This was often the only way fans could get their hands on live recordings. Before digital streaming, music lovers relied on cassette tapes and CDs to share recordings of concerts, radio broadcasts, or rare studio sessions. Fans would trade tapes or sell (and they were usually very expensive) through mail-order networks, online forums, at shows, or even in record stores, creating an underground culture of collectible performances.
Hardcore fans cherished unique versions of songs, improvisations, or collaborations that would never appear on official albums. Bands like the Grateful Dead, Phish, and Pearl Jam actively encouraged live-tape trading, recognizing it as a way to engage with their fans. Though some bands disliked it entirely, and it wasn’t uncommon for security to look for tape recorders before shows to make sure there was no tapping.
Also, without things like YouTube or official live releases on demand, bootlegs offered a way to relive concerts. Of course, today, almost every concert is entirely filmed by the audience, and it isn’t seen as weird or contraband-y.