On a lighter topic ( to try and escape from the all encompassing football and politics ) what was your first music gig? I don't think this has been done before, apologies if it has. But a major landmark in one's rites of passage in early life that should remain with them throughout the rest of their days is when you feel the thump of the bass drum enter and thump through you like a gun shot round through your entire being. It's nothing like you ever heard on a record. At last, the entrance onto the stage of your heroes, and the whole ensemble that entails with that and leaves you mesmerised forever. I would at this point like to say that my experience was a rather cheesy one. But in hindsight it wasn't. I was only thirteen in January 1980. The group I went to see was Madness at the Hammersmith Odeon, and the hit they had at the time was 'Embarrassment.' It was a 'matinee' concert and only cost a pound to get in. This group of musical people that I had only seen on TOTP's were in front of me banging out their hits was to me mesmerising. ' Night boat to Cairo,' The Prince, Baggy Trousers etc . I met Mrs Nines a month later and told her of this adult experience I had undertaken ... and she said she went to see Pink Floyd's the Wall at Earls Court. It was the one where the stands collapsed or something. Topped at such a landmark early age. My next gig though, was The Jam. Mrs Nines was The Tourists. I win.
My first concert was the pogues Hammersmith palais 1986 Two weeks later was the blow monkeys Same venue
Gene in 1997 at Rock City in Nottingham. The Supernaturals and 3 Colours Red were supporting. My second was Radiohead at Brixton Academy later that year.
Creedence Clearwater Revival at Cobo Hall in Detroit. They were topped, big time, by the opening act, Bo Diddley
Ashamed to say I really can't remember, saw so many in such a short period of time many being quite unheard of groups at the time. The one name that sticks out from that time, 1969, was The Pretty Things...
I've got a feeling it was AC/DC at Hammersmith. Back In Black Tour. Angus at his best. Reading Rock Festival 1980 was great too! Iron Maiden, Saxon, Rory Gallagher, UFO.
Chicken Shack.......didn't like them or the experience. Decided going to gigs wasn't for me. Only started going regularly as my children grew up...now I go at every opportunity. If you are in the Oxford Banbury area...get yourself to see Leatherat.....amazing
I must win the Cheesiest First Gig award.....Frankie Goes To Hollywood at Hammersmith Odeon in 1985. Second gig was U2 longest day at Milton Keynes Bowl (I know you were there, 999s) with REM, Ramones, Billy Bragg, Spear of Destiny, and Faith Brothers so a bit better!
Beach Boys live in Sydney football stadium. 1976 .............. ( I was only 15 and the smell of joints being smoked was overwhelming.) The Beach Boys especially hated each other at the time, Carl Wilson was drunk ( and whatever else, as to all of them ) ....... Brian Wilson was being introduced to heroin by his brother Dennis Wilson at the time, Brian wife was having an affair on tour with Brians' bodyguard, pretty much all the wheels were coming off but they played, not to mention the rain. Oh, did l mention my brother slid down the embankment and stuffed his ankle trying to win us good seats ( standing up ) on the football field. At concerts start, we were about six deep from the stage, smoke everywhere ................ I was stone cold sober .............. and stoned ........... l think. This was followed not long after by Eric Clapton live at the Horden Pavilion, also in Sydney ............ also stoned ..........l think.
Yes, at Wembley Arena, 1975. I loved them at the time and I thought this was great, all pomp and bombast and 'musicianship'. Plus lights! The very next day I was hanging around down town with some mates and for some reason we thought it might be fun to get into the 100 Club and see Dr Feelgood, about whom we knew nothing. Raw, completely honest, rock hard, no frills, changed my life, I never listened to Yes again. My daughter gave me Wilko Johnson's remarkable new autobiography 'Don't You Leave Me Here' for Fathers Day, and I've just finished it, highly recommended even if you are not a fan, self mocking, funny and given what he has been through recently, very moving.
I was never really into seeing 'big' bands when I was young. However, I did go see a bunch of local bands in and around Slough and Windsor all the time, at places like the Nag's Head in Slough and The Old Trout in Windsor. Bands with excellent names, loads of energy, crap sound systems and always family members in the audience....
I was at the Frankie Goes to Hollywood one as well Monkey. I thought they were good. Not sure how much of that was down to production though. I was with Billy Franks ( lead singer of the Faith Brothers ) a couple of weeks ago. We did a rehash of a few FB's songs and a few covers on our guitars.
The first "name" band (i.e. not a local amateur band at a village hall) was Van der Graaf Generator at High Wycombe town hall, probably in September 1971. I thought they were a racket. In retrospect, some of their stuff is good. My life changed when I saw The Who at The Rainbow a couple of months later, touring their Who's Next album, when I was metaphorically (and almost literally: tinnitus for 24 hours) blown away.
Think it must have been James Brown in the mid/early nineties. Not many concerts in the northern parts of Norway when I grew up, now there's plenty of festivals with big names though. Second was Dream Theater, blew me away. Scenes from a memory tour. Prog heaven.
