JFK rocked

July 13, 1985, is a day Richard Panichelli will never forget.

With temperatures hitting a humid 95 degrees, Panichelli joined the 100,000-plus screaming fans at John F. Kennedy Stadium for the musical event of the ages – Live Aid, which raised funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. JFK Stadium and Wembley Stadium in London served as the host sites for the 15-hour international concert. The Philadelphia line-up featured The Four Tops, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, Bryan Adams, Madonna, Led Zeppelin and many others.

For Panichelli, now of Juniper and Reed streets, the South Philly location made the event that much more memorable.

"It was held at a place in my backyard, it was a global event and I was a big music fan," Panichelli, now 51, said.

"They were hosing down the crowd at one point," he recalls of that scorching day. "To be out there for 15 hours in 95-degree heat, you’ve got to be into music."

Panichelli isn’t just "into" music, he is a music fanatic. Since 1967, when he saw Ray Charles open the Philadelphia Spectrum, now the Wachovia Spectrum, as part of the Quaker City Jazz Festival, Panichelli estimates he has seen about 600 shows. That includes 12 concerts at JFK. He would travel with friends to Madison Square Garden, the Boston Garden and the Meadowlands for some, but stayed in Philly for memorable sold-out shows by the likes of Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones at JFK.

"Pink Floyd was outstanding, especially with all the lasers," he said. "JFK Stadium would always get big acts that would sell out."

The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Yes were a few of the acts capable of filling the venue.

Comfort wasn’t part of the JFK experience because, as Panichelli said, "the benches were killer." But the venue served its purpose as the only place in Philadelphia capable of holding that many fans.

In addition to its musical legacy, the stadium hosted 35 consecutive Army-Navy football games staring in 1945, with a total of 41 played there through the years.

BEING AN OUTDOOR venue, JFK had its limitations, especially when there was an indoor venue right across the street.

"It served a very limited function," Panichelli said.

Eventually, the site that opened as Sesquicentennial Stadium in 1926 and later became Municipal Stadium, was fated for closure. July 7, 1989, the Grateful Dead performed in the last public event held at the venue. Six days later, Mayor Wilson Goode condemned the site. Panichelli said he wasn’t surprised by the news.

"It felt a little disappointing, but I knew it was going to happen because of its age and how tough it was to maintain," he said. "Like everything else, changes happen and you’ve got to accept it."

In 1992, JFK was demolished, making room for the Wachovia Center, the place the Sixers and Flyers call home.

Panichelli remains devoted to music, having recently seen the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney, respectively, at the Wachovia Center. The cushioned seats are much more comfortable than the old wooden bleachers, but 15 years later JFK is a tough place to forget.

"They’re all good memories," he said.

Under the rubble

JFK Stadium opened in 1926 as Sesquicentennial Stadium and was demolished in 1992.

By Bill Gelman

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Municipal Stadium-JFK Stadium was home to everything from the Army-Navy game to Live Aid. Here is a look back at some of the highlights;

1926: The stadium opens as Sesquicentennial Stadium, south of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue. The arena was constructed as part of the Sesquicentennial International Exhibition of 1926, which honored the 150th anniversary of the United States. When the event ended, the structure became known as Philadelphia Municipal Stadium.

1936: The Army-Navy game was played at Municipal Stadium for the first time with Navy winning 7-0.

1936-39: Municipal Stadium serves as the home of the Philadelphia Eagles. Their best season was in 1938 when they finished fourth with a 5-6 record.

1945: Municipal Stadium hosts the first of 35 consecutive Army-Navy football games with a total of 41 played there through the years. The game moved to Veterans Stadium in 1980 and is now played at Lincoln Financial Field.

1964: The city changes Municipal Stadium to JFK Stadium in honor of the late president.

1974-75: The Philadelphia Bells of the defunct World Football League play home games at the stadium.

1985: Serving as one of the hosts of the transatlantic Live Aid benefit concert, performers here included Madonna, Phil Collins, the Hooters and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. In England, Paul McCartney, Queen and Duran Duran perform. More than 100,000 spectators witness the legendary 12-hour concert at JFK with countless others watching on TV.

July 7, 1989: The Grateful Dead performs in the last public event held at the venue.

July 13, 1989: The stadium is condemned.

1992: JFK Stadium is demolished.

Today: The Wachovia Center, the place the Sixers and Flyers call home, sits on the site.