Rush, Riverfront Coliseum, and the Best Skip Day Ever

How a Friday morning glance across a high school parking lot turned into front-row Rush at Riverfront Coliseum — with Judas Priest and Uriah Heep opening.

Friday, May 12, 1978 — Rural South Central Ohio to Cincinnati, Ohio.

I. The Parking Lot

The school parking lot of our rural South Central Ohio high school was already filling up by 7:15 that Friday morning. The routine was familiar: you either stepped off the yellow bus or you parked your own car and killed time before the morning bell rang.

The original plan was sensible enough. We were going to sit through class, wait for the final bell, and immediately hit the road for Cincinnati. Rush was playing Riverfront Coliseum that night, supported by Uriah Heep and Judas Priest, and the anticipation was already running high. We were standing outside my car in the early morning air, looking toward the school doors, the reality of sitting through seven hours of lectures suddenly felt impossible.

II. The Decision

One look between us was all it took.

"Do you really want to go in there today?"

Nobody argued. We climbed into the car, backed out of the lot, and left the school day behind before it even started.

III. The Road South

Our first leg took us to my buddy's sister's place since it was right on the route south. From there, we pushed straight into downtown Cincinnati. By the time we rolled up to Riverfront Coliseum, it was barely one or two in the afternoon.

IV. The Wait and the Show

The plaza outside was quiet that early, but killing a few hours on the concrete was part of the ritual. Tickets were an easy five-fifty for the early crowd, and with the entire floor run as general admission, getting there ridiculously early paid off in full. We surged through the turnstiles and claimed our ground right down front against the barrier. We were on the right-side of the stage, in front of Geddy.