[Music] Your first ever (proper) gig?

[m20gull]

Tangerine Dream, Hammersmith Odeon 1978, age 16. I lived in Arundel and schoolmates in Horsham. Somehow persuaded my dad to pick me up from Horsham as that's where the last train stopped. Still remember it well and thanks to Tangerine Tree have a copy of it, which I listened to only yesterday. Never seen so much 'smoke'

 

[Weststander]

My first concert was Stiff Little Fingers at the Brighton Centre, my dad Dad gave me the money to buy two tickets to see Shakin Stevens as he was my sisters favourite but the tickets were sold out so I bought tickets for SLF instead. I don’t think she enjoyed it as much as me

That was my worst gig by a country mile. Their promotor chose a venue holding 5,500? for a smallish band, 1,000 rattling around in a poor acoustics cube.

 

[ExmouthExile]

U2 Cardiff Arms Park ’93

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Since some people are listing several favourite gigs....

Human League at the Nashville Fulham circa 78, where I briefly stood next to and spoke to David Bowie; watching on his own near the door was Brian Eno.

Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Dome (supporting Golden Earring - many walked out during the latter's set, including me)

Captain Beefheart at the Dome

Hall and Oats at the Dome (twice)

Beach Boys, Wembley 75

Guns 'N Roses, Donnington, circa 94

Family, Dome. Farewell tour.

Doctors of Madness, three times.

Wire....Birthday Party (both several times).......The Fall . . . the Soft Boys... all in London.

Stiff tour twice.

Edward Ka Spel, Billy Bragg, Big Country, Chris and Cosey, John Cale, Moev (twice), Der Mittelgang, Skinny Puppy (all in Vancouver)

And Also the Trees, Vandergraaf Generator, both many times.

Drab Majesty, Protomartyr, Hante, SRSQ, in recent times.

And so on.

 

[lasvegan]

Wishbone Ash at The Dome, mid 70’s ish

 

[atfc village]

Dexys Dominion in London on the coming to town tour September 1985 .

 

[Iron Butterfly]

Tangerine Dream, Hammersmith Odeon 1978, age 16. I lived in Arundel and schoolmates in Horsham. Somehow persuaded my dad to pick me up from Horsham as that's where the last train stopped. Still remember it well and thanks to Tangerine Tree have a copy of it, which I listened to only yesterday. Never seen so much 'smoke'

 

[Iron Butterfly]

John Mayall and the Blues Breakers , including Mick Taylor pre-Stones at Chertsey Riverside Club 1966

 

[Mattstrugnell]

Anthrax , Hammersmith Odeon , 1987.
I dearly miss the annual Cardiacs November gigs at the Astoria; they were very special

 

[Comrade Sam]

Isle of Wight 1970

 

[Norman Potting]

Ritchie Blackmores Rainbow 1980 at Brighton Centre

 

[Insel affe]

I have seen plenty of bands on the up, it’s just the nature of the territory when you’re into music. But if I had to chose one era it would be my teens and being in the eye of the storm of thrash metal…I saw the debut UK gigs of Slayer (Marquee), Anthrax (Hammersmith Palais), Suicidal Tendencies (Clarendon Ballroom), Nuclear Assault (Dingwalls) , Megadeth (pretty sure their first was at Hammy Odeon) plus many other smaller bands. I did see Metallica on the Ride The Lighting tour at Donington but it wasn’t their first UK gig. Fun times.

I saw Napalm Death in Wigan in a working mans club I think a Bus depot, I can't recall the year but I think 1985/86/87 latest.
But I cannot find a gig listing for it anywhere, i went with a mate he was into them, punk and the meteors at the time.
They were something like I had never seen before, seemed like one minute blasts of noise, not terrible, but I never sought them out after that or listened to them again.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I saw Napalm Death in Wigan in a working mans club I think a Bus depot, I can't recall the year but I think 1985/86/87 latest.
But I cannot find a gig listing for it anywhere, i went with a mate he was into them, punk and the meteors at the time.
They were something like I had never seen before, seemed like one minute blasts of noise, not terrible, but I never sought them out after that or listened to them again.

I saw them as well. Incidentally I got Shane Embury’s autobiography for Xmas. This was the gig. ULU used to put a lot of these types of gig on at the time. I think this was 88.

 

[razer]

Slade at the Dome in June 1973, backed up by the Alex Harvey Band. Awesome.

 

[Insel affe]

I saw them as well. Incidentally I got Shane Embury’s autobiography for Xmas. This was the gig. ULU used to put a lot of these types of gig on at the time. I think this was 88.

Extreme Noise Terror, ring a bell I wonder if they were on the same bill.
An independent record shop owner put them on, he imported Sub Pop records, garage punk and that kinda stuff with a smattering of Psychobilly. Alans record shop Wigan, that is something I miss going down the local record shop and listening to new stuff and taking a punt on stuff because of the sleeve, no spotify or you tube to check stuff out.

 

[The Maharajah of Sydney]

Always chuckle when this thread comes a calling… Glitter Band featuring Gary Glitter, Brighton Dome 1974

I sympathise with you.
Same year, same venue.
Mud, David Essex and Leo Sayer

 

[sullyshuffle]

Caravan supported by Tir Na Nog at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon 7th April 1974. Cost £1.25. Underrated band from the Canterbury Scene, and still performing.

 

[Silverhatch]

Come on!

Oh it was! Loved Angel Face @ 13 and so did the girl I went with. Then nothing until Thin Lizzy at the Dome and Stranglers at the Buccaneer and Wishbone Ash at the Dome (loud) and Genesis at the centre and probably others that my ageing mind can’t remember

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

I saw Aerosmith late 80s at the same venue. I was working as a steward and go to see them sound check, did a few songs they didn’t play in the set, and then spend time dressing up in Xmas outfits for a photo shoot….it was Autumn.

I was converting a space at the Birmingham NEC into a temporary office back in the early 90s(?) and while waiting for some kit to be delivered, I got to see Michael Bolton record the shots for one of his videos. In the video, he is on stage performing to thousands of fans who were filmed that night. In reality, it was his crew, me and the security guard who let me in. To make it look like his was mid-set, they were spraying him with water so it looked like sweat being thrown about from his long hair.

I saw Napalm Death in Wigan in a working mans club I think a Bus depot, I can't recall the year but I think 1985/86/87 latest.
But I cannot find a gig listing for it anywhere, i went with a mate he was into them, punk and the meteors at the time.
They were something like I had never seen before, seemed like one minute blasts of noise, not terrible, but I never sought them out after that or listened to them again.

I saw them supporting Volbeat at Wembley Arena a couple of years ago - I was surprised to see they were still going.

 

[Weststander]

Since some people are listing several favourite gigs....

Human League at the Nashville Fulham circa 78, where I briefly stood next to and spoke to David Bowie; watching on his own near the door was Brian Eno.

Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Dome (supporting Golden Earring - many walked out during the latter's set, including me)

Captain Beefheart at the Dome

Hall and Oats at the Dome (twice)

Beach Boys, Wembley 75

Guns 'N Roses, Donnington, circa 94

Family, Dome. Farewell tour.

Doctors of Madness, three times.

Wire....Birthday Party (both several times).......The Fall . . . the Soft Boys... all in London.

Stiff tour twice.

Edward Ka Spel, Billy Bragg, Big Country, Chris and Cosey, John Cale, Moev (twice), Der Mittelgang, Skinny Puppy (all in Vancouver)

And Also the Trees, Vandergraaf Generator, both many times.

Drab Majesty, Protomartyr, Hante, SRSQ, in recent times.

And so on.

The pinnacle for me, so far … New Order at Portsmouth Guildhall Aug84.