Celebrating 50 years of the Purdue Student Concert Committee
Members of Student Concert Committee backstage with singer Jessie Murph, Nov. 1, 2024
The last five decades of popular entertainment have seen countless tastes and trends come, go… and sometimes come back again. Through it all, the Purdue Student Concert Committee (SCC) has been a driving force in bringing the best of the best to Purdue’s West Lafayette campus.
This season, the SCC—the oldest student organization of Purdue Convocations that helps select performances geared to the Purdue student body—proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Five Decades of Groundbreaking Entertainment
Ever since its beginning, the SCC has been a ground-breaker; it was the first-ever all-student committee to choose concerts for students at Purdue University. SCC’s first booked concert was Fleetwood Mac on Saturday, September 20, 1975, and the inaugural season’s other six SCC concerts read like a who’s-who of classic-rock luminaries: Jefferson Starship, David Crosby and Graham Nash, Jethro Tull, Joni Mitchell, Kansas, and Dan Fogelberg.
“I’ll never forget taking a really hard exam and scrambling to get to Bruce Springsteen’s concert. Coming in backstage, watching from the side…the energy! It was amazing. Then there was a 1976 concert by a slightly under-the-weather Joni Mitchell. When it came time for an encore, a scruffy-looking guy came out, sat down, and started playing his guitar and harmonica. We wondered: ‘Who is this guy? Where’s Joni?’ Suddenly, it sounded familiar. It was her old friend Neil Young. Those are the types of live-music surprises I’m proud to have been a part of at Purdue.”
—Brian Robinson, BSIE ’79
Over the years, SCC has booked many genres—pop, rock, blues, country, comedy, hip-hop, rap, and EDM. Some of the most famous acts SCC has booked to perform at Elliott Hall of Music over the years include Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Pearl Jam, Lady Gaga, Neil Young, Elton John, Brad Paisley, John Mayer, Snoop Dogg with Janelle Monáe, Ben Folds, Luke Bryan, Lupe Fiasco, and Avicii. Talented comedians have included George Carlin, Adam Sandler, Bob Saget, Jim Gaffigan, and Nick Offerman.
A Look Back at Legendary SCC Performances
The full history of the SCC showcases an incredible range of talent, bringing world-class performers to Purdue’s campus for five decades. Highlights from the organization’s extensive booking history include:
- The Eagles (11/20/1976), just as they were establishing themselves as one of the world’s biggest rock acts.
- The first appearance of Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band (2/25/1977), an unforgettable night for students.
- Four concerts by music legend Bob Dylan (first on 11/6/1981, and a sold-out show on 4/11/2025).
- A bill featuring The Go-Go’s and A Flock of Seagulls (9/7/1982), capturing the heart of the early MTV era.
- The Pretenders with opening act The Alarm (4/3/1984).
- A rare collegiate performance by comedy icon Eddie Murphy (4/13/1985).
- R.E.M. with opening act 10,000 Maniacs (10/27/1987), showcasing influential alternative rock.
- A legendary bill featuring Pearl Jam (3/17/1994) at the height of their early fame.
- Two concerts by Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds (1/14/1997 and 4/3/2003).
- Lady Gaga‘s The Monster Ball Tour (1/26/2010), representing a major pop culture moment.
- A sold-out show for the emerging folk star Noah Kahan (3/25/2023).
- Future performances planned by the SCC include comedian Tom Segura (10/24/2025) and MercyMe (11/09/2025).
The SCC’s history is a testament to its commitment to reflecting and shaping the diverse tastes of the Purdue student body, from classic rock and blues to hip-hop, EDM, and comedy.
Real-World Experience for Students
“I still have very fond memories of my time with SCC, and people are always impressed by what an awesome opportunity that Purdue—and especially SCC—gave me!” Zachary Christian, SCC 2005-2007, BS, Civil Engineering
Gaining knowledge that’s equal to an internship in the music industry, SCC members learn the essentials of all it takes to book talent, present a performance, and navigate the marketing and financial aspects of the business. They take away real-life experiences working backstage as part of the day-of-show crew and enhance their analysis skills by reviewing the results of their performance choices.
Through the SCC, Purdue has enjoyed 50 years of unforgettable music, enduring memories, and unrivaled opportunities for Purdue students to gain experience in all it takes to bring a concert to the stage. In honor of the SCC’s anniversary, here’s to 50 more great years!
