Los Angeles, CA (April 25, 2013)—Los Angeles’ famed Gibson Amphitheater will close its doors when its lease ends in September, after 41 years of hosting concerts by some of the world’s biggest acts.
“We, like music lovers across Los Angeles, will miss Gibson Amphitheatre,” said Bret Gallagher, President of North American Concerts, Southern California/Las Vegas. “It is a tremendous venue with a uniquely intimate setting that has made it a very special place for fans and artists alike. The list of musicians that have played here is simply staggering. We are honored to have been a part of its remarkable story. While a change like this is difficult, we look forward to putting together a series of great shows that will celebrate everything about this marvelous building.”
The Gibson Amphitheater opened in 1972 as Universal Amphitheater, an outdoor venue on the Universal Studios lot, and over the years, hosted a variety of artists, including Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Madonna, Elton John, Pearl Jam, Rush and No Doubt.
The venue was known for its acoustics. When the Chairman of the Board headlined the amphitheater’s grand 1982 reopening as an enclosed theatre, he called it, “acoustically sensational… as large as the building is, I get a feeling that it’s a small room.” In 2009, The Los Angeles Times said of Pearl Jam’s five-night run, “Gibson helped Pearl Jam get bigger. The sound was excellent, crisp and crackling with detail….”
