Any interesting Gig stories?

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:
Just following on from 555's great discussion has anything interesting happened to you at a gig?

I'll start because I'll have a bag of them.

Travelled to London Hammersmith to see a gig from the North East in a battered car that seemed to take forever. Got to the gig and spotted a ' 'cancelled' sign being put up outside. The reason, the GLC wouldn't grant a Fire licence. The gig I think was about 1980.

Anyone guess the band without using Google

The Prodigy? To be honest I haven't got the foggiest.

The Prodigy are tame in comparison

Not answering Diccus' riddle, but here's a great gig story.

I wasn't there myself, but I have heard the story twice, indepenedently, from two people who were. It is one of THE great Rory Gallagher stories, and the stuff from which legends are made!

A foggy night in 1973, Birmingham Town Hall. The support band had done their stuff. The excited audience waited with anticipation. It started to become apparent that all was not right. To a tremendous cheer, Rory appeared - alone. The news was not good. The rest of the band were stuck fog-bound in a motorway jam and could not make it to the gig.

Rory couldn't leave his fans with nothing, and gave a 1/2 hour acoustic set. After that he called for a volunteer pianist from the audience, fired up the Strat and gave another 1/2 hour stripped-down electric set - ending inevitably with Bull Frog Blues.

It was, by all accounts an amazing performance. And on top of that, everyone got free tickets for a replacement date with the whole band.

James

The Tubes ? The Plasmatics ?

Knebworth Fayre 1985 with Deep Purple MKII return as headliners.

It had been pissing down on and off all day and when Janice Long appeared to introduce one of the earlier bands she got pelted with bottles and mud. Some of this mud didn't get removed from the stage and by the time Meatloaf was prowling about the stage during Bat Out of Hell there was plenty of it on stage - especially since he got pissed off (understandably) and requested that people stop throwing it (only it wasn't a very polite request). Anyway he started running from one end of the stage and hit a patch of mud - straight on his arse and skidded half the length of the stage. I think this got the biggest cheer of the day ... second biggest was when Janice Long had to retreat never to be seen again. (At that time she didn't really promote rock music on Radio 1).

Cheers
Scott

Rory Gallagher - B'ham Town Hall

You beat me to it JWM. I was at that gig and seated in the orchestral gallery which, if you know Bham Town Hall means you are within touching distance of the band. Rory also had a drummer from the audience join him on stage.

Wonder if the two "subs" ever turned pro?

Have a good day

Ron

Sorry to have stolen your thunder Ron

But really great to have the story corroborated and extra detail. It must have been quite an experience. My own Rory gigs have left a lasting impression on me - and those were gigs without hiccoughs!

James

Plasmatics. Well done Scott your first prize is two used pieces of gaffa tape. Sadly Wendy O Williams committed suicide in 1998.



Crackin story about Meatloaf.

I went to a Glen Tillbrook gig where he took the entire audience down the pub.

Nice thread Diccus62.

As for your puzzle, I was going to guess The Lurkers, but I see ScottC cracked it & I was wrong.

I have a number of gig stories, but I fear Adam would rightly remove many of them, so here is what I hope is a publishable one ...

Spring of 1985 New Order announced a series of dates which were about as close to a tour as they did in their non-commercial days. Decided to use most of that terms student grant to see them in Salford, Doncaster & Macclesfield on consecutive nights.

The Macc' show was something of a home-coming gig so expectations were high. The afternoon before the show me & my buddy sat outside the venue & shared a bottle of rum. I know it's not big & it's not clever, but I was only 19.

By the time the doors opened we'd finished the bottle & were very drunk. As we were 1st in the queue we were also 1st to the bar, where we got chatting to a couple of journalists. Turned out they were from the local free sheet & were really fed up because NO had refused an interview, “even though two of the band were from Macclesfield.” They were also worried because they didn't know much about the band, but the gig was big news in Macc' & they had to write a big article (this is before the days of easy internet info'). My gig buddy & I drunkenly told them as mega fans we could tell them anything they needed to know. Me & my gig pal happily chatted away with the journalists, & they plied us with drinks.

A couple of weeks later they sent me the newspaper edition with their NO gig item.
To cut a long (& for me painful) story short the article was a fiasco – even basic things like the names of people in NO were wrong! This article was the centre double spread, & they'd done no checks on what we'd told them, & the whole article was based on what we'd said. To make it worse there was a very nice note from the journalists along the lines of thanks for your help with the item, couldn't of done it without you two, etc.

I know lots about NO, but don't ask me when I'm drunk

There's a side story with this gig ... in Salford & Doncaster had to sleep rough in a bus station & train station due to lack of funds. Decided to have a treat & stay in a B&B for the last night. When I got up in the morning looked out of my bedroom window & saw quite a few people hanging around outside, & they appeared to be looking at the B&B. In fact lots of people considering this was a quiet back street. While I was pondering the possibilities I noticed there were quite a few vehicles driving up & down this quiet street, & they were slowing down & even stopping outside the B&B.

Went down for breakfast & asked the owners what was happening. Turned out the house was previously the home of Ian Curtis, & it was were he met his end

Not as exciting as 555 here but camped out overnight outside Sunderland Empire for tickets for one miss Kate Bush. We were first in the queue and in the rush had no cash and only a cheque book. Got to the box office and they wouldn't take cheque. They took our names and promised to keep tickets for us and we paid later (think a parent helped us out). Tickets arrived later and we were duly in the balcony (not middle of front row). When the gig was half way through I went and complained that I was promised better seats and was moved very close to the stage right in front of a cavorting Kate. It was almost too much for a young lad.................................... Bet not many of you have seen Kate Bush live

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:
... moved very close to the stage right in front of a cavorting Kate. It was almost too much for a young lad.................................... Bet not many of you have seen Kate Bush live

Is it me or is it getting hot in here?

I've never seen her live & of course wish I had, although I'm sure I would have embarrassed myself if I had of got your proximity to KB

One I posted on a Yes thread some time back

Yes have special place in my live-gig memories. It was 1976 and I was 16 and wanted to go up to the Glasgow Apollo with three mates to see them. But we lived in Greenock, a 45 min train ride away and since the gig was on a Sunday evening 'before School' I was told I couldn't go.

Being 16, I figured they'd never find out if I just claimed to be out at a friend's house and we bought tickets and went anyhow. However on the night there was a powercut in the Apollo just before the gig was due to start and we sat in the darkness for 90 mins before they got the lights back on. This meant we missed the last train and I had the fun of calling my Dad to see if he would come and pick us up in Glasgow after midnight from this gig I'd been forbidden to go to.

Large quantities of child labour was needed before I worked that one off I can assure you.

Still it was worth it - awesome show.

Ian

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:
Plasmatics. Well done Scott your first prize is two used pieces of gaffa tape. Sadly Wendy O Williams committed suicide in 1998.


Crackin story about Meatloaf.

I'll wear them with pride Didn't realise WoW had left the building. I can't remember ever hearing one of their records - but I used to read loads about them in Sounds at that time.

Saw Classic Albums "Bat Out of Hell" last week on TV here and it brought that memory screaming up to date.

Cheers
Scott

quote:

I can't remember ever hearing one of their records - but I used to read loads about them in Sounds at that time.

Scott

They were more 'shock' rock than anything. The only thing I remember is 'Butcher Baby'. I think I would find it fairly unlistenable now

Regards

Diccus

quote:

I went to a Glen Tillbrook gig where he took the entire audience down the pub.

Funny thing is I went to a Glenn Tilbrook concert where he took everyone out the pub!
True, we all followed him and his acoustic out into the street , he then sat in a shopping trolley and continued playing whilst being pushed around the streets of Perth.

quote:

Originally posted by Howlinhounddog:

quote:

I went to a Glen Tillbrook gig where he took the entire audience down the pub.

Funny thing is I went to a Glenn Tilbrook concert where he took everyone out the pub!
True, we all followed him and his acoustic out into the street , he then sat in a shopping trolley and continued playing whilst being pushed around the streets of Perth.

I thought I might have spelt Glenn Tilbrook wrong. Anyway, we were in a nightclub, and he decided to take the audience outside (obviously not for the first time). We all followed him to the nearest pub, like the Pied Piper. Inside the pub were a local band - you should have seen the jaws hit the deck! He played a couple of numbers with them, then we all trouped back to the nightclub. As part of the gig, he got members of the audience on-stage to sing Perfect Day. So, my claim to fame is that I have sung on-stage with Glenn Tilbrook!

Here's another, although this story bridges two gigs, & details have been obscured for obvious reasons.

In the late 1970s & 1980s I worked in the backstage side of theatre. At a venue where I regularly worked occasionally there would be a live music event, & even more occasionally something worth seeing. In the early 1980s I noticed a booking for a new talent from Africa (I will call this person X), who was supporting a famous UK muso'. I was very excited as I had heard X doing a session on the radio a couple of weeks before & loved it. At the time X was a few months away from the realise of their debut Album, although now X is very famous, has released many recordings & performs all around the world.

On the night of the show I wasn't working, & I had begged tickets for a buddy & me from my boss. We were hanging around the venue during rig & sound check. Xs' manager approached & rather sheepishly explained X was in need of a smoke (I'm not talking B&H!) & could we help? I had a slight freak-out on the basis of do we look like the type, & more significantly would a passing officer of the law think so, but admitted yes. As my buddy & I were planning to have a smoke before X performed it seemed nicely synchronous. We went in to Xs dressing room & he played for us while we smoked, & it was an amazing experience. At the end of the evening we exchanged contact details, & became friends.

A year or so later I went to a festival where X was playing. I went to the backstage area with my festival buddy (same fella as previous gig) & explained our association with X. Soon we were sitting in Xs' dressing room, which was enormous & contained Xs entourage, as well as various other acts. X asked if we had any smoke & as luck would have it ....

After my pipe had passed between X, my festival buddy & me a few times, X offered the leader (who I shall call Y) of another act (who were from eastern Europe) the smoke. From the conversation between X&Y it was obvious that Y had never smoked before. This set off an instant personal alarm as the smoke was a very strong variety. A few days before I had shared some with an fairly experienced smoker, who despite my words of caution fell down a flight of stairs before my eyes (amazingly uninjured). I tried to intervene, but X said “you'll enjoy it” & off Y went.

For the next 10-15 minutes X, Y, & my festival buddy sunk in to ever greater fits of laughter, sharing smoke, jokes, messing about with instruments, etc, whilst I watched on nervously. I was slowly calming down when a festival official came in to tell Y & band it was time to go on. Thankfully Y didn't freak, but I cold see he was very stoned. We all trooped out to the stage & all I could think was this is not going to end well.

X, my buddy & I stood in the wings, & Y with band went on. Y was giggling, but didn't seem too bad. 1st song starts & all's well for 30 secs or so, then Y suddenly stops playing, turns to his side & starts watching one of his band. The band are obviously clocking this, but thankfully keep playing. Y then starts wandering around the stage looking/listening to different members of the band. At end of song Y looks surprised, jumps up & speeds back to the mic'. After incomprehensible words & giggling from Y to audience, next song begins. Same again, Y stops playing shortly after start & wanders off to listen to the band. Y did similar things for the rest of the show, with occasional wild solos which his band obviously weren't expecting.

After the show finished I asked Y if he was OK, & why he kept stopping playing. He replied “That was amazing, I've never heard my band play like that before & I had to listen!”

Remember kids, just say “NO”

My roommate in college in Colorado '75 said he went to a concert to hear a good band, I don't remember which, that was way too long ago. He said another English band no one knew came on stage and played the most amazing music, unlike anything else. The second band came on after and played boringly, they'd been upstaged.

It was YES. Next year they were the big band in the arena.


Lucky bugger also got to see and meet Fleetwood Mac in small clubs in their mid career tours in early 70s. Said he must have come off as some dufface teen learning guitar looking back, but what the heck, they bought him a beer. I envy him. I like that period best.

I saw the Grateful Dead in California in maybe the late 80s - but I can't be sure! Saw the gig advertised in a record shop in San Francisco and went in to ask about tickets. The owner explained that I should just go along - GD fans are so filked up, they'll give you their ticket for free - he said. The free part wasn't true but as for the rest of it...

Dear All,

Back in the 70's the TUBE's came to Bristol to do a GIG.

My brother attended ans as usual Re Styles was attired in her usual er umm lack of clothing.

Anyway after the gig my brother blagged his way back stage and met and spoke to Re Styles and she presented him with her only item of clothing.

????? !!!!!!

The necklace she had worn on stage.

Oh damn i missed the concert.

regads David

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
Since this thread started ,I have been making a list.I have loads but just making sure i cant be done for what i post I will post some more.
Munch

I know what you mean munch!

Looking forward to reading your stories once you've finished at the “launderette”.

Something gross happened at one of many Grateful Dead concerts I went to - being from San Francisco and all, (but no I was not a deadhead.) There had been bad trips and all, but by this time I had become totally sober and off any substances and decided to go to a show. I was having a great time, but I was definitely not in tune with most of the crowd, so to speak. I had been noticing a particularly pungent odor wafting in an out of the other odors, and it was not pleasant, of the bodily fluid and waste variety. In one of those aha moment I realize it is coming from a "free spirit" next to me, who has obviously p@#@#ed himself (again),covered in grime and whose rising body heat was acting like one of those humidifying machines and sending out the stank for me to breathe in. Gross, but not unlike most dead concerts where a majority of the crowd is the festival variety - regardless of the venue. No big deal, I can handle it, a bad smell cant hurt me I think, and then drums/space start. My stinky friend (who is now fully sweating) starts spinning around, with his eyes closed and his arms out, like a lawn sprinkler literally. Because I as I said, I was not on the crowd "wavelength", I did not notice that everyone else had sensed his euphoric explosion and had taken three steps back. I paused as his beaded dreads and sweaty arms whizzed passed my face. Too late, and as I turned and tried to make my escape, I made the mistake of moving counter to his spin, putting myself in the line fire. As he spun, his sweaty index finger somehow found its way straight into my unfortunately OPEN mouth, and stayed there for what seemed like a sour/salty eternity. It was like some Ben Stiller movie. I really dont remember what happened next just that I gagged, and likely went into shock. I remember looking around like "agghhh did you SEE that. I think I am going to pass out" but NO one noticed, not least the ecstatic spinning street guru, who just kept spinning. I do remember having panic attacks about disease and contact highs (I was trying to remain clean at the time) I dont really have a moral of the story, its just one of my favorite and quintessential dead show stories. I am going to brush my teeth now.

quote:

Something gross happened at one of many Grateful Dead concerts I went to

John M, you've inadvertently typed 'one of' in your posting!

quote:

Originally posted by Pigeon_Fancier:

quote:

Something gross happened at one of many Grateful Dead concerts I went to

John M, you've inadvertently typed 'one of' in your posting!

Notice my sheepishly embarassed comment about not being a "deadhead." Having seen more than one, from your point of view, I am probably indistinguishable from the pack of par-boiled patchouli scented peripatetics, but I am not too fried to crack off an alliteration or two!!