The No Nukes concerts — officially known as The MUSE Concerts for a Non-Nuclear Future — remain one of the most celebrated and historically significant benefit series in rock history. Held at Madison Square Garden in New York City from September 19–23, 1979, these five nights were more than just concerts: they were a powerful fusion of music, activism, and social consciousness that responded directly to the Three Mile Island nuclear accident earlier that year.

Tonight, fans can relive this legendary moment in full as Live Nuggets Radio presents a very special handpicked broadcast of the complete No Nukes performances, airing in its entirety every Tuesday night at 9PM EST. From the first note to the final encore, listeners are invited to experience a series of performances that helped shape the intersection of rock music and political activism.

A Movement Born from Crisis

The No Nukes concerts were organized by Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE), an activist collective founded by Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt, and John Hall. The mission was clear: to raise awareness about the dangers of nuclear energy and to promote safe, renewable alternatives. The concerts served as both a cultural response to a national crisis and a rallying point for a burgeoning environmental movement, culminating in a massive Battery Park City gathering on September 23 that drew nearly 200,000 people.

Legendary Performances and Unforgettable Collaborations

The lineup of the No Nukes series reads like a who’s who of late-1970s rock and singer-songwriter royalty. The organizers themselves — Browne, Nash, Raitt, and Hall — performed across all five nights, but it was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band who stole the show for many fans. Their performances, including the electrifying “Detroit Medley” and a stirring collaboration on “Stay” with Jackson Browne and Tom Petty, captured the essence of their live power for the first time in a recorded format, setting a standard for live performance releases in the decades to follow.

Other headline acts included The Doobie Brothers, Crosby, Stills & Nash, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Chaka Khan, Gil Scott-Heron, and Poco. Many of these performances were unique collaborations that only happened in the charged, experimental energy of the No Nukes series, creating moments that have never been replicated on any tour.

Preserving the Legacy

The concerts’ cultural and musical significance was preserved through multiple media releases. In late 1979, Asylum Records released the triple live album No Nukes: From The Muse Concerts For A Non-Nuclear Future, featuring highlights from the shows. The following year, a documentary film titled No Nukes combined live footage with backstage interviews and activist commentary, capturing the spirit of the movement and the music.

Bruce Springsteen fans received another treat decades later when, in 2021, he officially released his complete 13-song No Nukes set as The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts. This archival release included restored HD footage and pristine audio, offering an immersive experience for both longtime fans and newcomers eager to witness the band at a pivotal moment in history.

Controversy and Censorship

The concerts were not without their controversies. Reggae icon Peter Tosh performed in the series but was notably excluded from the original album and film releases. His provocative stage presence — which included wearing Palestinian attire and openly smoking marijuana — was considered too politically and culturally charged for mainstream distribution at the time. Despite this, his performances remain a testament to the daring, boundary-pushing spirit of the No Nukes events.

A Night (and Series) That Changed Music and Activism

The No Nukes concerts weren’t simply benefit shows; they were a blueprint for how musicians could harness their cultural influence to affect social change. With high-profile collaborations, activist messaging, and unforgettable performances, the series demonstrated that music could be both entertaining and deeply meaningful, reaching audiences on multiple levels.

Tonight’s Live Nuggets Radio broadcast brings this historic series back to life in its entirety, offering fans the chance to relive the energy, the musicianship, and the activism that made the No Nukes concerts a landmark in both rock history and American cultural history. Every Tuesday at 9PM EST, listeners can immerse themselves in a time when music and conscience met center stage — a perfect reminder of how art and advocacy can create lasting impact.