Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre (later known as Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre) was an amphitheater operating from 1981 to 2016 in Irvine, California.
Former names
Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre (1981-99; 2014-16)
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (2000-14)
8808 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
Reserved seating, lawn seating
16,085
August 21, 1981
October 30, 2016
Late 2016
Notable events[edit]
1980s[edit]
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were the first rock act to perform there, on September 18, 1981. They were joined onstage by surprise guest Stevie Nicks, who performed "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" with the band. Ozzy Osbourne recorded a performance called Speak of the Devil at the venue on June 12, 1982, for home video release in Japan, later released on DVD in the US in 2012.[7]
Queen performed on September 11, 1982. The Grateful Dead performed at the amphitheatre fifteen times from 1983 through 1989. Oingo Boingo played its annual Halloween concerts at the venue, from 1986 through 1991, and one final time in 1993, before moving the remaining 1994 and 1995 shows to Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. Tangerine Dream performed on June 6, 1986, captured on the illicit recording Somnambulistic Imagery. The Smiths performed on August 28 of that year on their The Queen Is Dead tour. Bon Jovi performed for three consecutive nights on their Slippery When Wet tour, from June 20–22, 1987. Michael Jackson performed three concerts at the amphitheatre from November 7–9, 1988, during his Bad tour. Metallica performed for three nights on their ...And Justice for All tour from September 21–23, 1989.
1990s[edit]
Rush performed on June 29, 1990, for the band's Presto tour. Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Motörhead, Dangerous Toys and Metal Church performed together on July 12, 1991 as part of the Operation Rock & Roll tour. Glenn Danzig performed a Halloween concert in 1992. The Eagles performed on six consecutive nights, from May 27 – June 1, 1994, for their Hell Freezes Over reunion tour. Prince and the New Power Generation performed during their Jam of the Year Tour on October 12, 1997. Phish performed two single-night engagements in 1999 and 2000.
2000s[edit]
Iron Maiden, Motörhead and Dio performed on August 24, 2003, while Mars was vividly visible to the audience against the backdrop of the stage. Dream Theater and Megadeth performed on July 24, 2005. Kelly Clarkson performed on August 1, 2006, during her Addicted Tour. After the show, she wrote the song "Irvine" at the venue, later released as a hidden track on her 2007 album My December. Miley Cyrus performed in October 2008 for the promotional show of the series Hannah Montana.
2010s[edit]
Fall Out Boy performed on March 26, 2016, during their Winter Is Coming Tour. Bernie Sanders hosted a political rally at the venue on May 22 of that year.