Seeing bands/artist at their peak
Discussion
As a 62 year old there was plenty of bands I wanted to see in the late 70s/early 80s and got to see them BUT unfortunately they wasn’t at their peak imho.
Examples
Wanted to see a Bruce Springsteen & TESB show similar to a 78/80 show but didn’t get to see him till 85 on the Born In The USA tour by which time the moment had gone.
Genesis, wanted to see an And Then There Were Three/Duke type show but didn’t get to see them until Invisible Touch show. ( Although did see Six Of The Best in 82 but that was more about Gabriel era Genesis)
Fleetwood Mac, saw them with a revised line-up on the Tango In The Night tour, wanted to see original line-up from the Rumours/Tusk era.
Would’ve loved to see Zeppelin at Knebworth but only got to see Page/Plant which tbh was a far cry from Zeppelin.
etc
Examples
Wanted to see a Bruce Springsteen & TESB show similar to a 78/80 show but didn’t get to see him till 85 on the Born In The USA tour by which time the moment had gone.
Genesis, wanted to see an And Then There Were Three/Duke type show but didn’t get to see them until Invisible Touch show. ( Although did see Six Of The Best in 82 but that was more about Gabriel era Genesis)
Fleetwood Mac, saw them with a revised line-up on the Tango In The Night tour, wanted to see original line-up from the Rumours/Tusk era.
Would’ve loved to see Zeppelin at Knebworth but only got to see Page/Plant which tbh was a far cry from Zeppelin.
etc
Whilst seeing bands at their peak is awesome, I think there's a case to be made for seeing long-lasting bands when they have 'matured' after the height of their fame. For instance, I've seen a few bands that have such a large back-catelogue of songs that they can play a great set and the audience is full of true fans, rather than a mix jumping on the band wagon.
When at festivals seeing bands that have been around for years it is a great atmosphere because of the confidence they have, the nostalgia the audience has (i.e. everyone singing along to the classics) etc.
That said, I wish I could have seen Guns n' Roses at their peak. I also wish I could have seen Nirvana.
When at festivals seeing bands that have been around for years it is a great atmosphere because of the confidence they have, the nostalgia the audience has (i.e. everyone singing along to the classics) etc.
That said, I wish I could have seen Guns n' Roses at their peak. I also wish I could have seen Nirvana.
I was invited to Zep at Knebworth and didn't go. I saw ACDC at their peak with Bon Scott. The first two Motorhead tours before the band was mainstream. Rory Gallagher's best (supposedly) live performance at Reading. Black Sabbath on the only tour they did with the late great Ronnie James Dio leading. Saw Status Quo before they had a keyboardist, Thin Lizzy on the Live and Dangerous tour and f
ked up royally by opting to see Santana rather than Zappa, both of whom were playing in Manchester on the same night.
ked up royally by opting to see Santana rather than Zappa, both of whom were playing in Manchester on the same night.The Grouch said:
That said, I wish I could have seen Guns n' Roses at their peak. I also wish I could have seen Nirvana.
My missed friend and one time boss was a man called Rupert Neve. I worked for him during the whole time he started Focusrite. He had previous been the md of Neve electronics. If you see Dave Grohl’s film Sound City he makes an appearance as it was a Neve console they recorded Nevermind on. Rupert designed consoles for Air Studios and Air Montserrat, in the video for The Police’s Every Little Thing She is Magic is the first console Rupert designed for Air Montserrat, when it got changed it was sold to Jerry Moss and Herb Albert at A&M studios in Hollywood and I do believe Guns N Roses used it on Use Your Illusion.I saw Guns n Roses in Aug '92 in Montreal - arguably their peak, but ended up being a dreadful performance - though the overall concert sas memorable for that and several other reasons (Metallica had their set cut short due to Hetfield immolating and the riot police ended up using tear gas to clear the crowd after GnR).
A year earlier seeing Metallica in Moscow was way more impressive.
In both case though it did not feel like I was seeing something or taking part in something special, that only comes years later in hindsight.
A year earlier seeing Metallica in Moscow was way more impressive.
In both case though it did not feel like I was seeing something or taking part in something special, that only comes years later in hindsight.
Zaichik said:
I saw Guns n Roses in Aug '92 in Montreal - arguably their peak, but ended up being a dreadful performance - though the overall concert sas memorable for that and several other reasons (Metallica had their set cut short due to Hetfield immolating and the riot police ended up using tear gas to clear the crowd after GnR).
A year earlier seeing Metallica in Moscow was way more impressive.
In both case though it did not feel like I was seeing something or taking part in something special, that only comes years later in hindsight.
For you maybe, in my case the gigs I've mentioned were all incredible experiences. Hindsight doesn't make them any better, just makes me realise how lucky we were all to live in that time of such creativity and cheap concert tickets. Re the comments about seeing bands for nostalgia reasons - why? I mean do people think they'll be better, or the musicians won't have aged? And if I go to another gig where the punters are singing to every damn song and drowning out the band I'll ask for my money back. What's with people? You pay to hear the band sing, not some juiced up muppets on a trip down memory lane. FFS.A year earlier seeing Metallica in Moscow was way more impressive.
In both case though it did not feel like I was seeing something or taking part in something special, that only comes years later in hindsight.
Saw Metallica in the 90s in Manchester, quite a good gig, better than expected.
You have to live in the moment. Often, a legendary moment won’t be, until it’s a memory. The skill is to realise when you are in the moment, not looking back on it as a memory. I’m fairly adept at spotting it, but it is a tough one to call. I doubt that the majority of people present at Woodstock in ‘69, realised the significance, at the time. Similarly, most people at the IOW festival in ‘70 wouldn’t have appreciated that it was ( arguably ) Hendrix’s finest, and last major performance. How many people thought that Jim Morrison was going to end up the way he did, and appreciate the genius whilst he was alive? What about Mark Bolan? No one saw that coming. AC(lightning bolt)DC without Bon Scott? They did brilliantly to replace him with Brian Johnson, but Bon was the best they ever had on vocals ( IMO ). It’s difficult to see it whilst it’s here, but if you can, enjoy it whilst it lasts.
Dbag101 said:
You have to live in the moment. Often, a legendary moment won’t be, until it’s a memory. The skill is to realise when you are in the moment, not looking back on it as a memory. I’m fairly adept at spotting it, but it is a tough one to call. I doubt that the majority of people present at Woodstock in ‘69, realised the significance, at the time. Similarly, most people at the IOW festival in ‘70 wouldn’t have appreciated that it was ( arguably ) Hendrix’s finest, and last major performance. How many people thought that Jim Morrison was going to end up the way he did, and appreciate the genius whilst he was alive? What about Mark Bolan? No one saw that coming. AC(lightning bolt)DC without Bon Scott? They did brilliantly to replace him with Brian Johnson, but Bon was the best they ever had on vocals ( IMO ). It’s difficult to see it whilst it’s here, but if you can, enjoy it whilst it lasts.
Off topic, but I'm not sure many people would consider IOW Hendrix's finest performance? Sound issues, interference from backstage radios and generally looking and sounding like he was completely pissed off? I mean he literally says "OK we're gonna start all over again" before FreedomPitre said:
I wish I'd seen Fleetwood Mac, Oasis, U2 and Queen at their respective peaks.
I mentioned above about Joe Cocker in 1968. This was at Bangor University, and came about because I was playing bass in a band and our drummer happened to be Entertainment Secretary in the Students Union. We were booked as supporting band, and we also got to back Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd the same way.MCBrowncoat said:
Off topic, but I'm not sure many people would consider IOW Hendrix's finest performance? Sound issues, interference from backstage radios and generally looking and sounding like he was completely pissed off? I mean he literally says "OK we're gonna start all over again" before Freedom
But that’s exactly what made it the best. It was totally f****d up, but he got on with it. The Stars and Stripes rendition, with the insane distortion and feedback still gives me goosebumps “bit more volume on this side Charley, gonna need it” 
. ‘This is spinal tap’ anyone? 
Saw Led Zeppelin in:-
Manchester 1972
Earls Court London 1975
Knebworth (Twice August 4th & 11th) 1979
Deep Purple Mk 3 Manchester Belle Vue 1974
Rush Manchester 1977
T Rex Bournemouth 1972
Wishbone Ash Many Times in the 1970's
Barclay James Harvest Over twenty times since 1975
10CC Many times since 1973
Manchester 1972
Earls Court London 1975
Knebworth (Twice August 4th & 11th) 1979
Deep Purple Mk 3 Manchester Belle Vue 1974
Rush Manchester 1977
T Rex Bournemouth 1972
Wishbone Ash Many Times in the 1970's
Barclay James Harvest Over twenty times since 1975
10CC Many times since 1973
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