mac.
And so it goes.