First band I saw live was with my parents at 16 in the local club - sad to say it was Paper Lace . Next one at a proper venue was 999 at the Stowaway in Newport in 79. Stayed away from the spit pit ... First big venue was top Rank in Cardiff in Feb 80 - pretenders supported by UB40 (just before know king was on TOTP). I was on a plane from Lima to Arequipa 4 years ago sitting behind Ally Campbell - shared this with him, he remembered that tour very well - their breakthrough. I neglected to tell him I hated reggae in those days
Funny that, some bands have been ruined by their support acts. Grand Funk Railroad were considered America's top band in 1969, they had the misfortune to do a short tour with a new group called Led Zeppelin opening for them...
Thin Lizzy at the Hammersmith Odeon on the 15th November 1976. I know the dates courtesy of the web (a bootleg link bootleg link http://ace-bootlegs.com/thin-lizzy-hammersmith-odeon/ ) and these were the now classic song played: Jailbreak Massacre Still In Love With You Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed The Boys Are Back In Town Rosalie Suicide Warriors Sha-La-La Baby Drives Me Crazy Me And The Boys The Rocker
i bet one of yopu went to baileys in watford i saw the stylistics there one of the greatest live acts ive ever seen was gladys night and the pips on also saw crosby still nash and young at wembley but comming back to the origional title my first ever gig was ike and tina turner band and it was at wembley arena,
I saw Kim Wilde at the Bournemouth Winter Gardens; 1981 I think it was. It was also her first live gig having just had her "Kids In America" hit and was visibly nervous. It was clear that she was being given her cue to start singing, as she looked into the stage wings during each of the band's intros, presumably to be counted in. Still, she was quite fit, so she got a good reception. Her support was a group of no-hopers called The BBs. They handed out a flyer at the door, printer off a rusted Gestetner, which had dotted lines thereon and instructions on how to turn into a paper plane and throw at the band whilst they played. They clearly knew they'd lucked in and it wouldn't last and were duly bombarded by papyrus squadrons by anyone that could be arsed to sit through their set.
Been to see loads of good bands since....... But my very first live musical experience was when my parents took me to what I think was the Birmingham Apollo to see.......... Hot Chocolate
I met Errol Brown briefly when he sang at the Winchester Cathedral 900 years celebratory concert. It must've been nearly 40 years ago when I was around 11. Joe Brown (minus his Bruvvers) was also there. Both very nice chaps.
I don't ever recall anyone I wanted to see at the Fairfield Halls back then but actross the road was the Greyhound and that had some brilliant bands. Here is an example. please log in to view this image Can anyone spot the QPR connection?
I remember seeing Uriah Heep there in 1973 and our seats were behind the stage looking down on the band, weird but a great gig...
The Jam - Wembley Arena 1982, me 16 & a 15 year old mate travelling on our own across London, like a lot of firsts in life I can remember more about that gig than many more that have seen in the intervening years.
For anyone interested (and kindle-enabled), this book by a friend of mine is a really good read. It's part-autobiography, but mapped through his experienced going to thousands of gigs during his formative years, from local pubs to Castle Donnington. And if you still pay for Kindle books, it's only £1.99 so can't break the bank! Don't Hear The Reaper: Three Decades of Aural Abuse by Pete Galer please log in to view this image https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reaper-Thr...7197322&sr=1-1&keywords=don't hear the reaper
My worst was Jimmy Eat World, absolute stinker of a gig. My best was either Ash at Salisbury Guildhall in 1998 or (slightly more obscure in these parts) Edguy (German power metal band) in Nuneaton of all places, last year.
Saw The Pretenders at The Marquee club in Soho sometime in early 1980's, place was heaving, Health & Safety would have had a field day......Chrissie Hynde was well fit.......
Echo & The Bunnymen, Newcastle City Hall, 1983, followed by The Stranglers and then U2 at the same venue a few weeks later. Fell in love with live music again recently and have seen in the last 15 months; The Stranglers (twice) The Damned (twice) Buzzcocks 999 The Fratellis Slaves Simply Red (with the missus lol) The Exploited The Alarm Five Seconds of Summer (with daughter) The Vamps (with daughter) Vant Rio & The Rockabilly Revival Angelic Upstarts Rezillos......and a few more.
