Ha ha, I was “taken” as a birthday present to see Billy Ocean (Billy Ocean Colour Scene as Mark and Lard used to call him) , despite never having expressed any interest in him or his music prior to that . This was 5 or 6 years ago, at a theatre in Wolverhampton. He was bloody brilliant, that’s all I can say. The pipes on that man, who was then fast approaching his 70s. Just goes to show, the best gigs aren’t always the ones you expect
Not been to too many, but had a wierd wedding anniversary evening standing in an outdoor car park at the Block at 0range shopping mall in Los Angeles in 2009, watching Hoobastank perform as the sun set, and getting yelled at by Doug the lead singer for videoing the performance. ...
I think probably my favourite gig would be at the academy Boscombe, late 80s Daevid Allen with Didier Malherbe with The original Gongmaison lineup Literally About 4 foot away from me
Can't really comment on "Best Gig" yet as off to see Guns N' Roses Saturday 2nd July. Not seen them live before so really looking forward to it. Only downside it's at that new White Hart Lane place! Gonna have to wear dark glasses!!
The Who at Bingley hall in ‘79, Queen at NEC in ‘80, Pink Floyd doing the Wall at Earls Court in ,81&82, and I have to say give him his due at the time Micheal Jackson was superb at Roundhay park Leeds in the Thriller era!
Well if we are doing "who were you most pleasantly surprised by", then Tom Robinson at the Rewind 80s festival a couple of years ago. Cheezy 80s is not really my thing, but it's a really nice, small festival that gets quite a few old "names" along, and Mrs Norris enjoys it. I wouldn't have normally gone out of my way to see Tom, but he really engaged... nay, endeared the audience. And you forget how many hits he's had
The Damned at the Ajenta club Derby 1978. Pink Floyd Wish you were here at Knebworth park ....That do had the girls giggling as a guy jumped up on the stage dropped his trousers and proceeded to Masturbate in front of the whole crowd . With the big screen set up for the gig the guys put him on screen ....the place was howling ...of coarse later after quite a while security guys came on and he jumped back down into the crowd . We later found out he broke his leg . Was anyone else on here their ...and remember that ,or were you out of it . Dr Feelgood at Reading Festival back in 1977 . They made one hell of an impact or could have been 76 . John Ottway and wild Willy Barrett at Chorley folk festival .
Tommy ... The Who ... radio city music hall. 1989. And yanni at the tah mahal . India ,,,1997 .. bizarre show ... that one . But actually all up an coming bands in small clubs in new York in the late 80s ... That now only play big arenas .. All the Grateful Dead shows too. But. Most burned into my brain. Is G.G. Allin had given a performance at NY university , during which he shoved a banana up his a$$ and threw his own feces , obscenities (and chairs) at the student audience.. Subsequently banned for life from ever stepping on campus again. Don’t know why. The school actually didn’t know what they were booking.
Up close is a winner. Gregory Isaacs at the Cambridge United Social club. No stage so he just wandered around singing to people, there were only about 50 people by the time the old crack head was persuaded to do his thing at 4am. How on earth they got him there I have no idea and it wasn't advertised.
Slightly off subject , but i saw Queen in 1979 having sent a postal order for £3.50 (a weeks wage was £19) for a ticket having seen the concert advertised in the rear pages of the Daily Mirror . Ive seen them and others a few times , including seeing Paul McCartney,take that and Elton John all within five days , well to be honest i just drove the wife to see take that , i refused to go in Now when i look to see the cost of tour tickets i cringe at the figures , even tribute bands are almost as much as the actual real band ,and its not just a few that are costly . Ranging from Gilbert O,Sullivan to Iron Maiden its got ridiculously expensive.
Because the record gravy train making millionaires was a passing thing, it's all gigs and merchandise now.
