Can You Remember Your First Concert?

I was there as well,  not my 1st gig tho'.  

My 1st is hard to pin down as I was playing in various brass, orchestra's & jazz bands from mid/late 50's & got to hear a load of others in the process.  The 1st concert that made me sit up & listen in awe was Black Dyke at the Albert Hall & soon after at a big band tribute to Glenn Miller with combined bands at RFH.   

I think Tony's is more impressive. Jimi's first UK performance!  He could probably enjoy the concert more than I did as the theatre was full of screaming girls. The following year the Rolling Stones played and my father took some persuading to buy tickets in case it was a repeat performance. Thankfully it wasn't so bad.

My father took me to many concerts, especially in Manchester when visiting his family. I remember Johnny Cash on a revolving stage, and the American Folk-Blues Festival with the likes of Howlin' Wolf in particular. 

Probably one of those record company "all stars" shows. It was PYE groups Lord Rockinghams IX , The Undertakers and Searchers headlining, not that  we heard any of The Searchers. It was in a cinema in Brighton by the clock-tower, next to what is Boots now. Regent maybe?

Sally (SWMBO) says hers was the Beatles Christmas Show at Hammersmith Odeon '64.

Around 1973/4 - Mott the Hoople at the Liverpool Stadium.  They were backed by and up and coming band on their first national tour.  Queen.  Good gig

Wow! You lucky fella, Tony. Can't see anyone topping that.

The Kinks 1964 and that started me off on a love of going to gigs for about 30 years. Next gig was Swinging Blue Jeans (66) and then Cream, Floyd, The Who (67) in that order.

Bee Gees - Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur 20th March 1972

It was Tristan und Isolde in 1966: Birgit Nilsson (Isolde)  Wolfgang Windgassen (Tristan), Rita Gorr (Brangaene) and Hans Hotter (Marke).

Was it this Brigitte Nielson? 

I do'nt think  so.

Like Steve J, my first concert was Jethro Tull, June 1969 @ Village Blues Club, Dagenham, with a schoolmate. A great Saturday night venue which set me up for loving 'live' music.

1969-1975 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L..._Dagenham_Roundhouse

A double bill of Hawkwind and Man at Slough Community Centre in June 1971.

The first of many...

steve

My first non-classical concert was also Jethro Tull, at the Marquee Club in 68.

AC/DC; Back In Black - 5th of November 1980 - Newcastle City Hall. I was 12 and I went home buzzing and half deafened! I didn't realise at the time it was Brian Johnson 'homecoming' or even that he is a local lad until a few weeks later when he rolled-up to a school friend's home on a Harley (he's a family friend) ...My school friend's folks instantly became deities!

in checking dates i see they had played the Mayfair a few weeks before but that venue was strictly over 18 (but, I went to see The Pogues there in '85 at 16...now long gone but fondly remembered venue) 

Little Pattie, Col Joye and the Joy Boys and some rock'n'roll guy (I'd like to say Johnny O'Keefe, but I don't think it was anyone quite that cool) at the Horden Pavilion during a visit to the Royal Easter Show. I was likely only 9 or 10 at the time, I guess.

But the first big live musical event that really impressed me was Jesus Christ Superstar in Sydney with Jon English (Judas) and Trevor White (Jeebus), as well as Marcia Hines as Mary Magdalene.

A little older, my first proper rock concerts were some lesser known Aussie bands such as the Ted Mulry Gang and Hush. Skyhooks and Status Quo also around that period too. All at the Civic Theatre in Newcastle. Cold Chisel, of course but a bit later.

Nothing so cool as Hendrix, Siouxsie and the Banshees or Jethro Tull, I'm afraid.

Bob Dylan and The Band, April 1966, Sydney Stadium, aka the old tin shed. What a joint that was, corrugated iron, like a giant upturned water tank. 

I think Bob was on something  He had the wobbly boot on, nearly toppled off the stage at one point, Robbie Robertson caught him by the elbow. 

A mate and I were fairly close to the stage. Mickey Jones was, and remains, the loudest drummer I've ever heard.

Genesis at Knebworth Park in June 1978.

I was 14 at the time and my sisters boyfriend took me.I had discovered Genesis and Yes and Zep threw friends older brothers a year earlier and really loved Genesis.It was a birthday present.

Jefferson Starship where also on the bill,although Grace Slick had left.

Thought it was a brilliant day.Also great being around long haired beer drinking,dope smoking adults although I just had a few cans of coke!

Genesis where incredible.Stunning lightshow with lasers and mirrors over the stage and was blown away at how loud the p.a system was.

Still have a tape of it which was broadcast on the Friday rock show.

October '82 AC/DC "For those about to rock tour" supported by Y&T at Wembley Arena. We were late for the support band and heard the bass rumble as we came out of the tube station....

Liverpool Empire is one of the earlier ones I can remember going to with my brother!

One I can remember going to with my parents was to see Terry Dean!

First gig was The Scorpions at Sheffield City Hall. May 14th 1979.

The second gig was more memorable: Led Zeppelin at Knebworth 11th August 1979. For somebody who thought he would never see them, however good or bad the gig was they were brilliant.

The Who at Charlton Athletic FC on 31 May 1976, the first gig of the 'Who put the boot in' tour.

Also on the bill were Widowmaker, The Streetwalkers, Little Feat, The Outlaws and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. It was the first time I'd seen lasers too. I recall that it rained a lot and Roger Daltrey slipped as he ran on stage before announcing, "You must be the best fans in the world". And we were!

It was a brilliant first concert experience.

Conortsun,

The Mayfair date you mention was in January 1980. This was a re-scheduled date from the Highway to Hell tour, after a fire cancelled the original. It was the penultimate gig of the late Bon Scott, the last being another re-scheduled gig at Southampton Gaumont 2 days later.

I was at the Mayfair gig, it was a great night.

I was at that one too...  don't forget Devo,  Atlanta Rhythm Section, and Tom Petty too...  Completely agree with Genesis... stunning..  one of the first times lasers were used on stage...   Phil Collins had to crouch down out of the way to stop getting zapped :-)...

I have to come clean.. my first gig was Slade  during the height of their chart success...  They did know how to put on a good show though !!