July 1, 2001: Journey, Peter Frampton and John Waite delivered a rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza for close to 6,000 fans at the Coors Light Amphitheater at Montage Mountain.
In addition to the rock legends, rainy weather made an unwanted appearance at the mountainside venue and turned the lawn into a muddy mess.
Prior to the start of Waite’s set, amphitheater General Manager George Bieber invited all those with lawn tickets to come in from the rain and take an open seat under the roof.
Peter Frampton gives a rousing thumbs up to the 6,000 fans who came to see him, Journey and John Waite at the Coors Light Amphitheater at Montage Mountain on July 1, 2001. TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHIVES
Journey got the crowd ready for its set with a short video depicting its trip to Scranton that showed the Montage Mountain exit sign, the city’s welcome sign and stagehands setting up the stage. The crowd responded with thunderous applause.
Following the video, Journey jumped right in with “Lights,” “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Faithfully.” Throughout the rest of its set, the band played such hits as “Wheel in the Sky,” “Any Way You Want It” and “Stone in Love.”
Peter Frampton shows fans the way to jam during his performance at the Coors Light Amphitheater at Montage Mountain on July 1, 2001. TIMES-TRIBUNE ARCHIVES
Frampton and his guitar playing were the true highlights of the evening, though. Marking the 25th anniversary of the release of his famed live album, “Frampton Comes Alive!,” he gave the audience a new memory: hearing him play the album in person. He played hits including “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way” and “Do You Feel Like We Do?”
“Everybody had that album,” Cathy Weber of Richmondale told a Scranton Times reporter. “You would put it on, and it was a good time, no matter who you were with or what you were doing.”
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
