Sun Devil Stadium Concert 1976

Streisand / LIVE 

Sun Devil Stadium Concert (1976)

Tempe, Arizona
Arizona State University Stadium
(“Star is Born” Concert Filming)

March 20, 1976
Barbra Streisand on stage in front of thousands of people at Sun Devil Stadium, Arizona.

For their 1976 remake of A Star is Born , Barbra Streisand and Jon Peters staged an enormous, all-day concert in Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium.  They wanted a certain verisimilitude when they filmed Kris Kristofferson and Barbra as their film characters performing in front of a stadium rock audience. Peters was quoted in an official press release: “Although this full day event is being arranged to draw crowds for the filming of our film, the musical end of it won't be just a few songs by each group, but a complete concert headlining Peter Frampton, Santana, Montrose, Graham Central Station, the L.A. Jets and a lot of surprises. We're charging a nominal $3.50 admission to offset part of the cost of the day, but giving everybody attending an event worth two or three times that much.”

Release informing the press about the events scheduled for them during the Phoenix film shooting.
Wide shot of Streisand on Phoenix stage in front of thousands of audience members.
Barbra Streisand at the stadium press conference.

MARCH 19, 1976:


Warner Brothers held a press junket the day before Barbra Streisand, director Frank Pierson, and producer Jon Peters staged the day-long rock concert.


Ten round tables (with white tablecloths, red roses, and silverware) were set on the 20-yard line of Sun Devil Stadium. The press was flown in from all over America to meet the stars of A Star Is Born. The press junket was also filmed and used in the film. Disclaimers were posted for journalists and audience members the next day:


In consideration for being permitted to witness the filming of “A Star is Born” I hereby give Barwood Films, Ltd. the right to use my photograph, either still or moving, which may be taken during my attendance at the filming of “A Star is Born” and the right to reproduce sound produced by me in connection with such picture ...”


During the press junket, Barbra went around to each table and spoke about the film, touching on such topics as Jon Peters and feminism.



BELOW:  Click the arrows to view photos from the press conference at the stadium.
First poster listing Doobie Bros. instead of Frampton, who replaced them in the lineup.
Beautiful full color poster for the concert
Newspaper advertisement for the concert
Barbra Streisand sings for thousands of fans at Sun Devil Stadium
Streisand singing in black BBCC t-shirt.
Streisand dressed in maroon top.
MARCH 20, 1976:

Concert day!

The stadium opened at 7 a.m. and the show started by 8 a.m. Audience members were warned not to arrive after 9 a.m., when the concert gates would be closed due to filming.

The L.A. Jets performed first for about thirty minutes. Then Graham Central Station gave the audience a 45-minute set.

Barbra appeared on stage around 9 a.m. She yelled to the audience, “We're gonna rock and roll today. And we're gonna be in a movie!”

Barbra then directed the crowds to react to the motorcycle scene they filmed the day before (when Kristofferson's cycle plowed off the stage). The cameras captured the reactions they needed.

Next, they filmed Kristofferson singing “Watch Closely Now.”

Barbra changed into her black pantsuit outfit and returned to the stage to sing her first song of the day, “The Way We Were.” She sang to a pre-recorded track, but made a point to tell the audience that she was singing live.

After the song, Barbra was hot in the Phoenix sun, so she removed her jacket to display a black t-shirt with sparkly initials (“BBCC”). She sang “Woman in the Moon.”

Carlos Santana played a long set. By now it was past noon.

The crew then attempted another take of the “Watch Closely Now” scene.

The filming delayed the concert and the crowd became unruly. Barbra changed into her maroon outfit and yelled to the audience, “Hey you motherfuckers, are you having a good time?”

Around 2:30pm, Barbra and "the Oreos" sang “I Believe in Love.”

Afterwards, she tested a new song out on the audience. “If you don't like it I'll be crushed.” Barbra sang “Evergreen.”

Streisand finished performing for the stadium audience with “Everything” from the movie and then “People,” singing to another pre-recorded track.

Barbra presented a representative from The March of Dimes with a charity check for $25,000, then left the stage.

Montrose and Peter Frampton closed the show, which ended around 6pm.
Kris Kristofferson on the Arizona stage, singing.
Streisand in black jacket on Arizona stage.
A congratulatory ad to Jon Peters from First Artists and Warner Brothers.

Sources Used on This Page:



  • “By The Time They Got to Phoenix” by Dennis Berno, Richard Giammanco, & Anthony Andrich. Barbrabilia magazine #8/9
  • “BARBRA STREISAND: Tough, Temperamental, Tremendous” by Lawrence B. Eisenberg. Cosmopolitan (Australia edition), June 1977.
  • Streisand in “Star is Born”: The Way It Is by Lee Grant. Los Angeles Times, May 2, 1976.


End / Sun Devil Stadium, Arizona STAR IS BORN Concert
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