DEL SHANNON'S FINAL CONCERT

February 3, 1990, concert snippet from Del Shannon's final appearance--Fargo, ND, Civic Auditorium.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Del
• Shannon
• Fargo
• ND
• Civic
• Auditorium
• sixties
• rock

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

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

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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".

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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.

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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.

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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.

[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.

[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.

[alienhuman]

and five days later ... gone. wow.

[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..

[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)