Remembering the Lansing Civic Center: 1955-1999
One day back in 1955 a not-so-little venue opened for the first time that would only stay standing for 44 years.
In those few decades, the Lansing Civic Center was one of the hottest places in Mid-Michigan where we could see our favorite rock acts and familes could go to special events...and even circuses. It may have been intended as a convention center, but its popularity for great shows overshadowed that aspect and became known as an awesome concert venue.
HOW awesome you ask? Look at this partial lineup of music performers who appeared at the center:
ADAM ANT
ALDO NOVA
ALICE COOPER
APRIL WINE
ART GARFUNKEL
ASSOCIATION
BABYS
BAD COMPANY
BEACH BOYS
BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS
BLUE OYSTER CULT
BOBBY RYDELL
BON JOVI
BUDDY MILES
CANNED HEAT
CARPENTERS
CHEAP TRICK
CHUCK BERRY
CLIFF RICHARD
CLYDE McPHATTER
CRESTS
CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH
DANNY AND THE JUNIORS
DAVE CLARK 5
DAVE MASON
DEL SHANNON
DOLLY PARTON
DONNIE IRIS
DUKE ELLINGTON
EDDIE MONEY
FOGHAT
FOUR SEASONS
FRANKIE AVALON
FRANKIE VALLI
FREDDY CANNON
GENE AUTRY
GORDON LIGHTFOOT
GUESS WHO
HALL AND OATES
HARRY CHAPIN
INXS
IRON MAIDEN
ISLEY BROTHERS
J. GEILS BAND
JAMES BROWN
JEFFERSON STARSHIP
JERRY LEE LEWIS
JOHN DENVER
JOHNNY & THE HURRICANES
JOHNNY CASH
JOHNNY TILLOTSON
JOSE’ FELICIANO
JOURNEY
JUDAS PRIEST
KISS
KINKS
LEO SAYER
LETTERMEN
LITTLE ANTHONY AND THE IMPERIALS
LITTLE FEAT
MEN AT WORK
MERLE HAGGARD
MOLLY HATCHET
MOTLEY CRUE
NAZARETH
NEIL YOUNG
OZZY OSBOURNE
PETER FRAMPTON
PSYCHEDELIC FURS
QUIET RIOT
RAINBOW
RATT
REO SPEEDWAGON
ROBERT PALMER
ROMANTICS
RONNIE JAMES DIO
RUSH
SAM THE SHAM AND THE PHARAOHS
SAMMY HAGAR
SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS
SHEENA EASTON
STEVE MARTIN
STRAY CATS
TED NUGENT
38 SPECIAL
TRIUMPH
TURTLES
WAYLON JENNINGS
WHITESNAKE
ZZ TOP
...an amazing lineup of stars over the years.
Once the new Lansing Center was built, the Civic Center was re-named Lansing Civic Arena in 1987. And then, seemingly all of a sudden, the center was TORN DOWN in 1999. It was located at 525 West Allegan Street in downtown Lansing, at the corner of West Allegan and South Pine Streets.
Send flowers and condolences to anyone you know – basically, to ANYbody who was fortunate to attend one of those legendary concerts...
Lansing Civic Center Memories
MORE MICHIGAN MUSIC:
Pine Knob, 1972-2000
Michigan's Forgotten Troubadour: Omo The Hobo
Michigan's Rock 'n Roll Garage Bands, 1960s