Memorable Support Bands?
Posted by: seagull on 19 May 2006
A comment someone made in the "Last concert you went to" thread about support bands made me think…
Most support bands are instantly forgettable mainly because they are not the act that you have gone to see. It is highly likely that I have seen bands in their early formative years who went on to become well known and I've not actually remembered seeing them. But here are a few that have stuck in my memory for various reasons...
Best support band
Joy Division supporting The Buzzcocks 20th October 1979. See, I even remember the date! Absolutely awesome and Pete Shelley's mob weren't too bad either. Saw the Undertones a few days later - those were the days!
Worst support band
Kajagoogoo (eek) - (supporting Fashion)! I was in the bar before hand (as you do) when this collection of the blokes sporting the world's worst haircuts ever walked in, I nearly choked on my pint of Pedigree.
Support band who went on to become most famous…
The Police, supporting Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias. This was just before Roxanne hit the charts.
These were all at gigs when I was at University…
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by graham55
I saw Greenslade in the early 70s in Edinburgh as a support for (was it? - not sure!) Taste.
Recently saw Bic Runga in support of Finn Bros at RAH.
On both of these occasions the support was at least as good as the main event. Probably better, in fact (certainly in the case of the RAH concert).
Graham
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by BigH47
Max Webster supporting Rush in'79, they were dreadful.
Howard
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by Malky
Teenage Fanclub supporting Neil Young, Finsbury Park- early nineties. Totally ignored them. I love them now and wished I'd watched them.
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by graham55
Malky
Was that the outdoor event? (In which case, I was there, and came in just after Four Non Blondes had been on.)
Graham
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by Malky
It was indeed. Backed by the M.G.'s. Pearl Jam were also on the bill as I recall. Yet another day at Finsbury with rain rolling down my neck.
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by Rasher
quote:
Originally posted by Malky:
Teenage Fanclub supporting Neil Young, Finsbury Park- early nineties. Totally ignored them. I love them now and wished I'd watched them.
I was there too. Wasn't Cortez awesome. Pearl Jam played and James.
I saw Roxy Music when they toured "For Your Pleasure" and they had a band called Sharks who I ignored. This of course turned out to have the legendary Chris Spedding and Andy Fraser, so I'm also kicking myself for not paying attention. I was only about 13 at the time so I won't be too hard on myself.
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by Malky
Yes, Cortez was awesome. As was his entire set, even the pissing rain couldn't spoil it.
My fave memory from the day was Powderfinger.
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by JoeH
quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
I saw Roxy Music when they toured "For Your Pleasure" and they had a band called Sharks who I ignored. This of course turned out to have the legendary Chris Spedding and Andy Fraser, so I'm also kicking myself for not paying attention. I was only about 13 at the time so I won't be too hard on myself.
I saw them supporting Return to Forever in the early 70s, and thought they were shite. By a strange coincidence I saw Sparks in concert around the same time, and they were great!
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by graham55
I took my (then aged) seven-year-old son to Finsburt Park on that occasion, who's never forgotten it!
Graham
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by hungryhalibut
quote:
Joy Division supporting The Buzzcocks 20th October 1979
I saw these two at Bangor University on that 1979 tour. Two of my friends had lunch at the same table as Joy Division earlier in the day, and only realised who they were later, when they saw them on stage.
Nigel
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by RoyleBlue
Once saw U2 support the Boomtown Rats - that ok?
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by Jack
Tom Petty supporting Nils Lofgren 197? Liverpool Empire, good gig!
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by JWM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by graham55:
I saw Greenslade in the early 70s in Edinburgh as a support for (was it? - not sure!) Taste./QUOTE]
Certainly Rory Gallagher, if not Taste (?a bit late for Taste - swan song Isle of Wight?).
But anyway, one way or another, Greenslade and Rory on the same billing, excellent!
James
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by manicatel
Santana, supporting earth wind & fire, back in the late 70's or early 80's. What a great gig.
Or my old band, supporting a hypnotist at plymouth uni. We argued like hell as to why WE were supporting a hypnotist, but it all went a bit spinal tap-ish, so we went on 1st. What a great night out that turned out to be, but some of the reasons aren't entirely legal
. Anyway, the hypnotist was good!
matt.
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by analogue kid
support band who went onto become famous
Iron Maiden, supporting Judas Priest in 1980 Paul Di'anno was lead vocalist.
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by graham55
quote:
Originally posted by JWM:
But anyway, one way or another, Greenslade and Rory on the same billing, excellent!
James
James
You may well be right, namely that it was Rory Gallagher, rather than Taste.
I'd rather forgotten about Greebslade until this evening. I see from Amazon that 'Greenslade' and 'Bedside Manners Are Extra' are current, but 'Spyglass Guest' and 'Time and Tide' are collectors' items, so far as CDs are concerned.
Graham
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by TomK
Saw the Eagles supporting Neil Young in Glasgow in 1973. They were wonderful, he was stoned out of head and awful.
Also saw something called Mr Pugh's Magic Puppet Theatre (I think) supporting Eric Clapton in the late 70s. It was a sort of near porn Punch and Judy show and got the hook after about 10 minutes of extreme abuse from the Glasgow Apollo audience.
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by whetstone audio
Rose Tattoo! They opened up for Aerosmith on the Done With Mirrors tour. The lead singer was like 4 ft. tall.
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by JWM
quote:
Originally posted by seagull:
A comment someone made in the "Last concert you went to" thread about support bands made me think…
Well, in case you didn't see the thread, I'm the culprit...
And I still want to thank the reconbobulated Kula Shaker for introducing me to 'The Magic Bullet Band'.
Here's the telling phrase:
I've been going to gigs for 30 years, and in all this time this has been the first support band I have positively enjoyed.
Influences include The Band, Credence Clearwater, Neil Young, the Blues...
They've got a bit more 'beef' to their sound than the sample suggests... But see:
http://www.myspace.com/themagicbulletbandEnjoy,
James
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by Bob McC
I can't believe you lot get there early enough to watch the support band. That is so uncool!
Posted on: 19 May 2006 by Sloop John B
I remember an outdoor gig in 1979 in Leixlip,
The Police/Squeeze/John Cooper Clarke/U2
I thought who is that dick climbing up the rigging?
quote:
Rose Tattoo! They opened up for Aerosmith on the Done With Mirrors tour. The lead singer was like 4 ft. tall.
I saw these supporting Lizzy in Slane in 81 - truely dreadfull, U2 were at this one as well but a little better known.
But my best before they were famous was in the Top Hat (an old ballroom) in Dun Laoighre.
Sonic Youth supported by the unknown - Nirvana.
never been to a crispy ambulance gig though!
SJBPosted on: 20 May 2006 by whiteflyer
Support band who went onto become famous
Duran Duran supporting Hazel O'Conner
Posted on: 20 May 2006 by JWM
quote:
Originally posted by bob mccluckie:
I can't believe you lot get there early enough to watch the support band. That is so uncool!
But it's the only way to get a good place in the Mosh Pit...
...or, more seriously, having to endure the support band is the penance payable for actually getting to SEE the main act. (Unless you happen to be 6' 8", of course.)
James
Posted on: 20 May 2006 by northpole
For me it has to be Santana in the mid 80's supporting Bob Dylan at Slane Castle in southern Ireland on a blazing hot summer's day. I barely knew who they were beforehand and they blew the event away - completely stole the show. UB40 played also but barely registered.
Mind you, poor Bob was completely off his face that day! Forever etched in my memory is Bob rocking back and forth on his heels only to rock that bit too far and land flat on his back!! He was dragged off stage to come round and the backing band had a bit of improvisation on their hands!
Peter
Posted on: 20 May 2006 by Huwge
Goldfrapp supporting Nick Cave was quite good, but a highlight was The Pogues supporting Elvis Costello just before the release of Rum, Sodomy and the Lash - huge fun.
