Following on from the thread on gigs people have missed out on what iconic gigs have you been to?

By iconic I mean either critically acclaimed or iconic to you for perosnal reasons.

For me U2's Zoo TV tour was the most amazing spectacle I have ever seen or heard live, but in terms of truly iconic being just in front of the stage at The Smiths when they played The Hacienda on 24th November 1983 was the most electric atmosphere I have ever experienced at a gig.

As members of the Hacienda in those days you got reduced prices on advanced tickets and having already seen The Smiths a couple of times in Manchester's pubs me and a few mates had already bought ours a few weeks before for the Hacienda gig to get the reduced price (stingy students that we were).

Well that night The Smiths played on TOTP 'live' in Londin and then flew up for the gig. When we arrived at the Hac nice and early to have a pint or two first (as members you were allowed in early) there was a queue for tickets right round the block.

So we and a handful of other regulars ended up at the front of the stage and when we turned round minutes before the gig started the pkace was absolutely packed.... rare in those days (before the whole acid house scene put The Hacienda on the map).

The gig itself was electric and for The Smiths the rest was, as they say, history. That was realy the night they became huge. I saw them a couple of times after that, but they never captured the atmosphere of that gig again for me even though musically they went on to scale greater heights than those early days.

 

Only ever been to one gig, Pink Floyd 'The Division Bell' tour. As its my only ever gig I cannot compare it to any other but it was everything I expected and more, absolutely amazing doesn't really cover it.

 

It may only be one, but you chose well. Saw them then and when the toured with The Wall. They are real 'musicians'. Good choice IMO

 

One of the very best I've been to was The Kinks at Nottingham.

For sheer theatricals with music it has to be Alice Cooper back in 1988 - just an awesome gig at the NEC.

I also remember a Def Leppard one as being particularly excellent.

 

James - Alton Towers, July 92

Wind swept and freezing cold, standing in a lake that used to be the car park getting p!ss wet through!

Wouldn't have missed it for the world

 

Did you Sit Down ?

 

Did I ****

 

two i've ranked highly.

Plan B - Before he was popular. Example and Pro green was supporting again before a lot of people known them.

The maccabees about 4 years ago they're brilliant live and a must see

 

as a x roadie seen plenty but for me floyd momentry lapse of reson tour will go down as one of the best.for a one off show the wall by roger walters in berlin was stunning.
or some of the jean michel jarra shows, we done the docklands show in very heavy rain and full on storms but dam it was good.
sorry to f1 fan but done the zoo tour and honestly think it was one of the worse tours they ever done there was to many tv/monitors on stage, it took away from the band and the sound was not the best.

 

Robbie - Knebworth
Genesis - Manchester
Bon Jovi - O2, Manchester, Hyde Park
Eminem - LOL that was funny as ****

 

Have seen 100s of bands over the years but can't pick out one that stands head and shoulders above the rest.

But by far the worst was Black Sabbath in around 1976 who were absolutely crap as Ozzy was wrecked and spent most of the gig offstage rather than doing what he should been doing.

I've seen most of the big rock legends, most of whom were good and I have also seen some amazing bands in little clubs like the 100 club in London.

Musically some of the tribute bands I have seen were far better than their counterparts.

Chip

 

'Nas' Stillmatic tour at the acadamy in manchester many years ago and still the best concert ive been to

 

I saw AC/DC at the Liverpool Empire on the Highway to Hell tour - 1979 I think. Great venue, great band, and sadly not long before Bon Scott died.

 

All Foo Fighters gigs (well, all 4 of them!) have been amazing.
To me, Dave Grohl is one of the ultimate frontmen.

1994...Loch Lomond..Oasis supported by Ocean Colour Scene and Cast.
Oasis gigs have always been really good as well.

I was chuffed to be at the Velvet Revolver gig in Glasgow a couple of years ago when Scott Weiland (lead singer) declared they were splitting up.
The bemused looks on the faces of the other band members. Not long after that gig, the band had fired Weiland.

Last year was immense...great weather in July at the MK Bowl.
Foo fighters AND Biffy Clyro.

 

Been to a few Bon Jovi one's but the last concert at old Wembley was them and it was amazing

I also went to Net Aid at old Wembley - Eurythmics, Corrs, David Bowie, George Michael and Robbie Williams to name but a few, such an amazing line up and it was linked to two other concerts - one in the States and one in Germany I think - stood for 12 hours straight, worth every aching muscle

 

Green day have been the best arena gig they were better live than on an alblum. As for a small venue it's a toss up between Slipknot, stone sour and avenged sevenfold.

 

Depeche Mode @ royal Albert hall.

 

Someone somehow flogged me two tickets to Rod Stewart at Warwick castle.Didn't like him or his music

He was bloody fantastic! Lovely warm summers evening too.Even saw some girls scrapping

 

Peter Gabriel - PG3 tour

Thin Lizzy (in 1983 featuring a return guest appearance by Snowy White)

John Martyn accoustic gig - Queen's Hall Edinburgh

Gil Scott Heron - Queen's Hall Edinburgh


Muse are pretty good live too

 

Saw Neil Young couple years ago at the hop farm - weather kind of ****e ,as well as getting out of there but ,worth it

 

The Clash - 1982

Boomtown Rats -81

Stranglers - 81

REM - 96

Big Audio Dynamite -86

 

Oasis, The Enemy and Kasabian at Murrfield. Three great bands one amazing day!

Over the years i have also seen various people / bands headline T in the park that will give me nights i will never forget as well.

The prodigy, Cold play, Beyonce, Jay Z , Eminem.

Going to see Noel Gallager at Edinburgh Castle this year as well

 

I've been to several pretty iconic concerts in my time. Was at Live Aid, aged just 15. Was at the Blackpool Empress for the Stone Roses. Between 18 and about 25 I went to hundreds, sometimes 2-3 a week if I was following or occasionally working on a tour. The gig I enjoyed most however was Hothouse Flowers at Dublin Point Depot, new years eve. Gig started at 7pm, and I only left as I had to catch my ferry at 8am on new years day. Had a pint with The Edge and chatted to Van Morrison, and got very friendly with a beautiful Irish girl

 

This was an exciting time for me, blew my mind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpxSR3nW6Rs

 

That was 1980, didn't think you were old enough

 

I was in Primary School

 

I'm not into bands or live shows so much like that. But the best night I remember was my only jaunt to Gatecrasher at The Republic in Sheffield. December 27th 2005 and it was the Crasher Christmas Classics event. I can still remember the line up for fellow ravers:

John '00' Fleming
Agnelli & Nelson
The Thrillseekers
Matt Hardwick
Will Holland
Riley & Durrant

Proper clubbing and the cyber kids were out in force. I'll never forget that night and jumping on the train at 7am back from Sheffield shattered but grinning ear to ear. "One more choon, one more choon" @ John '00' Fleming at 6.04am

ITWILLALWAYSBEWITHUS

 

Muse at Wembley was pretty smart.

Stranglers, Strokes and Paolo Nutini all at Benicassim last year was awesome for me, loved every second of it.

 

Oh yeah, saw Smashing Pumpkins a couple of months back too, highly disappointing to see such a boring crowd and a non interactive frontman. Killed what should have been special with the music they create.