R.I.P. Russ Gibb, Co-organizer of Jackson’s Goose Lake Festival
Michigan's “Uncle” Russ Gibb is gone.
If it hadn’t been for him, Jackson’s 1970 Goose Lake Festival might not have been as good. The festival took place exactly one year after the 1969 Woodstock Festival, August 7-9 and featured Bob Seger, the MC5, Rod Stewart, Mitch Ryder, Joe Walsh, Chicago, Jethro Tull and many others. Over 200,000 were in attendance for this awesome, peaceful show. CLICK HERE for more info on the festival.
Gibb helped book the acts for the Goose Lake, which was occurring during the “Paul is Dead” furor.
“What’s that” you millennials may ask?
Gibb helped fuel the flames back in 1969 for the rumor that Paul McCartney was dead. While on the air at WKNR, Gibb received a phone call from a kid who heard some underground rumblings that McCartney had died a few years earlier. Gibb took to the airwaves and ran with it. The rumor grew to monster proportions, going national and finally worldwide. Beatle albums were selling in droves as kids looked for the clues of Paul’s death within the grooves and album art.
And yup, Gibb was there at the beginning, pushing it into folklore. To hear the actual clips from his 1969 radio program where he discussed "Paul is Dead" clues, CLICK HERE.
Gibb also operated the famous Grande Ballroom, bringing in the top rock acts from around the world, like Alice Cooper, Cream, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Ted Nugent, Yardbirds, the Who and tons more.
To see the ruins of the Grande Ballroom, a long list of artists who appeared, and more info, CLICK HERE.
Gibb was 87 years old when he passed away in Garden City near Dearborn last Tuesday (April 30, 2019).
Jackson’s Goose Lake Festival was one of the best - if not THE best - rock shows this state ever had. It deserves more recognition and kudos that has been ignored for almost 50 years.
And we have “Uncle” Russ Gibb to thank for bringing it to us.
Scroll down a little and check out some Goose Lake videos below...not good quality, but they're better than nothin'.
The video below may contain some 4-letter words: