‘A footnote in rock and roll history’: 50 years ago, concertgoers rioted in North Idaho at Nor’Wester ‘76
Updated 10:11 p.m.
The thousands of concertgoers who arrived in Stateline half a century ago expected to see rock and roll royalty with planned sets from Blue Öyster Cult, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Heart. Blue Öyster Cult, headed for success that summer with their most successful single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," did in fact perform, but the weekend ended with the speedway smoldering and still-hazy explanations about why the festival was called off on Saturday just before rioters caused an estimated quarter million dollars in damage.
