I was just meandering through a relatively well known bootleg site when I came across a concert for a band called Diamond Head, some of you may be aware of them. It reminded me of a concert I went to of theirs in Woolwich the day after the Woolwich riot back in the early 80s. Only about 20 of us turned up, the band were so grateful for us going that they played every song they knew, then they took requests for repeats and finally all of us were up on the stage for the encore. Needless to say it was a great night. Others must have their own odd stories about concerts they've been to.
Back in '91 ithink my flatmate had a spare ticket to see a band called Nirvana at the kilburn national ballroom. I thought they were too loud dirty and shouty. WTF did i know? Matched only in surrealness when Eric Clapt-out played my sons gym one night back in 2003. That was proper weird
Talking of weird, about 15 years ago I was at my brother-in-law's place in Worthing and we went for an evening drink in Brighton, we went to a bar in The Lanes area about 7.00pm and there was quite a crowd in and one of the barmen said there was a concert on in the cellar bar later in the evening with a surprise guest. We asked who it was but he gave nothing away other than it was a 'legend'. We almost didn't stay but decided to pay the £10 door fee to go downstairs. By the 10.00pm start time we were half-cut and the place was absolutely packed out, (Nines would have closed it down! ) the lights were dimmed, the DJ announced "Here is a man who needs no introduction" (so he didn't get one) A figure emerged from the shadows and the unmistakeable voice roared out "I am the God of hellfire" and the place went barmy, you couldn't hear much of that song as everyone was singing along with it, he may have been getting on in years but he's absolute dynamite for stage presence and his band were top notch, two hours of old rock, psychedelic rock and mystical rantings made it a truly unforgettable night...
I went to see Kim Wilde's first ever (so I'm told) live performance at the Bournemouth Winter Gardens in the early '80s. Her support were a band called The BBs (me neither) who had distributed a one-page leaflet about the band and where you could acquire merchandise. This sheet had dotted lines on one side and the singer took to the mic and explained that, as nobody was likely going to pay them any attention during their set, these were to act as a guide to fold into a paper plane to throw at them as they played. Needless to say, the crowd obliged. I saw Iron Maiden at what was the Hammy-O during their 'Seventh Son...' tour and their support were The Killer Dwarves (again, me neither). The lead singer pedalled about for part of the set on a kids tricycle singing **** metal songs whilst the crowd threw abuse at him.
Was he dancing around with his hat on fire ?? I've seen 'Crazy World of Arthur Brown' supporting Hawkind a few years back......very weird but somehow fantastic Now if you want an unusual concert, Hawkwind is where you want to be. Flashing strobes, weird mesmerising backdrops, trippy sounds and dancers dressed up in all manor of alien costumes. Truly an experience of the mind
I saw Jean Jacques Burnel of the Stranglers attack a member of the audience with his bass at a concert in Durham in 1979, but I don't think that was very unusual for him....
Not that long ago I saw a French-Canadian band called "The Musical Box" perform the whole of "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" at the Shepherds Bush Empire as part of their world tour. That's right, a world tour for a tribute band!!!!. They were excellent and endorsed by Genesis who had given them all of their original stage props from their tour way back. It was a very surreal experience.
I got molested by a girl at an aerosmith concert and yes, it was a girl. I also got elbowed in the head by biohazards singer guitarist who then let me sing a line of a song....and I'm tone deaf. So it was a good job it was biohazard. I also saw the machine head guitarist nearly set himself on fire trying to play a flaming guitar, it was very spinal tap.
One day Stan when you start appreciating musicians who have mastered more than the one chord I'll pay some credence to your views.
No, he didn't have his fiery headgear, someone said it was an H & S decision! He was covered in runey style facepaint and wore what looked like a Viking helmet. Talking of Hawkwind they proved to be the biggest letdown I ever saw at a concert. Back in 72 when Silver Machine was riding high in the charts I went to see them at the Sundown Mile End Road. They were supported by The Pretty Things who put on an absolutely brilliant set. Then on came Hawkwind with a sound system that was awful and a set that was dreadfully out of tune and basically crap. And to put the tin hat on it Statia, their statuesque 'dancer' never got her kit off...
Go see steel panther, the only place youll see more tits together is at stamford bridge! top quality concert too if you like 80s metal, very funny as well.
Like i said before, i did a lot of doorwork many moons ago and have seen some really weird/diffrent concerts. The 2 that stand out for m are the BMX Bandits at Hammersmith (pub on the roundabout knocked down now) and Jean michelle jarre at the Docklands. Both great concerts but the fans / public were real space cadets !
Flyer's taste in music appears similar to mine, which possibly explains his jaundiced view of all things QPR and my jaundiced view of the world in general.
There were some weird and wonderful "concerts" at The Nashville on the corner of North End Road/Great West Road in the late 70's early 80 seam to recall The Clash played there at one time and it was a good job that they served pints in plastic glasses as they were flying through the air.... Saw The Pretenders at The Marquee in Soho, there was only 100 or so in audience but that Chrissie Hinde was some girl....
I was at a dinner at the Holiday Inn at Swiss Cottage sometime in the 80s. The function was pretty dull, so we decided to take our drinks to the lounge, which had a grand piano at it's centre. Suddenly there was a bit of commotion and a guy came in surrounded by very large security men. The chap then sat himself down at the piano and, along with several backing singers, gave an impromptu concert. I had no idea who the fella was so asked one of the security men. He seemed shocked that I needed to ask, but informed me that it was Johnnie Taylor. I was none the wiser, but the set was excellent and certainly made the night. Turns out that he was a soul legend who had just come off stage at Hammersmith and was staying at the hotel.
Some friends and I had tickets to see the Stranglers at Hammersmith in the 70s, but after some trouble at one of their concerts they were banned by the GLC from playing anywhere in London. They rearranged the concert at a place called Bingley Hall in Stafford and laid on coaches for anyone who had tickets for the Hammersmith gig. First and only time I've been to a gig with a coachload of felllow 'supporters'.
Two come to mind Seeing Steeleye Span in 1970s at Hammersmith or Shepherds Bush Odeon, when they were on top of their game and a mainstream hit (after Gaudete)...as a finale they threw the whole evenings takings £10,000s of pounds into the auditorium...was some sort of tax dodge I was told...only got a couple of quid..it was pandemonium. Two years ago, Northampton Roadmender, great name, sh@t venue....The Levellers of course....first bassist taken violently ill on stage (alleged cheese poisoning!!!!!...he is a vegan), so they get a support act/roadie to play for the rest of the gig...and then during a quiet song this nutter mounts mounts the stage, shoves the singer out of the way....claims the levellers have ruined his life.... takes a swing at the 6'7 fiddle player who deftly sidefoots the swing and the nutter falls off the stage and is hauled out unconscious by security..
It must have been the late 90's. Someone got me a ticket to see Mike Flowers pops (one hit wonders - 'Wonderwall'). I knew it was mistake the moment they started crooning, but was interested to discover I was standing next to Noel Gallagher, there with wifey and lapping it up as writer of 'Wonderwall' with a stream of well wishers and autograph hunters coming up to him. I don't know why, but I decided I wasn't going to recognise Noel, and he was obviously intrigued because he eventually turned to ask me for a light and started chatting about the band. By then of course, it was too late for me to reveal I knew exactly who he was, so I blathered on about the plonkers on stage - still got that lighter though!
David Bowie at Torquay Town Hall in June 1972 for the Ziggy Stardust tour. It's hard to imagine a world superstar playing in a tiny provincial hall like that isn't it. Concert was amazing, they were like beings from another planet. Highlight was Bowie in a shimmering gossamer cape thing doing a mime of a bird flying, never seen anything else like it before or since. Had my multicoloured platform shoes on too which caused a few issues when negotiating doorways happy days!
