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For me, my best gig has to be Thin Lizzy at the Marquee in the early 70's. A rumour went round that Gary Moore (then of Skid Row) was filling in for Eric Bell who was ill. I later heard there was around 900 people there in a club that was only supposed to hold around 300. Fantastic atmosphere.
A close second was seeing a then unknown Clannad performing in the foyer of Wandsworth Town Hall to an audience of no more than around 20.
Worst gig has to be Devo at the then Hammersmith Odeon that a friend persuaded me to take my girlfriend to. Spent most of the concert watching them on a screen before they finally graced us with their presence on stage for a whole 20 minutes! What a pile of crap they were too.
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Best and worst gigs you've attended on 08:31 - Jun 25 with 1667 views
I also saw Bob Dylan at Hop Farm Kent about 12 years ago, that was turd!!!
I am a big 60s head and like Dylan on record but that gig pissed me off, the only highlight was I kissed a girl I liked at the end of it, but the gig itself sucked so much
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Best and worst gigs you've attended on 08:40 - Jun 25 with 1642 views
Best and worst gigs you've attended on 19:48 - Jun 24 by danehoop
Too add to this thread I have been revisiting bands of my youth touring over the past couple of years. Depeche Mode at Twickenham for the Memento Mori tour. First tour after death of Fletch, was really unsure how they would be - answer very very good, only downside was it being at Twickenham which has to be one of the worst venues in the UK to get to and from. Also was lucky enough to see ABC at the Royal Albert Hall with South London Philharmonic Orchestra, that was also extremely good and Martin Fry's voice is as golden as ever. Worst recent gig Secret Affair (supported by Squire) at 229 by Great Portland Street station. OK, bit of a mod guilty pleasure but one that was sobering when I realised I had last seen both bands 40 years ago. This time around both were pretty competent at what they did, but there sound system seemed to be way too loud for the smallish size of the venue. Pre gig warm up DJ managed to deafen me and then Squire and Secret Affair followed in a similar vein. Possibly a sign of getting old I guess, but left before the end of the concert as my ears just couldnt take the level of volume. Sure both bands would be fine in slightly bigger venue or smaller PA.
Twickenham is awful but they let bands do load out directly onto the pitch which saves artists tons of money so they're gonna keep booking it
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Best and worst gigs you've attended on 11:57 - Jun 25 with 1489 views
Best and worst gigs you've attended on 02:56 - Jun 25 by HAYESBOY
What a shame. I went to the Albert Hall show the year before and he was still great. This was the show that had been delayed for 2 years because of Covid. At 79 years old (at the time) he still had it. Audience were on their feet most of the time.
I also went to the Kisses in the Moonlight tour at Wembley Arena in 86. Remember it as a great show. I stewarded the Luther shows and escorted him (with others) to the centre stage. He was a massive fella then. About 6' 3' and had put weight back on.
Through a mate we were able to steward shows in the mid to late eighties at Wembley Arena. Not much health and safety back then. Quick run through on exists and point of contacts and that was it. Pound meal voucher as well. We did all of the Soul shows mostly and they were easy to steward. It was when we did one of the Bros shows and INXS that it felt like work. Funniest night was when we did the Bobby Brown concert and he fell off the stage. I think he saw me laugh.
Hayesboy,
scary coincidence - I was stewarding at Wembley Stadium and Arena at the same times. I got into it through a mate with ties into Wasp's rugby who seemed to have the contract. Agree on the soul shows being much easier to steward, much more chilled audience. Was lucky to see loads of bands I liked and got to steward Live Aid as well (amazing experience). Oddest one was working the front crash barriers for U2 Unforgettable fire tour. whole front row jumping up and down in time and I turned round to watch the gig for a few minutes and turned back at the perfect moment to when the audience jumped up. Got caught flush on the chin and went flying. Got up before security did anything to daft and had to calm down the guy who caught me and was absolutely mortified. Complete freak accident, it was all fine, reassured him and got on with things. U2 were completely at the top of their game at that point having just released Unforgettable Fire and quite special
Never knowingly understood
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Best and worst gigs you've attended on 12:13 - Jun 25 with 1439 views
Best and worst gigs you've attended on 11:57 - Jun 25 by danehoop
Hayesboy,
scary coincidence - I was stewarding at Wembley Stadium and Arena at the same times. I got into it through a mate with ties into Wasp's rugby who seemed to have the contract. Agree on the soul shows being much easier to steward, much more chilled audience. Was lucky to see loads of bands I liked and got to steward Live Aid as well (amazing experience). Oddest one was working the front crash barriers for U2 Unforgettable fire tour. whole front row jumping up and down in time and I turned round to watch the gig for a few minutes and turned back at the perfect moment to when the audience jumped up. Got caught flush on the chin and went flying. Got up before security did anything to daft and had to calm down the guy who caught me and was absolutely mortified. Complete freak accident, it was all fine, reassured him and got on with things. U2 were completely at the top of their game at that point having just released Unforgettable Fire and quite special
The contact for us was through someone who worked as Asda in management. Cant remember his name. More through my mate who worked there as well. We used to rush up from work and que around the back to get in. I did it for a couple of years around 87/88. We did a few stadium stuff including Michael Jackson. It was the night Kim Wilde's boob popped out. Great memories (mamories). The worst one was INXS. We were told to keep people of the seats and of course in my section I get the bloke with a gland problem stand on his seat (he wasn't the only one) . I asked several times for him to get down and got dogs abuse. Nearly reacted, but I just got an official steward from Wembley to turf him out. That was basically it. Turn up, get in, yellow vis jacket, meal voucher, quick 10 min briefing and off you go to your section.
Smells like a trout farm in here
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Best and worst gigs you've attended on 13:11 - Jun 25 with 1299 views
That was enough for a 15 year old taken along by his mate and his mate's mum. I liked Howard Jones but clapping along to New Song while Jed mimed his way around the stage and my mate's mum danced along put me off live music for life.
There must be more to it than that embarrassing night out, but it's just not for me.
[Post edited 25 Jun 13:12]
Suffering since 1978.
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Best and worst gigs you've attended on 13:57 - Jun 25 with 1245 views
Fugazi - The Forum, 2002. Supported by Q and not U who I was already a big fan of. I was at the front upstairs so I had a seat for the whole thing and a perfect view. Their second to last show ever (with their final one being the next day at the same venue).
Quicksand - London, 2017. They were just totally on fire. Great setlist.
Alice in Chains - Brixton Academy 1993.
Worst gigs:
Curve - some time in 1993 maybe. Just utterly disinterested. Finished in an hour with no encore. Mardy c*nts. Shame as they were great back then.
Siouxsie and the Banshees - 1992 ish. Same as Curve. But with a crowd full of dickheads.
Killing Joke - Preston 2003. The whole band were pissed out of their heads, the bass was excrutiatingly loud (to the point that it shook your whole body and made you feel sick while drowning out the guitar) and the crowd was full of past-their-prime punks who thought they were 17 to the point where I had to move backwards. And I've been to heavier shows than that.
Stefan Moore, Stefan Moore running down the wing. Stefan Moore, Stefan Moore running down the wing. He runs like a cheetah, his crosses couldn't be sweeter. Stefan Moore. Stefan Moore. Stefan Moore.
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Best and worst gigs you've attended on 00:11 - Jun 26 with 962 views
To add to the list. I was fortunate that as a teenager my Dad took me to loads of Soul concerts in the mid-late 8-0s, see all of these before I was 18:-
Cameo, Atlantic Starr, Alex O Neal, Freddie Jackson, Keith Sweat, Melisa Morgan, Teena Marie, Jean Carne, Will Downing, Mica Paris, Fatback Band, Guy, Maze (others that I have probably forgot!!)
I actually went to the Jazz Cafe last weekend for Fatback, Bill Curtis still doing his thing at 92 years old! Was a superb night.
I also recently see SOS Band, Melisa Morgan and Glenn Jones at Indigo O2 last month. Melisa Morgan was excellent, SOS Band very polished.
Best Gig out of that - Cameo were amazing Not got a worst as enjoyed all II have seen in some way!
Been to many others over the years (not just Soul) Louis Dunford in recent years has been excellent as well as Passanger.
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Best and worst gigs you've attended on 14:30 - Jun 26 with 685 views