i have seen the stones ,the who ,the jam the clash, but one of the best for me was pink floyd . closely run by dire straits.
This should be a good thread. A few highlights for me: Dire Straits - Glasgow Apollo 1980. Clapton with Knopfler on joint guitar duty - Royal Albert Hall 1986/87 and 88. Runrig - Hammersmith odeon 1991 Springsteen - Wembley 1987 Jill Jackson - Nottingham 2010 Richard Thompson - Hammersmith palais 1986 John Martyn - Glasgow Apollo 1985 Bound to be more but these are still in the front of my memory.
Incidentally, funniest moment ever at a gig. U2 Hampden park Glasgow. Bono does his pretentious bit in the middle of a loud rocky number by stopping the music, demanding silence, bowing his head and clapping his hand together every 2 seconds. He then solemnly says "every time I clap my hands a child in Africa dies" at which point a punter very loudly shouts out from the silent ranks "well stop f@@@@@g doing it then!". I swear Bono nearly laughed.
The Who at the first Concert at the Valley.The Band at Ann Arbor Michigan,Jimi Hendrix at Isle of Wight,Richard Thompson-Cambridge folk festival,Sandy Denny at Pleasence Eltham,Bellowhead-Orchard Dartford,Eric Clapton-Royal Albert Hall,Fleetwood Mac-Peter Greens version at BBC Studios,Bonnie Raitt-Wembley Stadium.I had better stop now as i have loads more.
In 1967 I paid 10 shillings in Glasgow to see a bill which included Pink Floyd, The Nice, Amen Corner, The Move and the Guvnor, Jimi Hendrix. There was also an unknown band who were put on second last, just before Hendrix. The crowd didn't take kindly to this, and everyone stood up on their seats chanting "We Want Hendrix" until they went off and The Guvnor came on. The old Ronnie Scott's is sadly missed. You could sit really close to the world's greatest jazz musicians at an affordable price.
Well if you paid to get in, then it wasn't you Billy so I guess they went on to become famous so... The Beetles were already rather big by then weren't they? So I would guess either The Rolling Stones or The Who?
Ray Davies at the RAH in 2010 - greatest Songwriter ever with just hit-after-hit. Paul Weller - anywhere anytime that I've seen him. Manic Street Preachers at the 02 in 2011 - No band means more to me (nice to know you're not alone). PULP last year Hyde Park. But the Winner is... Edwyn Collins in 2010. So special.
Some unknown Irish band; like lambs to the slaughter. I mostly go to small local venues, where there is the occasional bonus of someone exceptionally good in the audience who will get up and do a couple. For instance at Mycenae House recently there was a pianist who had previously been a finalist in Young Musician of the Year. He got up, did his couple of numbers and sat back down like anyone else- absolutely spellbinding. There really is a lot of talent out there, much better than anything on BGT.
radiohead, oxford south park in 2001. p1ssed down with rain towards the end, so they played creep to keep everyone happy. am going to see them at the o2 in october, so hope its just as good.
The boss bruce springsteen at wembley a few years back.the man has incredible stamina to jump about on stage for 3 hours like he does.and the sax player clarence was superb.
Deep Purple at Brixton 30-odd years ago. They did 3 encores and the crowd were still screaming for more. they smashed their amps up eventually-seemed like the only way they'd get away.
Morrissey at the Troxy Ballroom. Fleetwood Mac at Earls Court. Aerosmith at Wembley Stadium - may have been 1998? Guns and Roses at MK Bowl - supported by Soul Asylum, Blind Melon and The Cult. Class. 1993. Brian Wilson (Smile) at the Ipswich Regent Madness at Finsbury Park - same day England beat Spain at Euro 96. Iron Maiden at Rock in Rio - 2001. Ken Dodd's Dad's Dog's Dead at The Standard, Walthamstow.
Way too many to choose from, here's a selection - Genesis/Van der Graaf Generator/Khan (Steve Hillage on guitar) - Lyceum 1970 Springsteen - Lyceum 1974 Slayer/Machine Head - Wolverhampton Civic 1998 Natalie Merchant/Katell Keinig - Wolverhampton Wulfrun 1998 Bob Marley and the Wailers - Hammy O (1973) Tori Amos - Six venues over fifteen years, never less than stunning. ...and so many more
Complete urban myth based on a Jimmy Carr joke, comprehensively debunked at http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/bono.asp
Such a wide range of gigs and tastes....! My favourite gigs have been Al Stewart With Laurence Juber - Birmingham 2010 Harry Chapin - Venue Victoria 1981 Ray Davies Storyteller Tour - Croydon (not sure of the year) Bruce Springsteen - Wembley stadium 1985 Dire Straits - Wembley Arena 1985 (the night after Springsteen at the Stadium) Drunk In Public (3 of The Levellers & Rev Hammer) - Tunbridge Wells (not sure of the year) Oysterband - Canterbury 2010
For me its Massive Attack - Brixton Academy, May 2003 or Bruce Springsteen - Glastonbury 2009 If I'm ever lucky enough to see David Bowie, it would probably top them.
Can't believe you all remember the dates! Stones a few years back at the 02. Kasabian at Brixton just after west Ryder was released. Eminem and dre at Brixton - after em's second album, early 00's. The strokes at the ally pally- they didn't play my favourite song (think it was only one of three they didn't play), but thought the no encore was pretty awesome. Daft punk - Hyde park a couple years back. Made a day of it, don't remember much but I'm pretty sure I had a good time. Will have to think harder for the rest.
