DEL SHANNON'S FINAL CONCERT

[hamilton59840]

R.I.P. Del

We miss you. :'(

[violinmke]

I wondered what he was like in the final days. Thanks for this. It proves despite the darkness he was still functioning falsetto intact. That guy about the depression thing. If you don't have it you will never know or understand just how low he probably went often alone and on the road playing one nighters when you're so sick you should be home under doc care.

[denise007dm]

In five days he would be dead. RIP DEL... You are loved and missed..

[TREYOLDHIPPIE]

Hey W.Tomato- Iforgot to say, its great that you step up and admit to having depression since many people still look down on it, as if it could be 'thought' away. I know, when its bad, its really bad. Like a toothache. I am 'tough' also, but depression is a gorilla. Again, it IS so hard to get up and go, so HATS OFF to YOU.. Its your turn to smile, and you are really a COOL GUY TO STAND UP and put light on this big epidemic. Best to all who are fighting the fight. me too..

[TREYOLDHIPPIE]

Great news for you Wicked Tomato! I am glad for you!  I have been avoiding the bigshot over-degeed putz (psychiatrist and more than that in pharmacology).The doc said hospitalization would work 'faster' to help me. Well, I almost said OK..but I have an elder (96-alone) in nursing and well.. found out- they can KEEP you in a hospital even if you go voluntarily. Bad. Anyway you give me hope, I am truly glad this med helped you. I know about the 'long walk' and shower seeming to be work. Honestly.

[WickedTornado]

JOEL'S FINAL POST-WHICH MAKES IT #4). I know you all want to shoot me, but I feel if just one person can get some hope from my story, it's worth it. And I think Del would and IS approving from where he is..for real. The rest of the story is like this: I've been on the med that happened to work for me, Despiramine, every day since then, which was 1992. The RIGHT med IS out there for you. You'll prob. have to try diff. ones until success. Pray sincerely for help. God Bless You and much luck! joel

[WickedTornado]

JOEL'S 3RD POST OF 3). OK, so after a few days-no change. Then a week-no change. Then, 10days-no change, and I am really quite sure that this med is also a failure. I am really really distraught. My life is a living hell. I've been contemplating suicide. I'm praying all the time. Life is barely worth living. So then, day 12. The alarm rings in the morning, and when I sit up...BOOM!!! WOW!! I can't believe it, "YES...this is the way I remember life used to feel like!!" Oh my God...thank you !!!

[WickedTornado]

From Joel post 2 of 2). Mind you, I'm a big, strong guy. Even my Doctor said "You look like the picture of health" But, I was bad off. I cried all the time. We tried one med, it was no good. He gave me desipramine. He said take 3 daily. He made sure I understood "Look, do not miss a day. You need to take them 2 weeks for it to begin working. So NOT STOP, even tho you think it's not working at all. It will take 2 full weeks for it to start helping. OK- I can see I NEED ONE MORE POST TO FINISH..

[714AD]

We lost a gem that year. "Runaway" sounds more contemporary than today's music does! He did real good with a garage band..

[whooziss]

5 days before he died.......... kinda creepy. Gotta wonder what was going thu his mind this night.

[guido1365]

run away is still kool

[samisunc]

I believe the official report is that he was not taking prozac at the time of his death.

[renman103]

he looks a little like john fogarty

[TREYOLDHIPPIE]

Well depression is beyond complex and the brainiacs known as doctors cant fix it. Yes some get help from meds, but its a complex chemical imbalance. Some people have to take 20 different pills a day. It takes a rare doctor to know how to tweak meds. My family history never could use meds. Pain problems create depression and vice versa. Organic vitamins, yoga, and lack of judgement are critical. Suicide hurts others permanently. Its not an easy way out, its too permanent, but judging is wrong.

[WickedTornado]

@TREYOLDHIPPIE (POST 1 OF 2 FROM JOEL) FYI to anybody reading this that may be suffering from true clinical depression, I'm one who was saved by the CORRECT med. I had clin. dep. so bad 18yrs. ago that I had no strength. So badly that I literally had to lay down on the shower floor just to take a shower. From my bed, the bathroom was12feet away. At nite, having to pee so badly, I would wait and wait and wait until I couldn't stand it any longer, as the walk seemed SO FAR. (go to post 2)

[PerryMarlin]

No matter what type you take, It takes a toll on your life, some more than others, So sad for all people that suffer with depression, I heard he was going to make a come back with The Traveling Wilburys, so sad he/we missed out on that line-up,, RIP Del.......

[samisunc]

@PerryMarlin Check out, "Who left Who," by Del. Never released but fantastic.

[shootforthecut]

copyright © "DISCoveries" magazine--Summary of Shannon's final concert.

[shootforthecut]

Below is a summary of Del’s final concert by DISCoveries Magazine.

[shootforthecut]

Once on stage, Del Shannon put on a good show but had to cut it short because of the nagging flu bug. Even though he was visibly unwell, he had the crowd it the palm of his hand as they rocked away to the classic, "Hats Off To Larry". Shortly after, he asked for one of the spotlights to be turned off before continuing with his performance. More hits followed including "Little Town Flirt", "Keep Searchin’" and his enjoyable medley of "Oh! Pretty Woman"/"(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction".

[shootforthecut]

Before continuing, Del requested that one of the outside doors be opened so the stage area could cool off even though it was snowing and below freezing outside. Del finished off with the classic "Runaway" and followed that with "Do You Wanna Dance". He left the stage with a faint smile, speaking to no one. As soon as he was offstage the backing band immediately asked for the outside doors to be closed as they were certain they would become ill themselves.

[shootforthecut]

Del was scheduled for an interview with music magazine "DISCoveries", but they feared that the interview would be cancelled due to Del’s poor health, as he had missed a pre-concert press conference at 6.30 that night, electing to stay at his hotel room instead.

[shootforthecut]

Del Shannon arrived at the Fargo Civic Auditorium during The Crickets set and made his way to the dressing room. As it was snowing outside, the rooms were heated and one thermometer read 82F/30C, and because Del was running a fever and ill with the flu his first request was that the heating be switched off in his room. Officials at the auditorium would later admit that Del seemed preoccupied with this heating problem as it was the only thing he would discuss with anyone.

[cooltooth112]

He appeared Manic Depressive(Bi-Polar) to me as he was really up some of the time. I'm 54 and have fought this battle on and off since 1986 and am afraid it will end the same way, but for now It's good that I'm afraid of going that way. It scares me that God didn't intend for anyone to make that decision, but sometimes the despair is unbearable.

[Kungamuck]

@cooltooth112 The shame is that his music brightened the lives of millions but couldn't

do the same for him. No one knows the burden many of us carry and mind altering drugs like

Prozac only compound the problem - it doesn't lessen it . . .

[cooltooth112]

@Kungamuck The coroner found no prozac in his system and prozac tends to stay in your system about 30 days. I've been taking it over 20 years and it helped me. It did make me a little anxious and hyper at first but after a couple of weeks I got used to it. It works great for some and some people cannot tolerate it just like other drugs. His wife sued over the Prozac defense, which one has never been won, but she didn't have a chance as he was prescribed it but was not taking it.

[kh46daman]

I was diagnosed in 1994, and am 50. Proverbs 18:21 encourages me to say positive things rather than negative. 2 Tim 1:7 say I have power, love, and sound mind--not anxiety or fear of depression getting best of me. The despair is real but it helps me to choose each day to love God, myself, and others. Avoid haters. Get rid of negative thought patterns. Mind Over Mood book helps (chart thought records for patterns). Exercise helps a lot. Protein and mult-ivitamens help. I will live well!

[rascal211]

What was wrong with the lighting crew?

[specialbreed07]

He is in the rock and roll hall of fame.

[davidgmetoo]

my Home town 1990 awesomw town and an end of an awesome era!

[bear7734]

thank you del, for all of your talent. i too went through depression, it never truly disappears, i'm sorry to say. i lost my wife, children, and farm of 25 years to such a beast. i too, am off meds. i thank all who helped me---may you rest in peace, del shannon----thank you for your music!!!!

[supernaw242000]

I heard that not being elected to the R&R Hall of Fame, is what really did it...

[cheggers38]

was his wifes fault for pushin him to change his will

[ndhudecz]

He sounded great

[iceaxe56]

wasn't that the place of elvis last concert--what is it about north dakoata

[allahbigbollocks]

he 's gone boo hoo hoo. when will we ever see a peformer of his likes again? tell me, anybody? I'm depressed thinking about this.

[JohnGee1977]

I always wanted to see him. He made me appreciate remarkable sound, voice, and a stage presence that was undescribeable What else do you remember from seeing him that left an impression?

[MultiCrooky]

i was at this concert it was really sad to see im like this ive seem him lots he just didnt want be on stage and flirt there was tears in is eyes he also did kelly that wasnt his best he looked lost he wasnt really in it is heart looked gone

[gusgrissom1]

@MultiCrooky What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[forsburgers]

Maybe he looked at those ignorant arseholes in the audience who continued to back-chat thru the whole perfromance and thought : "Is this what it's come to? " He was an enormous talent who left an impressive legacy ....and he deserved some courtesy and respect.

[coyotesong]

It probably didn't help his frame of mind, but having suffered from depression for most of my life, it wasn't what killed him. I've taken prozac as well as a number of other anti-depressants, and I detested prozac But it obviously did't kill me. It's not possible to know what's in another's mind so we'll never know why Del chose to end his life, other than he found the pain of living unbearable.

[JJMFB1]

@coyotesong my prayers are with you and all who suffer in mostly silence,your 100% correct none of know what is on someone's mind ,may Del rest in peace and my Jesus give you peace in this sick world.

[coyotesong]

@JJMFB1 Thanks, I sincerely appreciate your comments. For reasons that are hard to explain, I've been off meds for about 2 years. I wish I could say it's been great. But that would be a big lie. Suffice to say, that I accept each day with the hope that the pain won't drive me over the edge. Some days are almost too hard to handle, and then there are those rare days when things seem calm and good....I'm envious that many others feel this way on a regular basis. It must be truly wonderful.

[rockinkb]

@forsburgers thanks for your comment, he was a great talent in everyway. but never quite got the recognition he richly deserved, i love all kinds of real music today but Del is the one that got me there, and he could match the best of them today!!

[cheggers38]

@rockinkb was his wifes fault for drivin him to change his will in her favour

[cheggers38]

@forsburgers it was his wife who drove him to it

[Kammler03]

@forsburgers

Totally agree with u !!! U're absolutely right !!! Therefore: Thanx for ur comment !!!

One can't explain the "talent+abilities" of Del !!! he was just an "outstanding artist,songwriter+performer" !!!

Most important + besides these "facts" ,Del was a "true+honest soul" !!!

What more,can anyone say ...

Forever,I'll miss him !!!

[WickedTornado]

@forsburgers YES...you nailed it. I kept playing back a portion of this where some chick in the audience kept yelling something. Finally, I understood her to be saying "take us back 20yrs." Even Del made a remark back to her.."yeah, take us back" I think this absolutely summed up what haunted Del. He was an "oldies" act, or at least he felt he was stuck there. Too bad they couldn't find the right med(s) to make him feel better about life and himself. I feel he could have pulled his career out.

[watson799]

Depression is not a state of mind it is a clinical problem.most thik that it is "hey,I feel like crap and I am depressed...

95 % of every transplant patient encounters depression.i am a transplant patient.

I am sorry that you dn't know what I am talking about here but trust me.you don't know what I am talking about here,honestly

[barbh1]

Now that's rock and roll!

[sjb0225]

5 days after this he blew his head off with a rifle. Thanks to Prozac.

[hartommitch]

Maybe Del thought in a sad moood; "I can better be dead because then they appreciate me like they should just as they did with Roy Orbison when he died" Or is that nonsens?

[wolfmanrick]

yes and not just on singers ex pro fighters too it's hard one min your on top of the world then the next.some one is telling you it's over i seen del in erie pa in 78 great show with freddy cannon and others

[Andalusia39]

He still looked youthful and could hit the high notes 30 years after he first released his hits. RIP; your music made my early teenage years so much fun.

[historicbloke]

so erie the 3rd feb being his last show

with the crickets on same tour

and never got to see him in the uk

[hunsworthbantam]

seems a lot of the greats do go before their time - Del, Elvis, MJackson, Buddy Holly - the list goes on and so does their music - RIP

[strke69]

Very hard to say what happened,I think del was depressed for some time that's what i think.whether or not prozac had a severe influence I don't know,he was probably sadly depressed for a long time.

[folkmusicgirl]

No one really knows what's going on inside someone's mind or how things really are in their daily life.Some say it was the Prozac, others say severely depressed. I'm sure it was probably a combination of many things that the public does not know about. Even people who are highly successful, money, beautiful homes can have issues going on in their lives that they don't reveal to anyone.There are people who are born with genes that predisposes them to depression.Some can overcome it others cannot.

[Floorbird]

If Del only knew what lay ahead, the band "The Travelling Willburys" were going to replace the late Roy Orbison with Del but it was not to be. Too soon gone.

[ol49rrrrr]

Growing up, Del and Fargo's own Bobby Vee were among my favourite singers. It is kind of sad to watch this knowing it is Del's last concert.

[baratittafilmer]

He was taking prozac and it´s a drug that changies you´re personal mind, so many have done the same,it´s really shoking that med.industries have such big power that no one can stop them from produce and sell this shit that kills,not even LeAnne(his last wife) could win over them,really sad it took Del Shannon too,look at the other two stories and you´ll se he is not him self,so sad,love you Del forever,caro

[yeloot]

He didn't kill himself because of the Prozac. Millions of people are on anti depressants and don't kill themselves.

[lrd9999]

No way to tell what role it had in his death. Just because a drug works OK with millions doesn't mean it won't have a totally different affect on one who can't tolerate it. I saw one,supposedly safe drug (nortriptoline) have frightening affects on my father, who handled Prozac fine; it was like pulling teeth to get his doctor to take him off. Drugs are a crap shoot, taken at one's own risk. The best the drug companies can do is be truthful about what risks are known, but they sometimes aren't .

[Blackson187]

Yea, it's hard to see how an anti-depressant can really be to blame for his suicide.

[mdefil23]

Anti depressant lead my friend to commit suicide too. Those drugs mess people up...its too bad

[Blackson187]

I dunno, to get them you have to be messed up to begin with. I've known plenty of people that have taken them and felt a lot better.

[mdefil23]

Yeah, its a case of how the individual responds. Im just not a big supporter of drugs even if its for 'good use'...messes people up.

[watson799]

Blackson: You Have no Idea !!!

you could not even begin to understand !

[Blackson187]

Why, because you disagree?

[ghengis5]

another weird fact the last song ever played by ricky nelson was that'll be the day also a buddy holly song. weird eh ?

[philaboston]

why would he kill himself? he was such a legend. there was no need to create another "runaway" song. why do people pu so much pressure on themselves? runaway will live forever. he should have realized this.

[akerockstar]

he was severely depressed, because he felt like a washed up rock star...only touring for rock'n'roll revival and doo wop type tours (you know like the type of concerts where they bring all the old singers of that decade together from special concerts). it took its toll on him

[baldyholly79]

Maybe it was because it was the anniversary of Buddy Hollys death, and this venue was the place Buddy was flying to, to play the next night!!

[pursuitforce]

If im correct at this time or should i say as we see him now he is on PROZAC in this footage.

[Fingersoap]

February 3... 5 days and Dell shot himself. WHY!??!?!

[starflyerv]

great del....there is a version of runaway..that like to see ...he start slow and audience start to clap and he says.."thankyou" then continues with the song...if anyone has..please post..thankyou ....Vin....Australia

[eenavid]

its the slow version. done by andrew loogham? look for it on home n away dvd..for me it doesnt really work..but its del..

[starflyerv]

Thankyou eenavid for that info.

Can you tell me what "home n away" dvd is..

Is it a music dvd ?.....any idea where i can get it from....

thankyou your help

[SMITHFRANK]

Oddly enough..Del's last show takes place on the anniversary of Buddy Holly's death in the city Buddy was flying to when his plane went down killing all aboard that night on Feb.3 of 1959. Sadly, 5 days after Del's last show there, he too would become a rock and roll memory.

[coyotesong]

that is definitely weird, eerie. There's no two ways about it.

[winstonlaci]

Prozacot <-- this crap....

[DelRocksMySpace]

Thanks so much for sharing this important footage in Dels career.

[baratittafilmer]

So great and living and only five days left to live,it´s impossible to take in,my dearest you are so lovely to watch here and every where,you will always be a big part of my life,I love you DEL,forever,caro

[mariecs1969]

awesome!! luv u del!!!!!!!!