Classic Concerts You Have Attended - Poll

[Uncle E]

Warrant had a song that was a hit but were unremberable.

I went to school with the guitarist from Warrant's cousin and bought a (shitty) amp from him. He was living with his mom. Quite sad. Actually have many sad ex-rock star stories like that. Skinny Puppy living in the setting for Breaking Bad. Doing coke with LA Guns and some old strippers. Prince's guitarist living in a shitty apartment. The Turtles living in an even shittier apartment. The guitarist from Stryper built my cabinets.

[vurt]

only time i saw bowie was a tin machine gig.

Reeves Gabrels was there when I saw Bowie and Nine Inch Nails joined them on stage for half the set, and they played some Tin Machine songs together.

i went, in the hope that maybe theyd play a few bowie hits as well.
not one!!!

[resynthesis]

First "big" gig was Sabbath in 1978 and for the next 15 years or so it was usually multiple gigs per week. I grew up in Liverpool so was lucky enough to have clubs like Eric's, the theatres and the universities so saw a lot of punk, new wave and metal especially. I suppose gigs were more affordable then. Standouts from it all? Dinosaur Jr crammed in the basement of PlanetX a tiny club, Swans blowing the roof off another club, Sisters of Mercy last (proper) tour at Leeds Uni, lot of Hawkwind, RATM, Ramones every time, Alien Sex Fiend, Michael Schenker. So many good times

[osiris]

I saw Lady Gaga when she started. 5000 seat arena SRO. She only had Just Dance out and she ended up doing her entire first album and about the third song I just knew she was gonna be huge. I really cherish that because it was all so basic and simple.

[aMUSEd]

Joni Mitchell should be on the list

[GaryG]

saw an Amnesty benefit in 88(?) so can tick springsteen, sting and peter gabriel off in one swoop

strangely followed by a PF gig (dullest gig ever) then mere months later my idea of a classic, Pixies supported by My Bloody Valentine...

[Bunny_boy]

Seen none of them.

But have seen Portishead on their first tour, Mogwai / Ariel M, the Valentines in Manc in 2007.

Prurient / Jessica Rylan / Emil Beaulieau was a classic

[Bunny_boy]

Warrant had a song that was a hit but were unremberable.

I once brought a cherry pie to the rock night we attended at uni and we danced around it to Warrant, like a fruit-packed handbag

[Morgaxx]

I went to school with the guitarist from Warrant's cousin and bought a (shitty) amp from him. He was living with his mom. Quite sad. Actually have many sad ex-rock star stories like that. Skinny Puppy living in the setting for Breaking Bad. Doing coke with LA Guns and some old strippers. Prince's guitarist living in a shitty apartment. The Turtles living in an even shittier apartment. The guitarist from Stryper built my cabinets.

Life is life for real. Mistakes, bad luck and dubious characters can add up for any of us. Are your cabinets neon lime and pink?

I once brought a cherry pie to the rock night we attended at uni and we danced around it to Warrant, like a fruit-packed handbag

You are cool! Warrant seems to hold a place in so many lives.

[Morgaxx]

Oops I was thinking of Twisted Sister. Stryper wore black and yellow. Still a fine choice for cabinets.

[seismic1]

Queen at Hyde Park 1976 - 150,000 people, Queen at Tiffany's Club in 1978 - <2000 people.
Tangerine Dream in Croydon 1976. Probably the second loudest concert I've attended.
I saw Genesis 6 times between 1977 and 1982, including the PG reunion in the rain at Milton Keynes.
Led Zeppelin's penultimate UK show at Knebworth.
Frank Zappa 4 times between 1978 and 1982.
Black Sabbath (with Ozzy) at Lewisham Odeon 1978. Van Halen were the support.
Johnny Moped ft. guest guitarist Allan Holdsworth at the Music Machine in Camden Town 1978.
Peter Gabriel 3 times between 1979 and 1983.
King Crimson 7 times between 1981 and 2019.
Dweezil Zappa at the RAH 2006.

I attended an open-air concert at a monastery! in Bueng Krachap, Thailand last year that certainly qualifies as the loudest I have attended. I was sat about 6 rows back, 35 feet in front of the bass drivers which were under the stage. The combination of the bass and generous helpings of Jack Daniels flattened me.

[Uncle E]

Life is life for real. Mistakes, bad luck and dubious characters can add up for any of us. Are your cabinets neon lime and pink?

He was a good dude and a great carpenter. Except for the hair, he didn't have any of the trappings of an ex-rock star. LA Guns was a different story, imagine them all leathered and mascara'd up, doing lines with ravers.

[Cavey Arrgh]

Never made it to a Prince concert, but I did beat him and Charlie Murphy at basketball.

Elliott Smith could be a good choice for the poll.

[aMUSEd]

Led Zeppelin's penultimate UK show at Knebworth.

I was there too - but also went back the following week it was so good

Lots of bands at Knebworth as I was brought up in that area: Genesis, Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention, Devo, Dr Feelgood, Specials, went every year in the mid 70's

Shared a spliff with John Martyn at Huddersfield Poly (well I was right at the front smoking one and he asked for a toke, then kept it, the bastard ) Saw lots of great bands at the Poly - they attracted a lot of great performers - including Roy Harper, a version of Gong, Passage

Shook hands with Peter Gabriel at one of his first solo concerts post Genesis, somewhere in London (can't quite recall the venue)

Saw lots of great early punk and new wave bands in a tiny little pub venue in Oxford called The Oranges and Lemons when I was working in Oxford, including a very memorable and acrobatic performance by John Otway and Wild Willy Barret

And lots of great reggae (mainly dub) bands when I was living in Huddersfield at the classic Venn Street club

Saw Slits, Raincoats and This Heat at the Electric Ballroom - that was one of my best all-time gigs - 3 of my favourite bands

Too many Rock against Racism concerts in the 80's to remember them all - mainly in Leeds but some bands included Delta Five, Misty in Roots, Au Pairs, Tom Robinson Band, also went to one in London with The Clash and X ray Spex - can't remember everyone, it was a lot of bands

Saw Joni Mitchell at Wembley - that was such a great concert but I was too far back to see much of the stage

And Richard Thompson playing live in a tiny little pub in Herts with just around 12 of us in the audience

Saw Joan Armatrading in Manchester

More recently John Cale (just last year) was a bucket list concert, and this year we went to see Underworld in Manchester which was also amazing, also saw Riot Jazz last year (also in Manchester)

[T-CM11]

Most of the music I listen to is/was not 'mainstream popular'. Which is great, because I don't like stadium-style venues or big festivals.
There are a few bands on this topic's list that I would've loved to have seen when they were still playing in small clubs. I'm much too young (and not-American) for that though.

Some of the 'older' bands that I've seen:
Bauhaus, Skinny Puppy, Lustmord, Laibach, Alice Cooper, The Animals, Psyche, Sol Invictus, Death In June, The Chameleons, The Cure, The Klinik, Absolute Body Control, Gary Numan, DAF, Front 242, Killing Joke, NIN, Portion Control, ....