The Rock Pile was an old Masonic Temple at the corner of Yonge and Davenport in Toronto. It lasted for little over a year, but in that short time, some of the greatest performers in the history of Rock played on that stage.
It was not a huge venue, but with a balcony and no fixed seating, it could cram in 1500 standing people on a busy night. There was no bar, but typical of the times, a haze of pot smoke filled the auditorium. As can be seen in some of the photos, the stage walls were painted white and a white cloth was draped from the ceiling.
This 'tent effect' was for the purpose of the lightshow, an elaborate set-up of multiple projectors operated by five high school students who called themselves Catharsis Lights. They can be seen in the background of the crowd shots.
Although most of these photos are from The Rock Pile, there are many more from other events of the era that should be of interest to those fans who experienced the great live music of the Sixties. I hope these photos bring back fond memories for the many devotees who enjoyed these incredible performances at The Rock Pile.
Click on the photos in the text to see larger versions. Click again to close the large photo.
Proceed to the list of artists to begin your tour of rock history.