# The Inner Mounting Flame Tour

The Inner Mounting Flame Tour was the first concert tour by the jazz fusion band Mahavishnu Orchestra.

## History

The band's first ever live performance was on July 21, 1971 at the Gaslight at the Au Go Go in New York City, where they opened for blues guitarist John Lee Hooker. McLaughlin recalled: "The first set was shaky but the second set just took off and every night it was great. They wanted to hold us over and a few days after the second week ... we went into the studio". The band ending up doing a 18-date residency at the night club. The band ended up performing in several colleges, high schools, night clubs, music venues with a capacity of less than a thousand people, and small arenas and sports venues across the United States. The band also played at the Mar y Sol Pop Festival in Puerto Rico, the Summerfest festival in Milwaukee, and many more festivals across North America. The group also played in Europe for the first time, simply appearing at music festivals. The band grew to popularity thanks to appearing at festivals and touring endlessly, and the group's shows were praised by The Harvard Crimson and The New York Times.

## Live releases

Live material from this tour has appeared on the following releases:
* "The Noonward Race" from April 3, 1972 at the Mar y Sol Pop Festival in Puerto Rico was released on the 1972 live album Mar Y Sol: The First International Puerto Rico Pop Festival, the 2011 re-release of the 1980 compilation album The Best of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the 2011 remaster of The Inner Mounting Flame.

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| North America ||||
| July 21, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| July 22, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| July 23, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| July 24, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| July 25, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| July 26, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| July 28, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| July 29, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| July 30, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| July 31, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| August 1, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| August 2, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| August 4, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| August 5, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| August 6, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| August 7, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| August 8, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| August 9, 1971 | New York City | United States | Gaslight at the Au Go Go |
| September 14, 1971 (2 shows) | New York City | United States | Beacon Theatre |
| September 15, 1971 (2 shows) | New York City | United States | Beacon Theatre |
| October 2, 1971 | Madison | United States | Baldwin Gym |
| October 22, 1971 | Providence | United States | Alumnae Hall |
| November 4, 1971 | Syracuse | United States | Jabberwocky |
| November 5, 1971 | Syracuse | United States | Jabberwocky |
| November 6, 1971 | Syracuse | United States | Jabberwocky |
| November 18, 1971 | Durham | United States | University of New Hampshire |
| November 20, 1971 | Cortland | United States | Lusk Field House |
| November 28, 1971 | Stony Brook | United States | Pritchard Gymnasium |
| December 3, 1971 | Orono | United States | Memorial Hall |
| December 4, 1971 | Kingston | United States | Frank W. Keaney Gymnasium |
| December 9, 1971 | Potsdam | United States | Clarkson College of Technology Gymnasium |
| December 10, 1971 | Burlington | United States | Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium |
| December 11, 1971 (2 shows) | Stony Brook | United States | Pritchard Gymnasium |
| December 21, 1971 | Chicago | United States | Quiet Knight |
| December 22, 1971 | Chicago | United States | Quiet Knight |
| December 23, 1971 | Chicago | United States | Quiet Knight |
| December 24, 1971 | Chicago | United States | Quiet Knight |
| December 25, 1971 | Chicago | United States | Quiet Knight |
| December 26, 1971 | Chicago | United States | Quiet Knight |
| December 29, 1971 | New York City | United States | Carnegie Hall |
| January 22, 1972 | Schenectady | United States | Memorial Chapel |
| January 23, 1972 | Philadelphia | United States | Villanova Field House |
| January 26, 1972 | Boston | United States | Symphony Hall |
| January 28, 1972 | Providence | United States | Loew's Theatre |
| January 29, 1972 | Buffalo | United States | Century Theatre |
| February 3, 1972 | Roslyn | United States | My Father's Place |
| February 4, 1972 | Roslyn | United States | My Father's Place |
| February 5, 1972 | Roslyn | United States | My Father's Place |
| February 6, 1972 | Roslyn | United States | My Father's Place |
| February 12, 1972 | Nashville | United States | Neely Auditorium |
| February 18, 1972 | Philadelphia | United States | Spectrum |
| February 19, 1972 | East Garden City | United States | Nassau Community College |
| February 20, 1972 | Brockport | United States | SUNY Brockport |
| February 25, 1972 | Columbia | United States | Carolina Coliseum |
| February 26, 1972 | Grinnell | United States | Grinnell College |
| February 27, 1972 | Minneapolis | United States | Guthrie Theater |
| February 28, 1972 | Columbia | United States | Livestock Center |
| March 1, 1972 | Evanston | United States | Cahn Auditorium |
| March 3, 1972 | Milwaukee | United States | Milwaukee Performing Arts Center |
| March 4, 1972 | Worcester | United States | Clark University |
| March 8, 1972 | West Chester | United States | Hollinger Field House |
| March 11, 1972 | Bethlehem | United States | Grace Hall |
| March 12, 1972 | Oswego | United States | Laker Hall |
| March 17, 1972 | Brownsville | United States | Zodiac |
| March 18, 1972 | Waterville | United States | Horsetrader and Coffee House |
| March 21, 1972 | Denver | United States | Denver Coliseum |
| March 22, 1972 | Long Beach | United States | Long Beach Arena |
| March 23, 1972 (2 shows) | Santa Monica | United States | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium |
| March 24, 1972 | San Francisco | United States | Winterland Ballroom |
| March 25, 1972 | San Francisco | United States | Winterland Ballroom |
| March 27, 1972 | Los Angeles | United States | Whisky a Go Go |
| March 28, 1972 | Los Angeles | United States | Whisky a Go Go |
| April 1, 1972 | Princeton | United States | Alexander Hall |
| April 3, 1972 | Manatí | Puerto Rico | Tortuguero Lagoon |
| April 7, 1972 | Ewing Township | United States | Kendall Hall |
| April 8, 1972 | Asbury Park | United States | Sunshine In |
| April 9, 1972 | New York City | United States | Philharmonic Hall |
| April 11, 1972 | Wilmington | United States | Delcastle Technical High School |
| April 14, 1972 | Carlisle | United States | Dickinson Dining Hall |
| April 16, 1972 | Boston | United States | Aquarius Theater |
| April 17, 1972 | Detroit | United States | Cobo Arena |
| April 19, 1972 | Middletown | United States | Dave Finkelman Auditorium |
| April 20, 1972 | Yellow Springs | United States | Antioch College |
| April 21, 1972 | Cleveland | United States | Public Hall |
| April 22, 1972 | Marietta | United States | Ban Johnson Field House |
| April 23, 1972 | Cincinnati | United States | Xavier University Fieldhouse |
| April 24, 1972 | Bloomington | United States | Town Cinema Theatre |
| April 25, 1972 | Indianapolis | United States | Ritz Theater |
| April 28, 1972 | Providence | United States | George V. Meehan Auditorium |
| April 29, 1972 | Syracuse | United States | Skytop |
| April 29, 1972 | Hamilton | United States | Cotterell Court |
| April 30, 1972 | Buffalo | United States | Kleinhans Music Hall |
| May 4, 1972 | New York City | United States | City College of the City University of New York |
| May 5, 1972 | New Haven | United States | Woolsey Hall |
| May 6, 1972 | Coral Gables | United States | Union Patio |
| May 7, 1972 | Atlanta | United States | Sports Arena |
| May 9, 1972 | New York City | United States | City College of the City University of New York |
| May 12, 1972 | Indiana | United States | College Lodge |
| May 13, 1972 | Blackwood | United States | Camden County College |
| May 14, 1972 | Alfred | United States | Alfred University |
| May 15, 1972 | New York City | United States | Assembly Hall |
| May 17, 1972 | Newtown | United States | Council Rock High School North |
| May 20, 1972 | Passaic | United States | Capitol Theatre |
| May 21, 1972 | Chicago | United States | Auditorium Theatre |
| May 24, 1972 | Boca Raton | United States | Florida Atlantic University |
| May 26, 1972 | Tampa | United States | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory |
| May 27, 1972 | Pembroke Pines | United States | Hollywood Sportatorium |
| May 28, 1972 | Tallahassee | United States | Bobby Tully Gymnasium |
| June 2, 1972 | Orlando | United States | Orlando Sports Stadium |
| June 9, 1972 | Dallas | United States | Dallas Memorial Auditorium |
| June 10, 1972 | Austin | United States | Armadillo World Headquarters |
| June 11, 1972 | Houston | United States | Hofheinz Pavilion |
| June 12, 1972 (2 shows) | San Diego | United States | The Funky Quarters |
| June 14, 1972 | Los Angeles | United States | Whisky a Go Go |
| June 15, 1972 | Los Angeles | United States | Whisky a Go Go |
| June 16, 1972 | Los Angeles | United States | Whisky a Go Go |
| June 17, 1972 | Los Angeles | United States | Whisky a Go Go |
| June 18, 1972 | Berkeley | United States | Berkeley Community Theatre |
| June 21, 1972 | Boston | United States | Boston Common |
| July 6, 1972 (2 shows) | New York City | United States | Carnegie Hall |
| July 7, 1972 | Hartford | United States | Bushnell Memorial Hall |
| July 8, 1972 | Stockbridge | United States | Lenox Arts Center at the Music Inn |
| July 10, 1972 | Amherst | United States | Student Union Ballroom |
| July 17, 1972 | Hackensack | United States | Orrie de Nooyer Auditorium |
| July 19, 1972 | Cincinnati | United States | Reflections |
| July 20, 1972 | Columbus | United States | Agora Ballroom |
| July 21, 1972 | Dayton | United States | Victoria Opera House |
| July 22, 1972 | Indianapolis | United States | Ritz Theater |
| July 23, 1972 | Milwaukee | United States | Henry Maier Festival Park |
| July 29, 1972 (2 shows) | Westport | United States | Staples High School |
| July 30, 1972 | Hyannis | United States | Cape Cod Melody Tent |
| July 31, 1972 | Gaithersburg | United States | Shady Grove Music Fair |
| August 4, 1972 | Wildwood | United States | Wildwood Convention Hall |
| August 5, 1972 | New York City | United States | Wollman Rink |
| August 7, 1972 | Baltimore | United States | Painters Mill Music Fair |
| August 9, 1972 | Highland Park | United States | The Pavilion |
| August 10, 1972 | Detroit | United States | Ford Auditorium |
| August 11, 1972 | Akron | United States | Rubber Bowl |
| August 12, 1972 | Ann Arbor | United States | Crisler Arena |
| August 13, 1972 | Minneapolis | United States | Guthrie Theater |
| Europe ||||
| August 15, 1972 | Copenhagen | Denmark | — |
| August 17, 1972 | Munich | West Germany | Deutsches Museum |
| August 20, 1972 | Montreux | Switzerland | Pavillon Montreux |
| August 21, 1972 | Saint-Tropez | France | — |
| August 23, 1972 | Ollioules | France | Châteauvallon-Scène nationale [fr] |
| August 25, 1972 | London | England | Paris Theatre |
| September 2, 1972 | London | England | Crystal Palace Bowl |
| North America ||||
| September 8, 1972 | Durham | United States | Cameron Indoor Stadium |
| September 9, 1972 | Atlanta | United States | Atlanta Symphony Hall |
| September 15, 1972 | Middletown | United States | Wesleyan Hockey Rink |
| September 16, 1972 | Putney | United States | Windham College Fieldhouse |
| September 17, 1972 | Troy | United States | RPI Field House |
| September 22, 1972 | Rutherford | United States | Rutherford Campus Gymnasium |
| September 23, 1972 | Pittsburgh | United States | Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum |
| October 1, 1972 | Philadelphia | United States | Academy of Music |
| October 6, 1972 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo State Union Social Hall |
| October 13, 1972 | Washington, D.C. | United States | Lisner Auditorium |
| October 14, 1972 | Cincinnati | United States | Cincinnati Gardens |
| October 15, 1972 | Coral Gables | United States | Union Patio |
| October 27, 1972 | Boston | United States | Aquarius Theater |
| October 28, 1972 | Princeton | United States | Alexander Hall |
| October 29, 1972 (2 shows) | Plattsburgh | United States | Hawkins Hall |
| November 3, 1972 | Chicago | United States | Aragon Ballroom |
| November 4, 1972 | Lawrence | United States | Hoch Auditorium |
| November 5, 1972 | St. Louis | United States | Kiel Auditorium |
| November 6, 1972 | Albuquerque | United States | Student Union Ballroom |
| November 9, 1972 | Berkeley | United States | Berkeley Community Theatre |
| November 10, 1972 | Santa Monica | United States | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium |
| November 11, 1972 | Seattle | United States | Paramount Theatre |
| November 19, 1972 | Waterbury | United States | Palace Theater |
| December 1, 1972 | Middlebury | United States | Middlebury College |
| December 2, 1972 | Providence | United States | Palace Concert Theater |
| December 3, 1972 | Williamstown | United States | Chapin Hall |
| December 5, 1972 | Loretto | United States | Maurice Stokes Field House |
| December 8, 1972 | Poughkeepsie | United States | Kenyon Gym |
| December 9, 1972 | Philadelphia | United States | Irvine Auditorium |
| December 10, 1972 | New Britain | United States | Welte Auditorium |
| December 27, 1972 | Pembroke Pines | United States | Miami-Hollywood Motorsports Park |

## Personnel

* John McLaughlin - guitar
* Jerry Goodman - violin
* Rick Laird - bass guitar
* Jan Hammer - keyboards, organ
* Billy Cobham - drums, percussion