[Music] First gig, Worst Gig and Can't be topped gig?

[Braggfan]

First, Stiff Little Fingers, Guildford in early 1980.

Best. The Beat at the Top Rank in late 1982. Loved their stuff. Dave Wakeling and the late Ranking Roger had so much energy. They played a massive set. Just a brilliant night for so many reasons. Not least of which was I thought we'd missed out on tickets but when I went up the pub at half five, my mates went 'Guess where we're going tonight'. Brilliant.

Had a few hairy ones, as was common back in the day, but never had any serious bother. By far the worst was Tears for Fears at the Rank in 1983. Pair of lazy gits. Came on late, went through the motions and left after about half an hour.

I saw The Beat a lot over the years, and they were always amazing. They never seemed to have an off night. I also met Ranking Roger a quite few times and chatted with him. Such an amazingly nice bloke, still gutted at his passing.

 

[Superphil]

First - Saxon, October 1981, Brighton Centre, Denim & Leather Tour. What an introduction to loud music, set me on the road for many many more heavy gigs.

Worst - David Bowie, 1987, Wembley Stadium, Glass Spider Tour. As a massive Bowie fan I was so disappointed at this show, poor sound, flaky setlist and unimpressive performance by Bowie.

Best - Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert, 2007, O2 Arena. I never saw Led Zeppelin live, Bonzo died just as I got into live gigs, when the Ahmet Ertegun show was announced I just knew that somehow I would be there, and I was. Believe it or not, it was through the wonder of NSC that I got my ticket, I shall be forever grateful, and REMF benefitted too.

 

[swindonseagull]

Andre Rieu is brilliant. Did you go to one of the outdoor Maastricht concerts?

Twice to Birmingham, Maastricht is on my wish list maybe one night at the concert another night at a bar/ restaurant

 

[boik]

First.
Jean- Jacques Burnel ( The Stranglers ) Euroman Cometh tour. The Dome 1979

Worst.
Simple Minds, Jenkinsons Brighton, approximately 1980

Can’t be topped.
Difficult to answer but maybe this stands out slightly.
Siouxsie and the Banshees ( with Robert Smith on guitar), support acts The Cure and Spizz .
Brighton Centre.

I also saw the Banshees, Cure Spizz gig at the centre, but saw them the next night too at the Music Machine which is a much more nicer venue.

 

[Mr Bridger]

One of my biggest regrets is going to see The Buzzcocks at the London Lyceum (I think it was called), but deciding to give the support band a miss in favour of a beer or two - the support band were Joy Division

To be honest, it wasn’t until years later I worked out it was Joy Division.
I use concert archives now and log all the gigs I went to and keep all ticket Stubbs.
Using Setlist and concert archives I was able to work out it was them.
The only thing I remember at the time was it was so loud I was on the verge of puking! I was only 14 and never heard anything like it.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

First: Genesis at the Dome, Foxtrot tour. 70p to get in. I think String Driven Thing were support so they are the actual first band I saw.

Worst: No too many but I'll go for the second time I saw Bryan Adams at Wembley. The first time I saw Bryan Adams I had been dragged along by my girlfriend and, unusually for me, not wanting to upset her again, said it was quite good. Actually I loathed it. The worst type of wet, fist-pumping pop-rock nonsense (and I love a bit of pop, and a bit of rock, even a bit of arena rock, but....) imaginable. The second time I went I could barely disguise my disappointment and, during the gig, my absolute agony as a big fat bloke in front of me attempted to clap along, but without any semblance of rhi-hi-hythm, to the dim dirge on stage :

Best: Hard to call. I won't bore everyone with my usual overkill and list 20, so I will invent two sections (below) and say the best was probably the fist time I saw Wire at the Nashville rooms in Fulham in about 78 when they released Pink Flag. It was absolute shiver down the spine music, with the occasional 20 second interludes going bat shit mental to tracks like Mr Suit. Because I knew every song and every word I knew exactly when to stop dancing and felt super cool as a consequence

Last: The delicious Boy Harsher at the Scala earliy in the year.

Most Iconic: The original Human League, also at The Nashville, with Brian Eno sitting alone by the door, and a brief visit from one David Bowie (plus 2 minders) who stood next to me, and exchanged a few words

I can't top my ex wife's most iconic - the Stones at Altamont. Or my mate Roy's who saw the original Pink Floyd at the UFO more than once, and my old pal Bob's who saw the Beatles play the Cavern more than 20 times, and Little Richard play the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton.

 

[Surf's Up]

First Gig - Rolling Stones on Hastings Pier sometime in the 1960's
Worst Gig - Sham 69 at the Roxy - they were just awful, must've been their 1st or 2nd gig
Can't be topped - Bruce Springsteen at Hammersmith Odeon in 1975 I think - complete eye opener, amazing gig.

Can't stop thinking about this thread now, and 3 "honourable mentions" for best gig which were David Bowie at Avery Hill College just before Hunky Dory came out and Lou Reed at Imperial College at the time of Rock and Roll Animal and a coherent Bob Dylan at a small ballroom in Miami in 1998

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

To be honest, it wasn’t until years later I worked out it was Joy Division.
I use concert archives now and log all the gigs I went to and keep all ticket Stubbs.
Using Setlist and concert archives I was able to work out it was them.
The only thing I remember at the time was it was so loud I was on the verge of puking! I was only 14 and never heard anything like it.

I decided to go late to see Caravan play on Tottenham Court Road about 15 years ago and missed the support - Kevin Ayers!

Also, abut 20 years ago I went to see Assemblage 23 play in Camden, and gave the support, Diary of Dreams a miss, only to discover them some years later.

I have also bought tickets to lots of gigs and not gone, due to my slightly off-kilter personality, and simply not fancying it on the day.

 

[LlcoolJ]

First gig - 1981 Adam & the Ants

/QUOTE]

If that was at the Brighton Centre then I think I was there as well. Not sure what year it was but I definitely saw them there age 7 or 8 when in full pomp mode. Superb!

 

[DIFFBROOK]

I think 4 or 5 others of us on the list have also had that gig down as our first. Adam has a lot to answer for. But, yes it was good.

First gig - 1981 Adam & the Ants

/QUOTE]

If that was at the Brighton Centre then I think I was there as well. Not sure what year it was but I definitely saw them there age 7 or 8 when in full pomp mode. Superb!

 

[Sussexscots]

I saw The Beat a lot over the years, and they were always amazing. They never seemed to have an off night. I also met Ranking Roger a quite few times and chatted with him. Such an amazingly nice bloke, still gutted at his passing.

They were awesome. Just great music that made you feel alive, like you could dance forever and never grows old.

Confess when Roger passed it felt like one of those moments when you feel something of yourself has gone as well.

Still feel privileged to have been there and seen them.

 

[Worried Man Blues]

Lindisfarne Dome 72?, Dylan and Van Morrison NEC both the size of my thumbnail and that was way too close, Led Zep Knebworth 79

 

[amexer]

No mention of Beatles or is that not cool

 

[Braggfan]

They were awesome. Just great music that made you feel alive, like you could dance forever and never grows old.

Confess when Roger passed it felt like one of those moments when you feel something of yourself has gone as well. But feel privileged to have been there.

They certainly did have that energy about them, and it always makes me happy when they come on a playlist or my ipod's on shuffle etc.

I met Roger at Glastonbury one time, having seen previously seen them a couple of times that same year. He was super happy to chat about the previous gigs, and encouraged me to come and have chat if I saw him at other gigs. Like I say, just a genuinely nice guy.

 

[jakarta]

First - John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers at The Dome 1970 (Larry Taylor ex Canned Heat on Bass and Jimmy McCulloch ex Thunderclap Newman on Lead Guitar) superb and not bad for your first gig.

Worst - The Faces/Nazareth at The Top Rank Suite 1972, The Faces were nearly an hour late coming on stage, all pissed and just went through the motions. The support band were Nazareth, who sounded great but their sound system kept breaking down and they gave up after the third attempt to start their first song and walked off stage.

Best - Toss up between Deep Purple at The Dome 1972 and Bowie at The Dome 1973 , believe it or not, but Erasures gig at The Brighton Centre 1989 was a very close runner as well.

That Sir, is quite a mix!

 

[Weststander]

Twice to Birmingham, Maastricht is on my wish list maybe one night at the concert another night at a bar/ restaurant

I know the Maastricht tickets are like gold dust, but that's on my wish list

He's inspirational, charismatic .

 

[SAC]

So many great gigs, I can't think which one was the best. The Style Council at 100 Club, The Housemartins at Brixton Academy to name just two.

The worst is probably Hozier at Brixton Academy. The music was s'hite and the whole concert seemed to be filmed by every **** in the place. Can't people just enjoy the music (not that it was very enjoyable)? I have been to so many gigs there but, from memory, this was the worst.

 

[PeakGull]

First - my parents took us to see The Jacksons at the Brighton Centre in 1979. Hated it.

Worst - Stiff Little Fingers at the Brighton Centre in 1981. A huge mistake by their promoter or manager, only about 750 of us rattling around in a 5,000 capacity giant cube. They were awful.

Can't be topped - New Order in August 1984 at Portsmouth Guildhall. They were amazing, the set perfect, lovely acoustics, we were the front of the crush and topped by the finale of the worshipped Temptation.

Confusion
Ceremony
Face Up
Leave Me Alone
Hurt
The Village
Dreams Never End
Age of Consent
Blue Monday
The Perfect Kiss
Encore:
Temptation

I went to the Stiff Little Fingers gig - I didn't think they were awful but agree that it was a very bizarre venue - should have been at the Top Rank or Concorde. New Order were superb at Portsmouth Guild Hall - seem to remember it was a Sunday evening.

 

[Weststander]

No mention of Beatles or is that not cool

They last toured 55 years or so ago, I've never met anyone who saw them live. Even in my Dad's generation.

 

[Return of the Rev]

I also saw the Banshees, Cure Spizz gig at the centre, but saw them the next night too at the Music Machine which is a much more nicer venue.

Saw the Banshees at the new regent 1977 small venue and great location