I think "Rain", a Beatles tribute band still performs. Some of its members were in Beatlemania. I've seen them once or twice. Not a everything but the bathroom sink type show like Beatlemania, more of a straight up concert with costume changes.
Your five favorite concerts and why
- Thread starter Kirby
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Pink Floyd, 1980, the first limited tour for The Wall (full shows were staged only in London, NYC and Los Angeles.) I saw them at the Sports Arena in L.A.; nothing else quite compares to this show.
Led Zeppelin, 1977, Presence tour, at the Forum in Los Angeles -- the last time they toured as a band with all four original members. Tour would later be cancelled due to the death of Robert Plant's son. My first really major concert.
King Crimson, 1985, Three of a Perfect Pair tour, at the Greek Theater in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Excellent show by an excellent band -- a little mist in the air only added to the atmosphere.
Richard and Linda Thompson, 1982, Shoot Out the Lights tour, Roxy Theater, Hollywood. Their marriage was in the process of coming apart during this tour, and already-powerful music was amplified by some seriously exposed nerves.
Steeleye Span, 1984, at the Fairport Reunion Festival near Cropredy (UK.) A good band already, they were just really on that night. Singer Maddy Prior was quite pregnant at the time and spent much of the show seated on the edge of the stage dangling her bare feet over the edge, and it was totally cool.
Led Zeppelin, 1977, Presence tour, at the Forum in Los Angeles -- the last time they toured as a band with all four original members. Tour would later be cancelled due to the death of Robert Plant's son. My first really major concert.
King Crimson, 1985, Three of a Perfect Pair tour, at the Greek Theater in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Excellent show by an excellent band -- a little mist in the air only added to the atmosphere.
Richard and Linda Thompson, 1982, Shoot Out the Lights tour, Roxy Theater, Hollywood. Their marriage was in the process of coming apart during this tour, and already-powerful music was amplified by some seriously exposed nerves.
Steeleye Span, 1984, at the Fairport Reunion Festival near Cropredy (UK.) A good band already, they were just really on that night. Singer Maddy Prior was quite pregnant at the time and spent much of the show seated on the edge of the stage dangling her bare feet over the edge, and it was totally cool.
The Grateful Dead easily a half-dozen times; probably about the same for Frank Zappa; Jethro Tull three times; The Who twice.
The Libertines in 2004 firstly at Brixton Academy then about ten days later at The London Astoria which was one of their last gigs and they were joined on stage by the great Mick Jones of the Clash.
Bob Dylan at Brixton Academy he is just magic every time you see him.
The Stone Roses in November 1995 not long before their split they were still brilliant.
Oasis at Loch Lomond National Park Scotland. The week before Knebworth and booked before Knebworth Oasis were at their best.
Babyshambles. I have seen them about nine times and each time was a treat. Such madness and brilliance from a man most people hate but who I love. I have seen them many times at Brixton but my favourite may have been at the Kings Cross Scala in 1994 supported by Adam Green.
And many many more....
Bob Dylan at Brixton Academy he is just magic every time you see him.
The Stone Roses in November 1995 not long before their split they were still brilliant.
Oasis at Loch Lomond National Park Scotland. The week before Knebworth and booked before Knebworth Oasis were at their best.
Babyshambles. I have seen them about nine times and each time was a treat. Such madness and brilliance from a man most people hate but who I love. I have seen them many times at Brixton but my favourite may have been at the Kings Cross Scala in 1994 supported by Adam Green.
And many many more....
X probably ten times, Dave Alvin probably six to eight times, the Beat Farmers x6, Los Lobos x6, Neil Young x5, the Rolling Stones x4, Warren Zevon x4, Elvis Costello x3, Bruce Springsteen x3, the Blasters x3, REM x3, Willie Nelson x3, David Byrne x3, the Who x2.
I saw Nirvana open for Dinosaur Jr. in 1991. My friends and I had never heard of them. We thought they were pretty good, but at the time it looked like the next big thing out of Seattle would be Soundgarden, and Nirvana didn't seem likely to overtake them. Six months later Nirvana had become a phenomenon. They were definitely one of the loudest bands I have ever seen, though, and I have seen a lot of shows. The room was pretty small.
I would have killed to see one of those dates. I have read that Linda was having a lot of problems with her voice around that time, was she OK live?
--Justin
This one's on my list as well. Senior year in high school. My mom wouldn't let me skip school to wait for tickets, so she did. Got the maximum 6 tickets for $120 total.
Was this the one where he announced "I don't see any houses out here, turn it up!"?
Rounding out my list:
U2 at Red Rocks in 1983, Under a Blood Red Sky tour. I don't think I've been to a bad show at Red Rocks.
Billy Joel/ Elton John at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, 1994. Their first tour together. Who knew they'd still be doing it 15 years later.
No particular order and most of them were big acts that I saw in smaller clubs, which was much more enjoyable to big venues.
1. Lolapolooza (1st one): siouxsie and the banshees, Ice T, Nine Inch Nails, and many others in 1991. Awesome outdoor show that just went on and on. It rocked.
2. Ozzy Osbourne with Queensryche in 1986 Hollywood Sportitorium. Kick ass show that was originally supposed to have Metallica open for Ozzy, but Cliff Burton was killed that summer.
3. The Sisters of Mercy in Munich, Germany summer 1991. Kick ass show in a club and one of my all time favorite acts. I had just returned from Desert Storm and this was the first show I got to see; absolutely amazing.
4. KMFDM, Front 242, the Genotorturers, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, and Skinny Puppy at the Cameo Theater in Miami Florida, 1993. Some amazing stage shows from some kick ass groups. Probably one of the loudest I've ever been too. It was sort of an end of an era in S. Florida. No really big venues like this sort happened again with so many great industrial acts.
5. The Cult opened for Aerosmith in probably 1989 in Scweinfurt, Germany. Aerosmith was cool, but the Cult rocked to no end. I think they put Aerosmith to shame.
I've seen numerous concerts and this was tough. I saw so many in the early to mid 1980s, that I can't pick any one over the other. The ones I listed just stood out for being a really good, and memorable time.
In regards to seeing same acts multiple times: Nine Inch Nails 2, Slayer 3, Sisters of Mercy 3, Marilyn Manson 5 or 6 (all in local clubs), Ministry 3, Iron Maiden 2 and I'm sure I'm missing a few in there.
1. Lolapolooza (1st one): siouxsie and the banshees, Ice T, Nine Inch Nails, and many others in 1991. Awesome outdoor show that just went on and on. It rocked.
2. Ozzy Osbourne with Queensryche in 1986 Hollywood Sportitorium. Kick ass show that was originally supposed to have Metallica open for Ozzy, but Cliff Burton was killed that summer.
3. The Sisters of Mercy in Munich, Germany summer 1991. Kick ass show in a club and one of my all time favorite acts. I had just returned from Desert Storm and this was the first show I got to see; absolutely amazing.
4. KMFDM, Front 242, the Genotorturers, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, and Skinny Puppy at the Cameo Theater in Miami Florida, 1993. Some amazing stage shows from some kick ass groups. Probably one of the loudest I've ever been too. It was sort of an end of an era in S. Florida. No really big venues like this sort happened again with so many great industrial acts.
5. The Cult opened for Aerosmith in probably 1989 in Scweinfurt, Germany. Aerosmith was cool, but the Cult rocked to no end. I think they put Aerosmith to shame.
I've seen numerous concerts and this was tough. I saw so many in the early to mid 1980s, that I can't pick any one over the other. The ones I listed just stood out for being a really good, and memorable time.
In regards to seeing same acts multiple times: Nine Inch Nails 2, Slayer 3, Sisters of Mercy 3, Marilyn Manson 5 or 6 (all in local clubs), Ministry 3, Iron Maiden 2 and I'm sure I'm missing a few in there.
1. Oingo Boingo, Boingo was just a fun band to see. In their Halloween shows there was so much energy and it was just a fun place.
2. Bad Religion Oh my god talk about energy, these guys blew me away.
3. Green Day I am not a green day fan but when the band tried to start a riot by singing eye of the tiger while striping naked. I knew I had seen something special.
4. Bauhaus I am a goth at heart and seeing the band that started the scene was a treat. The darkened stage, the fog, Peter murphy levitating glowing light bulbs. It was all so elegant and theatrical. It was like nothing I had ever seen.
5. The Sisters of Mercy circa 1991 This was my first big show and sheer atmosphere and spectacle is still heard to beat. While not overtly as theatrical as Bauhaus. All of that fog created the perfect atmosphere. There was so much fog that the fire dept was called thinking there was a fire. Besides seeing my heroes on stage at the tender age of 18 was unforgettable.
Special mentions
The Cure
London after Midnight ( It was like seeing the Vampire Lestat for real, granted this was in 1991.
U2
Worst band I have ever seen
Hole Courtney love was so smacked up she literally fell off the stage.
Oh I see I am not the only Sisters fan. Good to know there is a few of us out there.
2. Bad Religion Oh my god talk about energy, these guys blew me away.
3. Green Day I am not a green day fan but when the band tried to start a riot by singing eye of the tiger while striping naked. I knew I had seen something special.
4. Bauhaus I am a goth at heart and seeing the band that started the scene was a treat. The darkened stage, the fog, Peter murphy levitating glowing light bulbs. It was all so elegant and theatrical. It was like nothing I had ever seen.
5. The Sisters of Mercy circa 1991 This was my first big show and sheer atmosphere and spectacle is still heard to beat. While not overtly as theatrical as Bauhaus. All of that fog created the perfect atmosphere. There was so much fog that the fire dept was called thinking there was a fire. Besides seeing my heroes on stage at the tender age of 18 was unforgettable.
Special mentions
The Cure
London after Midnight ( It was like seeing the Vampire Lestat for real, granted this was in 1991.
U2
Worst band I have ever seen
Hole Courtney love was so smacked up she literally fell off the stage.
Oh I see I am not the only Sisters fan. Good to know there is a few of us out there.
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I wish I was old enough to have seen Zappa.
I've got all the volumes of You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Roxy & Elsewhere and a handful of bootlegs as far as live material goes but listening to it on headphones just ain't the same as seeing it in person. I guess I'll have to catch Zappa Plays Zappa or something next time they're over here.
Ok, since it's favorite concerts...
1. Hillsong United in Norman, Oklahoma. Friday April 23, 2010. Amazing time of worship and fellowship!
2. House of Heroes in Artesia, New Mexico. May 2009. A blocked off street with about 40 people in the crowd. Intimate fun. Just an amazing concert.
3. Switchfoot in Albuquerque, New Mexico. February 23, 2009. Brilliant.
4. The Rock and Worship Roadshow in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tuesday April 13, 2010. MercyMe was stunning.
5. All the concerts that various friends have performed.
1. Hillsong United in Norman, Oklahoma. Friday April 23, 2010. Amazing time of worship and fellowship!
2. House of Heroes in Artesia, New Mexico. May 2009. A blocked off street with about 40 people in the crowd. Intimate fun. Just an amazing concert.
3. Switchfoot in Albuquerque, New Mexico. February 23, 2009. Brilliant.
4. The Rock and Worship Roadshow in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tuesday April 13, 2010. MercyMe was stunning.
5. All the concerts that various friends have performed.
I think the shows I saw were all between about 1980 and 1984, including the '84 Universal Amphitheatre show which turns up on some of the YCDTOSA sets and the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium show where they had Nicolas Slonimsky come out and sit in with the band. Some good stuff, to be sure, but I really would have liked to see the Roxy/Over-nite Sensation/One Size Fits All band live, or some of the earlier Mothers incarnations. ZPZ has some nice stuff, though; their "Village of the Sun/Echidna's Arf" medley can be found online and there's a clip of them doing "Zomby Woof" with a Steve Vai solo that's completely sick.
I wish I was old enough to have seen Zappa.
1. Pink Floyd : Momentary Lapse of Reason tour @ Mile High Stadium
2. Jethro Tull : Oh No Not Another 20 Years of Jethro Tull tour @ Red Rocks
3. Santana/The Greatful Dead : around 1991 @ Mile High Stadium
4. DEVO : Total Devo tour @ Glenn Miller Ballroom
5. The Who : Reunion tour @ Folsum Field mentioned by OP.
2. Jethro Tull : Oh No Not Another 20 Years of Jethro Tull tour @ Red Rocks
3. Santana/The Greatful Dead : around 1991 @ Mile High Stadium
4. DEVO : Total Devo tour @ Glenn Miller Ballroom
5. The Who : Reunion tour @ Folsum Field mentioned by OP.
