Weather Report: Live in Offenbach am Main, West Germany – September 29, 1978 (Video)

45 years ago on this day, Weather Report played one of their most iconic shows in Offenbach am Main, Germany. The show was filmed in its entirety for a broadcast of Rockpalast, a German music television program, and is one of the six professionally shot Weather Report concerts to receive a somewhat official release.

Showcasing the band at the peak of their commercial success, the concert was filmed at the beginning of the 1978 tour of Europe, during which the group gave the audiences their first glimpses of Mr. Gone, released in September 1978. From the opening riff of Black Market to the thunderous synths of Birdland, the jazz-fusion supergroup proves why they're one of, if not the greatest fusion band of all time, and if you're not convinced, I advise you to sit back, relax, and give this a much-deserved watch.

Wayne Shorter – saxophone
Joe Zawinul – keyboard
Jaco Pastorius – bass
Peter Erskine – drums

00:00:00 Rockpalast introduction
00:00:23 Black Market
00:11:30 Scarlet Woman
00:20:48 Young and Fine
00:27:41 The Pursuit of the Woman with the Feathered Hat
00:34:30 A Remark You Made
00:41:34 River People
00:49:27 Thanks for the Memory (saxophone solo)
00:53:14 Slang (bass solo)
01:03:00 Mr. Gone
01:11:43 In a Silent Way
01:13:54 Waterfall
01:15:46 Teen Town
01:23:55 I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good) [keyboard solo]
01:27:19 The Midnight Sun Never Sets (piano and saxophone duet)
01:32:45 Birdland
01:39:42 Band introduction
01:41:00 Drum solo
01:47:39 Elegant People (with Mysterious Traveller introduction)
01:55:48 Badia / Boogie Woogie Waltz

Recorded & filmed at Stadthalle Offenbach (Offenbach am Main, GE) on September 29, 1978.
Remastered by the JPA.

[JacoPastoriusArchive]

45 years ago on this day, Weather Report played one of their most iconic shows in Offenbach am Main, Germany. The show was filmed in its entirety for a broadcast of Rockpalast, a German music television program, and is one of the six professionally shot Weather Report concerts to receive an official release.

Showcasing the band at the peak of their commercial success, the concert was filmed at the beginning of the 1978 tour of Europe, during which the group gave the audiences their first glimpses of Mr. Gone, released in September 1978. From the opening riff of Black Market to the thunderous synths of Birdland, the jazz-fusion supergroup proves why they're one of, if not the greatest fusion band of all time, and if you're not convinced, I advise you to sit back, relax, and give this a much-deserved watch.

00:00:23 - 1. Black Market
00:11:30 - 2. Scarlet Woman
00:20:48 - 3. Young and Fine
00:27:41 - 4. The Pursuit of the Woman with the Feathered Hat
00:34:30 - 5. A Remark You Made
00:41:34 - 6. River People
00:49:27 - 7. Wayne's Solo (Thanks for the Memories)
00:53:14 - 8. Jaco's Solo (Slang)
01:03:00 - 9. Mr. Gone
01:11:43 - 10. In a Silent Way / Waterfall
01:15:46 - 11. Teen Town
01:23:55 - 12. Joe's Solo (I Got It Bad [and That Ain't Good])
01:27:19 - 13. The Midnight Sun Never Sets (Keyboard and Sax Duet)
01:32:45 - 14. Birdland
01:39:42 - Band introduction
01:41:00 - 15. Peter's Solo (Fred and Jack)
01:47:39 - 16. Elegant People
01:55:48 - 17. Badia

[jimvandemoter]

This is the same year and lineup when I saw them at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor MI. I was already a big fan but I still wasn't ready for what I saw that night. The house lights went down, the stage lights came up, they came out on stage, took their places, looked at each other, nodded and they were off and running for over two hours.

[migueldeniseful]

Sons da Floresta Amazônica... ...
Wheather Report...
QUE BANDA ❗👏🏾👏🏿👏🏻👏🏽‼️

[louise_rose]

What an amazing power quartet they were at this point, with Peter and Jaco! Truly a groundbreaking band, and at the same time a fun, exciting and accessible band - they had the same kind of wide genre-crossover appeal as Bob Marley and the Wailers had around the same time.

The take of "A Remark You Made" here shows just how solid musicians they were - none of them is just a sideman in that one, they are all up front and essential, it is like a chamber music piece where all four are key to the textures.❤ Thanks for uploading!

[louisevad]

I've listened to this Birdland 100s of times over the last 47years. It still has the all the inspiration and hidden gems of genius and emotion that was Weather Report. This in particular turned on a generation music listeners to Jazz.

[williamhussey]

Thank you for uploading this concert! My favorite era of WR by far. Young and Fine specifically is one of my favorite songs of all time because of this recording!

[DanS-]

I saw the 1978 Mr Gone tour at the Beacon Theater, NYC. We were totally blown away! The band was at their peak, along with the previous few years with Alex Acuna on drums too. Rarely is such a special band ever assembled. It doesn't get much tighter! Jaco doing the moonwalk... seriously?!! Good times when I was only 18. Thank you for this ❤🤗

[rossanozanga]

Jaco Pastorius was at the peak of his health and consequently absolutely unmatched on the fretless electric bass even in 2024. Enjoy the concert while you are capable 😀.

[DEANNAGASAKO-oy]

IT'S LIKE GOD MADE AN APPEARANCE IN JACO

[ajn]

It’s only after 40 years I can really start to understand what they had going on. It takes work to really hear the continuum that runs through each piece… But it’s there. Every time.

[adneumann]

Zawinal, hauling around TWO arp 2600's and a massive Oberheim + Fender Rhodes...Must have had a had a very strong roadie!

[DonaldButler-zq]

Going back to the 1970’s I would listen to jazz occasionally and Weather Report was my favorite jazz band, thinking how they rivaled hard rocks heavyweights of the day. You see my favorite instrument was and still is the bass guitar. Which catches my attention and keeps me glued to the song. I have to admit I never knew the members names to Weather Report. I just love their bass player and sound all around. Very eclectic. I’m 67 and maybe loving it even more.

[sedatfirat]

I was there, never will forget, R.I.P Jaco, Joe, Wayne..

[fandelchef]

amazing upload!! one of my fav jaco performances with weather report and one of my fav weather report shows. thanks for uploading.

[JoyMinistryy]

I can’t think of any band that compares to this. What beautiful musicians one and all Always great to hear Jaco and Peter together Wayne and zawinul always the core of the band of course ❤

[williemammoth]

This is some peak Erskine. My goodness. And I don't just mean the sweater.

[tommyron]

It's great to hear where that amazing use of timpani on 'Word of Mouth' comes from. Peter gets a fantastic color by integrating it into his drum set the way that he does. Thanks a million for this fantastic upload!

[johngill]

We are lucky to get to witness this! omg

[terrencegreenaway]

Thank you for uploading this. Wonderful to hear Jacco playing so beautifully, although I wonder if his solo spot reveals the onset of his mania. Hard not to cry listening to A Remark You Made. I deeply wish Joe had not doubled Jaco on Teen Town, I would have loved to have heard him play that live, just to see it done. Perhaps an AI could subtly erase Mr.Yippie in the front row? What a brilliant joining joining of musical geniuses. To think it happened in my lifetime!

[ascendingdude]

Good Lord I've watched this countless times and hot damn Jaco is peaking!