California Jam II

California Jam II (also known as Cal Jam II) was a major rock music festival held on March 18, 1978, at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California, attracting an estimated 300,000 to 350,000 attendees and featuring a diverse lineup of prominent acts including Aerosmith, Foreigner, Heart, Santana, and Ted Nugent.^[1]^[2]^[3] Organized by promoter Lenny Stogel's production team as a sequel to the groundbreaking 1974 California Jam, the event was designed to be a well-managed, all-day spectacle that emphasized safety and entertainment, drawing lessons from past festival mishaps like Altamont.^[3]^[2] The festival grossed approximately $3 million and set a record for single-day paid attendance at a rock concert, with around 225,000 tickets sold, though gate-crashers swelled the crowd size.^[3] The lineup showcased a mix of hard rock, progressive, and emerging talent, opening with Bob Welch (joined onstage by Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood), followed by acts such as Dave Mason, Rubicon (featuring future Night Ranger bassist Jack Blades), Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush, Jean-Michel Jarre's electronic set, and headliners like Aerosmith, who closed the show with pyrotechnics and high energy.^[1]^[2]^[3] Notable moments included aerial stunts, skydivers, and skateboard exhibitions between sets.^[3] Despite minor incidents—such as 23 arrests primarily for public intoxication, four reported rapes, and about 650 drug-related medical treatments—the festival proceeded peacefully under tight security, avoiding the chaos of earlier events and earning praise for its organization.^[2]^[3] Its success was amplified by media coverage, including two 90-minute ABC-TV specials and a double-LP soundtrack album released by Columbia Records, which captured live performances and helped cement Cal Jam II's legacy as a pivotal moment in the evolution of large-scale rock festivals.^[2]^[1]

History and Production

Origins and Organization

California Jam II emerged as a direct sequel to the original California Jam, a landmark rock festival held on April 6, 1974, at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California, which attracted an estimated 250,000 attendees and set a benchmark for large-scale outdoor music events with its innovative production and diverse lineup.^[1] The success of the 1974 event, which featured acts like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, inspired organizers to revive the concept four years later to capitalize on the growing demand for epic rock spectacles.^[2] The production was led by Leonard Stogel as the primary producer, who had co-produced the inaugural festival and was recognized as its creator; he collaborated closely with Sandy Feldman and Don Branker, both key figures in the original's execution, handling aspects from talent coordination to site logistics.^[4]^[5] The event was promoted by the firm Wolf & Rissmiller Concerts, a prominent Los Angeles-based promoter known for staging major rock shows during the era.^[6] Organized in 1978 at the height of arena rock's dominance, when bands like Aerosmith and Foreigner were filling stadiums nationwide, and amid a surge in multi-day festivals echoing Woodstock's legacy, the team sought to surpass the original in attendance and technical sophistication, including enhanced staging and broadcast capabilities to create an even grander experience.^[1]^[3]

Planning and Promotion

The planning for California Jam II began in November 1977, organized by promoters Wolf & Rissmiller Concerts in association with California Jam Inc., building on the success of the 1974 event to create a larger-scale production.^[7] The organizers invested over $1.5 million upfront, including a $100,000 deposit to secure city permits from the Ontario City Council, which initially faced resistance but approved the event in December 1977.^[7]^[3] This budget supported innovations in production, such as a 137,000-watt sound system—more than double the original event's capacity—and enhanced lighting and stage setups to accommodate a diverse lineup across a full day of performances.^[3]^[8] Promotional efforts by Wolf & Rissmiller focused on ticket sales starting months in advance, with prices set at $12.50 for advance purchase and $17 at the gate, ultimately selling approximately 225,000 tickets and generating around $2.5 million in gross revenue before additional gate admissions.^[7]^[3] Marketing emphasized the festival's scale through print ads and local media outreach, positioning it as a sequel that would surpass the 1974 gathering in attendance and spectacle amid a recovering post-recession music industry where large-scale events remained financially risky due to rising costs and variable turnout.^[1]^[7] Securing top performers proved challenging in the late 1970s economic climate, marked by inflation and cautious artist management following earlier festival flops, yet Wolf & Rissmiller assembled a roster of established rock acts to drive interest.^[5] Pre-event hype centered on reuniting prominent bands and claiming the title of the largest single-day concert, with expectations of record-breaking crowds fueled by the original event's legacy and promises of superior logistics and production quality.^[1]^[3]

Event Details

Venue and Date

The California Jam II took place on March 18, 1978, at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. This date in early spring was chosen to capitalize on the venue's prior success with large-scale events while ensuring favorable weather conditions typical of the season in Southern California.^[1] The Ontario Motor Speedway was a 2.5-mile oval racetrack that opened in 1970 and served as a premier motorsport facility, hosting major events like the California 500 for Indy cars and NASCAR races with a grandstand capacity of around 180,000 spectators. Repurposed for concerts, its expansive layout allowed for massive gatherings, with the main stage erected in the infield—a grassy central area—to optimize sound distribution and crowd viewing. The site featured extensive parking lots accommodating tens of thousands of vehicles, along with temporary concessions and support facilities to handle the event's scale.^[9]^[8] Organizers selected this location due to its proximity to Los Angeles, approximately 35 miles east, providing easy accessibility for attendees from the metropolitan area. Reusing the same site from the 1974 California Jam offered familiarity with the infrastructure, enabling improvements in setup and logistics based on lessons from the earlier festival. Promoters highlighted the venue's proven ability to support enormous crowds as a key selling point.^[1]^[3]

Attendance and Logistics

The California Jam II drew an estimated crowd of 300,000 to 350,000 attendees, exceeding the original 1974 California Jam's attendance of approximately 250,000 and marking it as one of the largest single-day rock festivals in history. Official ticket sales reached 225,000, with prices set at $12.50 for advance purchases and $17 at the gate, though reports indicate around 100,000 individuals entered as gate-crashers after a perimeter fence was toppled by crowd pressure, contributing to the discrepancy in figures. This exceeded the venue's suggested capacity limit of 150,000, as noted by local officials concerned about the site's ability to handle such volumes safely.^[3] Logistics for entry began early, with gates opening in the morning and fans camping overnight to secure positions, leading to dense crowds extending up to a quarter-mile from the main stage. Traffic management on surrounding highways, particularly the I-10 Freeway, proved challenging, with pre-event congestion causing standstill conditions and trips of just a few miles taking up to three hours; post-event dispersal was coordinated gradually after the final performance to ease flow, though police impounded 400 vehicles and recovered 82 stolen ones amid the chaos. Provisions for attendees in the sunny conditions included personal supplies like soft drinks and beer, as no large-scale water distribution was reported, though the heat did not result in notable dehydration incidents. Facilities included 800 portable restrooms and free parking.^[3] Safety measures encompassed on-site medical tents where 650 people received treatment for drug overdoses, with 75 cases requiring hospitalization, alongside security provided by local law enforcement that led to 23 arrests, mostly for public intoxication. Overcrowding was managed without necessitating major evacuations, despite the fence breach and reports of four alleged rapes under investigation. The event generated a gross revenue of $3 million, boosting local commerce in Ontario through heightened visitor spending, but it strained the town's infrastructure, with the mayor stating it was "just too big for a town this size to handle."^[3]

Musical Performances

Performer Lineup

The California Jam II featured a diverse lineup of ten acts spanning rock, hard rock, fusion, and electronic music, designed to captivate a broad spectrum of 1970s audiences with a blend of established stars and innovative performers. This selection emphasized high-energy rock alongside progressive and fusion elements, highlighted by the inclusion of electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre, who brought a novel synthesizer-driven set to the rock-dominated bill. The acts performed across two stages to ensure seamless transitions and continuous entertainment throughout the 12-hour event, with openers delivering shorter sets of approximately 30-45 minutes and headliners extending to over 90 minutes, though exact timings varied due to the festival's scale.^[2]^[3] The performances unfolded in the following order, starting with Bob Welch as the opening act. Bob Welch, the former Fleetwood Mac guitarist, opened the festival with special guests Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood, drawing from his solo hit "Sentimental Lady" (1977) and adding a pop-rock flair with Mac connections. Following him was Dave Mason, the British singer-songwriter and former Traffic member, who delivered a solo set blending folk-rock and blues influences from his 1970s output, including tracks from It's Like You Never Left (1973), appealing to fans of melodic rock.^[10] Heart took the stage next, the Seattle-based rock band fronted by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, who were riding the success of their breakthrough album Little Queen (1977) with hits like "Barracuda," offering a powerful mix of hard rock and folk elements that showcased their rising prominence in the male-dominated scene. Foreigner followed, the British-American rock supergroup co-led by Mick Jones and Lou Gramm, delivering arena-rock anthems from their debut album Foreigner (1977), such as "Cold as Ice." Santana, led by guitarist Carlos Santana, performed their signature Latin rock fusion, drawing from hits like "Black Magic Woman" and recent albums such as Amigos (1976), energizing the crowd with improvisational jams that set a rhythmic tone for the day.^[2] Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush followed, the Canadian progressive rock outfit led by guitarist Marino, known for his Hendrix-inspired virtuosity, delivering psychedelic jams from albums like Mahogany Rush (1976) that added a fusion edge to the lineup. Rubicon, a Bay Area funk-rock band, brought groovy rhythms influenced by their self-titled 1977 debut, representing emerging West Coast talent amid the bigger names. Jean-Michel Jarre, the French electronic composer, provided a striking contrast with his innovative synthesizer performance, including "Oxygène Part V" from his landmark 1976 album Oxygène, marking one of his early large-scale U.S. appearances and introducing ambient electronic sounds to the rock festival format. Ted Nugent, the outspoken guitarist known as the "Motor City Madman," followed with his high-octane hard rock performance, supported by his band including bassist Rob Grange, promoting his recent solo efforts like Cat Scratch Fever (1977) and emphasizing his reputation for explosive live shows.^[11] The festival closed with Aerosmith, positioned as one of the headliners, who delivered an extended set, the Boston rockers at the peak of their Draw the Line (1977) era, featuring Steven Tyler's charismatic vocals and Joe Perry's guitar riffs to thrill the massive audience.^[2] Backstage logistics for such a large-scale event involved coordinated rehearsals at nearby venues and specialized travel arrangements, including chartered flights for international acts like Jarre, to accommodate the performers' equipment demands and tight schedules across the expansive Ontario Motor Speedway site. Promotional materials hyped the star power of Aerosmith and Foreigner to draw record crowds.^[2]

Highlights and Incidents

Aerosmith's closing performance electrified the crowd with an 18-song set that included high-energy renditions of "Walk This Way" and "Draw the Line," marking them as the standout act of the day according to Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn.^[3] The band's dynamic stage presence, featuring Steven Tyler's charismatic interactions—such as tripping over scarves draped on his microphone stand—contributed to the explosive finale that capped the 12-hour event.^[2] Santana delivered a memorable fusion-infused set with classics like "Black Magic Woman" and "Evil Ways," showcasing Carlos Santana's intricate guitar work and the band's rhythmic Latin rock style that resonated deeply with the audience.^[3] Heart, emerging as a rising star, impressed with powerful performances of "Barracuda" and "Crazy on You," highlighting Ann Wilson's soaring vocals and the band's hard rock edge that drew enthusiastic cheers from the massive crowd.^[2] Foreigner's set featured hits such as "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," and "Feels Like the First Time," sparking widespread sing-alongs among the 300,000-plus attendees and underscoring the band's growing arena-rock appeal.^[3]^[2] Ted Nugent's intense stage antics defined his sunset slot, where he performed "Cat Scratch Fever" with relentless energy after arriving late from a hunting trip in Africa, though the heat and exertion pushed him to the brink without major disruption.^[3] A notable collaboration occurred during Bob Welch's opening set, when Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood joined him onstage for "Ebony Eyes," creating a surprise Fleetwood Mac reunion moment that thrilled early arrivals.^[2]^[1] Smaller acts like Rubicon faced challenges with sound quality due to the venue's vast scale, but no significant equipment failures were reported during their performance.^[3] The event maintained a largely peaceful atmosphere despite the sweltering heat, with organizers distributing thousands of gallons of free water to prevent dehydration; minor rowdiness, including a few bonfires and scuffles, was quickly managed, resulting in only 23 arrests primarily for intoxication.^[2] Audience reactions fueled the communal energy, as chants and informal moshing erupted during peak sets, fostering a shared vibe that attendees later described as one of the era's most vibrant rock experiences.^[3]^[1]

Media and Broadcast

Television and Radio Coverage

The California Jam II was broadcast through two 90-minute television specials on ABC-TV later in 1978, featuring highlights from key performances across the event's lineup.^[2] These specials were hosted by actress Susanne Severeid in her television debut and actor Jeff Conaway, known for his roles in Grease and the series Taxi.^[12] ABC's production emphasized multi-camera coverage to capture the festival's scale, contributing to its national reach and helping to disseminate the event to audiences beyond the Ontario Motor Speedway.^[3] In parallel, the festival received live radio coverage via simulcast on FM stations in the Los Angeles area, including KLOS and KMET, enabling remote listeners to experience the performances in stereo.^[1] This broadcast format, coordinated with ABC's television efforts, extended the event's accessibility amid occasional sound challenges that affected on-site audio quality. Local stations such as KLOS, an ABC-owned outlet at the time, played a central role in the radio dissemination, with disc jockeys providing commentary to guide listeners through the all-day program.^[13]

Sound and Technical Issues

The California Jam II employed a 137,000-watt sound system, touted as one of the largest deployed for a rock festival at the time, to accommodate the expansive Ontario Motor Speedway venue.^[3] Despite this high-end equipment, the event's unprecedented scale—drawing an estimated 300,000 to 350,000 attendees spread across up to 1.25 miles from the stage—resulted in inadequate audio coverage for those farther from the performance area, leading to muddled and diminished sound quality on-site.^[3] Attendees positioned at greater distances reported suboptimal listening experiences, with one participant, Charley Hepperle, recalling that from their spot on the grass with blankets and sleeping bags, "the sound there wasn’t great either," highlighting how the overambitious crowd size overwhelmed the system's reach.^[3] Though the core setup allowed closer fans to hear the music adequately, the sheer magnitude of the gathering proved difficult to fully overcome without supplemental off-site options like radio broadcasts, which provided clearer audio for remote listeners.^[3] This was in contrast to the 1974 California Jam, where Tycobrahe Sound Company's 54,000-watt system delivered consistent 105 dB SPL up to a mile away, setting a higher technical benchmark for large-scale festivals.^[8]

Releases and Legacy

Official Recordings

The official album from California Jam II, titled California Jam II, was released as a double LP by Columbia Records, a subsidiary of CBS, in July 1978.^[14] It compiled live performances from the March 18, 1978, event at Ontario Motor Speedway, featuring tracks by Santana ("Jugando" and "Dance Sister Dance"), Dave Mason ("Let It Go, Let It Flow" and "We Just Disagree"), Heart ("Love Alive" and "Little Queen"), Rubicon ("Never Gonna Leave" and "Too Hot to Handle"), Aerosmith ("Same Old Song and Dance", "Draw the Line", and "Chip Away the Stone"), and Ted Nugent ("Free for All" and "Snakeskin Cowboys"), among others.^[14] Notably, the album omitted full sets from Bob Welch and Foreigner, focusing instead on selections edited for commercial viability to capture the festival's high-energy rock moments.^[14] Production involved multiple recording engineers tailored to individual artist sets, including Andy Johns for overall recording, Doug Botnick for Dave Mason's tracks, and Rik Pekkonen for Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush's contribution.^[14] Remixing was handled by Bill Cooper and Richard Podolor, with additional mixing by Ron Nevison for select portions, ensuring a polished sound that highlighted the event's scale while streamlining the marathon concert into a digestible format.^[14] This approach preserved iconic segments, such as Aerosmith's explosive rendition of "Draw the Line," which exemplified the festival's raw arena-rock intensity.^[14] Commercially, the album achieved modest success, debuting at number 148 on the Billboard 200 chart on July 22, 1978, before peaking at number 86 in August.^[15] It remained on the chart for several weeks, reflecting sustained interest in the festival's legacy without reaching the top tiers of contemporary releases. In terms of video, official footage was limited to an ABC-TV special broadcast in 1978, which aired highlights from the performances and served as the primary authorized visual record, sourced from the event's live production.^[3] Subsequent video compilations have largely been unofficial bootlegs, with no major commercial home video release emerging from the ABC material.^[3] A remastered version of the album was released digitally in 2017, available on platforms like Spotify as of 2025.^[16]

Cultural Impact

California Jam II stands as one of the largest single-day rock concerts in history, drawing an estimated 350,000 attendees to the Ontario Motor Speedway and setting a record for paid single-day attendance at the time.^[1] This scale not only surpassed the original 1974 California Jam's crowd of around 250,000 but also exemplified the era's ambition for massive, communal rock spectacles.^[5] The event marked a pivotal shift toward corporate production in rock festivals, demonstrating that large-scale gatherings could be both profitable and logistically sound, thus paving the way for 1980s stadium tours and events like the US Festival in 1982.^[1]^[17] While it built on the original's innovations in stage transitions and crowd management, Its success as a peaceful, well-organized affair contrasted with earlier festival chaos, reinforcing a model of professionalized rock events that prioritized safety and efficiency.^[1] Culturally, the festival epitomized the excess and communal spirit of 1970s rock, blending high-energy performances from diverse acts into a daylong celebration that captured the decade's hedonistic vibe and sense of shared experience among hundreds of thousands.^[17] By avoiding the violence and disorganization of prior events like Altamont, it helped restore faith in large outdoor rock gatherings as positive cultural phenomena.^[5] In modern recognition, California Jam II holds a prominent place in rock history narratives, often featured in retrospectives on influential U.S. festivals and preserved through archival footage from its original broadcast, which continues to circulate online.^[1] Recent video essays and documentaries on platforms like YouTube have revisited the event, underscoring its enduring appeal and role in chronicling the transition from countercultural jams to commercial spectacles.^[18]