quote:

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Originally posted by Rasher:
Michael - I'll be there to see Hawkwind too. See you there.

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Watch out for four late thirty somethings wearing lab coats!!!

Cheers

Mike

Going back a hell of a long way:

Worst imaginable rip-off in the history of the universe!: The 'Stones live at Longleat about 1964-5? Absolutely bløødy apalling! Pathetic would be a better description. Nearly two weeks wages for the short return coach trip and entry charge. 20 minutes weak and watery, out of tune, couldn't care a bollocks, shite! No wonder they went to live in France!

The Kinks were very a large and remarkable step up in sound quality (and live performace close to their records) over almost all the other 'name' bands I now vaguely remember from the mid 60's live at the popular local hall.

The Yardbirds really weren't bad live either.

I used to be a fan of Jethro Tull but never got to see them live. Or the Pretty Things! "Don't bring me down" was an all-time favorite. Such "dangerous" music compared with all the "frilly shirts" of the time. (you had to be there)

Nothing else has stuck in the memory. Apart from "the suits" fighting, in an inch of condensed sweat, on the concrete floor of the local hall, on big name occasions. Now that was memorable!

Nime

Rasher,
Tell me about it! I at least managed to see them at the Reading Festival a couple of years later. The time I only saw 2 minutes of them though was before they sold many records in UK, and they were playing somewhere like the Camden Barfly or some other small place (my memory fails me).
Simon

Casting our way back to the start of this thread my top three gigs were Solomon Burke, Blondie and Richard and Danny T. but I have to also cast a vote for Slade as they really were an incredible live band. There were actually some excellent albums too for those who never saw beyond Merry Christmas Everybody. I always wondered why Noddy Holder never went solo. What an incredible, unique voice?

Surprisingly, Blondie is still good live (at least they were a couple of years ago when my wife dragged me to a gig). Debbie may dance like a scary aunt at a wedding but she can still belt them out.

A trip to Concorde II last night in Brighton to see Hawkwind. A good show - not the best but certainly not bad. A rocking version of Brainstorm to close the evening - excellent.

Although a small venue it had a good atmosphere. Sadly I could not indulge in a few beers because I was on driving duty. Nonetheless a most enjoyable evening.

It's been a long while since I last saw a live band and I will be looking out for more to see now.

Cheers

Mike

quote:

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Originally posted by Rasher:
, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
The last Pink Floyd gigs at Earls Court was like that too..

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I second that. Amazing sound, great effects just a tremendour experience.

Recommend Richard Thompson as he is out and about at the moment.

Most intimate performance ever was The Chameleons at the Limelight in Crewe. Really was a concert in your front room.

regards

Richard S

Best ever:
1. Led Zeppelin at Knebworth, 4 August 1979 (much better than the gig the following weekend)
2. The Who at Charlton Athletic FC, 31 May 1976
3. Julia Fordham at Hammersmith Odeon, promoting the Falling Forward album
4. It Bites at Bristol Bierkeller, promoting the Once Around the World album.

Worst ever:
1. Rolling Stones at Bristol City FC, can't even remember when
2. Eric Clapton at Bristol Hippodrome, 1984 - far upstaged by Albert Lee who did a stunning version of "Country Boy"
3. Every Cambridge festival I've ever been to.
4. Spider Murphy and the Purple Gang - all of them.

Regards, CB

Best gig?

It's a toss-up between Kraftwerk at the Lyceum in June 1981 , in the days when they were in the analogue domain and actually played their instruments

New Order at the Royal Festival Hall in May 84 , They were absolutely fucking awesome

Bowie at the RFH. June 2002. He did the whole of "Low"!!! And I was dead centre, in the second row, just a few seats away from Eno!

New Order at the Reading Festival August 93 Possibly the most emotional gig ever

Grateful Dead at Wembley Arena, Hallowe'en 1990. I was converted!

The worst?

It has to either be Bowie's Glass Spider farce at Wembley Stadium, 1987

or

Yes at wembley Arena June 1991 The most ludicrous spectacle I've ever seen. Me and my mate Chris went to revisit our 5th form grammar school days for a laugh, but it wasn't funny. It was unmitigated shite. Trevor Rabin posed and gurned like a wanker, Bruford and White clattered away to no rhythmic effect, Wakeman and Kaye pumped and pomped tunelessly, Howe played the most noxiously tedious solo ever to torment the ears of this music-loving boy, Anderson sang like a big fairy and Squire scraped out "The Fish" yet again (it sounded like cats being spayed). They played in the round, on a big stage shaped like a flower with odd perspex petals flapping feebly at random inteervals. Plus they made a right pig's ear of ttheir only decent song ("Yours Is No Disgrace"). About 20 minutes into "Awaken" (or whatever it's called) and 2 hours into the concert, we left out of sheer boredom.

Kevin

Knebworth 1974 - Allman Brothers were on fantastic form; the Sensational Alex Harvey Band were truly horrible.

Musically you'd be hard pressed to beat the Brian Wilson Smile concert at Bristol 2004, but I think my favourite gig was Van the Man at the same venue in 1973 - the 'Too late to stop now' tour.

Great live Acts

Magnum
Suzi Quatro
Slade
Pat Travers
at Reading festival 1980

Def Leppard
Pacific Colliseum
Vancouver
September 2003

AC.DC
Camel
Pat travers
Reading Festival 1976

Thin Lizzy
Hammersmith Odeon 1976

Judas Priest
Hammersmith Odeon
Stained Class Tour

Rory Gallagher
Wherever I saw him play

Status Quo
Gigs in the Seventies

Dire Straits
love over Gold Tour

Worst Gigs

Ultravox, with Johnathan Fox - at reading festival
dire

recently seen 2 great old bands and in very small venue about 1 mile from where i live...
the alarm,mike peters only original member but an excellent set made for a great gig,also stiff little fingers,playing as fast and as loud as ever,lead singer jake burns staring to look more like father(old and wrinkly)but still giving out more energy that i can muster up most days.
worst recent band...simple minds in cardiff..how the mighty fall! would have filled stadiums in the late 80's played what should have been an excellent set loads of older material off first albums,phaps too obscure for most of the crowd who looked somewhat puzzled,jim kerr still ponced about on stage receiving no feedback at all from a crowd who had just gone too hear dont you forget about me.left half way through gutted,sound was also piss poor which didn't help matters on this occasion!

think my ears are still recovering from the slf gig it was only just over a month ago and i had severe tinnitus for 3 days