Here are the rules:

"Test your memory and your love of live music by listing 50 artists or bands (or as many as you can remember) you've seen in concert. List the first 50 acts that come into your head. An act you saw at a festival and opening acts count, but only if you can't think of 50 other artists. Oh, and list the first concert you ever saw (you can remember that, can’t you)?"

"Gill Scott Heron – Newcastle Riverside – met him backstage, but the drugs were taking hold"

Was that with you or him?

I thought the Waterboys at Newcastle (if it was the Riverside one) was one of the best gigs I have ever seen.

1. Radiohead - Victoria Park 2008 - ruined by people talking all the way through
2. Rolling Stones - Twickenham 2006 - we ruined it for people by getting drunk and dancing, then falling into the prawn sandwich brigade
3. Oasis - Wembley - 2000 - Liam and Noel fell out - big time
4. The Coral - Astoria 2005 - great show, around 3rd album
5. Raconteurs - Brixton Academy 2006 - poor - not many songs and too many jams
6. The Stooges - Hammersmith Apollo 2005 - best show I have ever seen
7. Oasis - Hammersmith Apollo 2005 - 2nd best show I have ever seen
8. The Coral - Dingwalls 2002 - brilliant, met Noel Gallagher at the bar
9. The Vines - Astoria 2003 - thought it was fantastic at time, although reviews and subsequent output suggest I may have been shitfaced
10. Spiritualized - Que Club, Birmingham 1998 - deafening, people smoking heroin out of coke cans
11. Senseless Things - Exeter Uni 1993 - my first stage dive
12. Wonderstuff - Plymouth Pavilions 1994 - boring but I finally pulled Lucy
13. Rollercoaster Tour - Plymouth Pavilions 1992 - deafening, and thrilling
14. Pop Will Eat Itself - Exeter Uni 1994 - worst gig I have ever seen. Takes a lot for a 16 year old to leave a gig early
15. These Animal Men - Exeter Cavern Club 1994 - inspirational - I'd found the best band EVER
16. These Animal Men - Birmingham Foundry 1996 - best band EVEr down on their luck - I got to hang out with them
17. MC5/ Sun Ra Arkestra - Festival Hall 2005 - got bored pretending to like the Arkestra. MC5 OK but poor choice of frontpeople
18. Brian Wilson - Festival Hall 2004 - blissful, couldn't get my head round Smile at first hearing though
19. Wire - Festival Hall 2000 - boring. Tried to tie bassists shoelaces together and got ejected
20. The Stooges - Festival Hall 2007 - wetting my newborn's head. Bit out of control
21. Babyshambles - Scala, Kings Cross 2004 - scary and thrilling
22. Libertines - somewhere in Islington 2003 - they were so drunk they got caught up in each others guitar leads and kept falling over
23. Radiohead - Glastonbury 1997, 2003 - first one stupendous, second one cold and dull
24. Super Furry Animals - Wolverhampton Civic 1999 - one of my favourite ever nights out
25. Super Furry Animals - Exeter Uni 1999 - bad behaviour
26. Charlatans - Exeter Uni 1990 - first or second gig - aged 12
27. EMF - Exeter Uni 1990 - first or second gig - with my sister
28. EMF - Kings Cross Scala 2007 - good Christmas fun
29. Oasis - Birmingham NIA 1997 - massive and weird
30. Oasis - Milton Keynes Bowl 2005 - violent and weird
31. The Coral - Coliseum London 2008 - acoustic and pretty
32. Love - Glastonbury 2003 - lots of guitar solos in strange places
33. Primal Scream - Hammersmith Palais 2000 - big rave up
34. John Mayall and Blues Breakers - Shepherds Bush Empire 2007 - went with boss, didn't have fun
35. Rilo Kiley - Shepherds Bush Empire 2007 - ogling Jenny Lewis, wished she'd left the band behind
36. Orbital - Glastonbury 94, 99, 05 - somewhat blurry
37. James Brown - Glastonbury 05 - he was only on for about 9 mins total
38. Goldie Lookin Chain - Astoria 04 - really good fun
39. Super Furry Animals - Somerset House 05 and 09 - over awed
40. Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Exeter Uni 1992 - put my neck out headbanging. Scared to mosh
41. Radiohead - South Park, Oxford 2001 - up there with the best
42. Gene - Exeter Lemon Grove 1995 - I liked it at the time!
43. Manic Street Preachers - Exeter Uni 1994 - enough to make me write stupid slogans on my exercise books and wear eyeliner
44. The Who - Albert Hall 2004 - brilliant although Townsend's comments about being innocent of kiddie porn charges and then following it up with song called 'Real Good Looking Boy' possibly ill-judged
45. Pulp - Exeter Uni 1995 - greatest night of my teenage life, broke in, interviewed band, danced with a model, went backstage
46. White Stripes - Alexandra Palace 2004 and 2005 (I think)- watching Jack White's 50ft shadow on wall
47. Blur - Birmingam NEC 1998 - climed over barricade, evaded capture
48. Kool Keith - Forum 2002 - diamond encrusted tracksuit
49. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Forum 2003 - Mark Gardener joined them on-stage
50. Half Man Half Biscuit - Forum 2008 - best sing along outside Exeter City FC

And loads more!

51. Girls Aloud - Hammersmith Apollo 2005 - buying 16 pints for me and my missus to get through (we'd just got engaged too)

Ahem. I'll stop now

awful. especially with the flaming lips doing an absolute blinder just beforehand.

First Concert-Level 42, Leeds University about 1989 I think.
Here are some others, can't remember all the dates sorry. Starting with the most recent:

1) Bruce Springsteen-Hampden Park, Glasgow (crap sound)
2) Feeder-Scarbough Spa (efficient but boring)
3) Bob Dylan-Sheffield Arena (crap vocals, venue and sound)
4) The Fall- Leeds Polytechnic (different)
5) The Fall - Leeds Irish Centre (top gig)
6) Status Quo - Dalby Forest (rocked)
7) Marillion- London Forum (badly paced set)
8) Dave Gilmour (Glasgow SCC) (rowdy crowd, but nice guitar)
9) British Sea Power -Leeds Brudnell Social Club (mass stage invasion, very odd gig)
10) Gun - Scarborough Vivas Club (actually quite good)
11) Teenage Fanclub-Cockpit Leeds (rough and ready)
12) The The (Leeds Town And Country)(Top Gig)

Developed writers cramp, so can't continue..........

1. Mott The Hoople/Queen - Nov 1973 Lancaster University.Only 60p to get in!
2. Clash/Buzzcocks/Subway Sect/Slits - White Riot tour in Brighton. Life changing...
3. Clash Glasgow Apollo 1978. That one where they all got arrested.
4. Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Lancaster. Still one of the best shows I ever saw
5. Emmylou Harris - Borderline London.
6. Mavericks - Shepherds Bush Empire. "Be My Baby" rocked...
7. Carbon/Silicon - Acton. See 2.
8. Bruce Springsteen - St Lukes. Looked straight at me & I looked straight back.
9. BR5-49 - Roberts Western Wear, Nashville. On a wet February night the best band in the world.
10. Sonny George, 12 Bar. Kirsty MacColl sorting out troublemakers. I wouldn't have crossed her...
11. Mekons, SxSW Austin. Joyous - all the hits & more...
12. Waco Brothers, Underworld Camden. Clash meets Cash.
13. Rezillos, Stirling University. Jo Callis dressed as a mummy
14. Ramones/Talking Heads, Erics Liverpool. See 2.
15. Damned/Adverts, Sussex Uni. So good I never saw the Damned again cos I knew they'd never be that good again.
16. David Bowie, Wembley, last time round. He can really SING!
17. Rolling Stones, Astoria. Old time soul band..
18. The Blasters, Venue. Just brilliant.
19. Fire Engines/Boots For Dancing - Nite Club, Edinburgh. No flab..
20. Bruce Springsteen, O2. Best I've ever seen him?
21. Prince, NEC. On the Lovesexy tour. Like a mass hallucination...
22. Booket T & The MGs - Town & Country
23. Ian Dury & The Blockheads, George Square Lecture Theatre, Ednburgh. Booked before they got famous, played after they were...
24. REM, Coasters. How drunk did we get Mr Buck?
25. Cramps/Fall - Glasgow Poly. Pure delirium
26. 2 Tone Tour - Stirling University. The day after they were all on TOTP...
27. Everly Brothers, Edinburgh Playhouse.
28. Slits, Astoria Edinburgh. And Viv's still brilliant...
29. Richard Hell, Dingwalls Newcastle. Hero...
30. Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, Astoria. As above
31. Ray Charles, somewhere in Glasgow. He wasn't actually all that good, but it's Ray Charles
32. Miles Davis, Festival Hall. Ditto...
33. Mike Westbrook Brass Band, Cumbernauld Cottage Theatre. Phil Minton - vocal god
34. Crowded House, Wembley Arena. Sunday Morning...
35. Sparks, Lancaster University. Day I finished my O Levels.
36. John Fogerty, Ryman Auditorium. SAt next to Sam Phillips. Never recovered.
37. Suicide, Crawley. Alan Vega had his nose broken by chain wielding skinheads.
38. Ry Cooder/David Lindley. Hammersmith Odeon. Very very hot...
39. Link Wray, Dingwalls. Had to be propped up cos he'd broken his leg.
40. Ronnie Spector, Dingwalls. The last time I saw Joey Ramone.
41. Michael Jackson, Cardiff. Drying the stage with a towel under his foot while still singing
42. Bruce & the Seeger Sessions at Wembley. For one night only, my 14 year old joins the band...
43. Gretchen Peters, Borderline. Hey Elvis, with Bryan Adams
44. Paul McCartney, Abbey Road. Mildly entertaining...
45. Original Stiff tour, Glasgow Apollo
46. Tom Waits, Edinburgh Playhouse
47. Hawkwind, Lancaster Uni. Scary
48. Traffic, Lancaster Uni. Seemed like the whole hall was levitating
49. The Jam/Wire, Eastbourne. Every time I saw the Jam I liked them less; this was the first time.
50. Viv Albertine, Shoreham. Last Sunday...

for an old blokes memory, this year I can remember so it will be a bit biased.
1;Pretty Things, Roundhouse, 74-first gig & saw them maybe 20 more times
2; Man, Roundhouse, 74
3; Stray, Roundhouse (thats how a 14 year old spent his Sunday evenings)
4; Groundhogs, Croydon
5; Loudon Wainwright at least 20 times
6; Roy Harper, countless times from 74 Valentines concert on
7; Nils Lofgren, nearly every year 74 on
8; Nick Lowe, from Brinsleys at the Hope & Anchor to this year at the RAH
9; The Faces, legendary xmas gigs
10; Dr Feelgood, many times in the 70's
11; Judas Priest in the Twickenham Winning Post 75
12; Clapton at Hammersmith Odean about 1980, jammed with Chas ' Dave, worst gig of my life
13; BB King at Hammy about the same time, superb
14; The Who; twice at Charlton then half a dozen other gigs including last years fantastic indigo fan show
15; Neil Young; Fledh & 6 other gigs including the dreadful Trans tour.
16; Springsteen at Hammy 75 then not again until Seeger tour, then 3 times since.
17; Van Morrison, grumpy gig at the Rainbow then a few good ones since
18; John Cale, many times including a really scary perfomance at The Venue
19; Led Zep, Earls Court & Knebworth
20; Long Ryders, fantastic
21; Sex Pistols at the 100 club, walked out as I thought they were crap
22; Eddie & The Hot Rods at the night they recorded the live EP
23; Bad Company at The Great British Music Festival Olympia with Be Bop Deluxe, Graham Parker & The Pretty Things
24; Bob Dylan at Blackbush & The Fledh
25; Zappa at Hammy Odean & Brighton
26; Ry Cooder in Brighton about 85
27;Kevin Ayers a few times including twice in Sutton fairly recently
28; Ian Hunter, once way back with Ronson & a few times recently & also the Ronson Memorial gig
29; David Byrne in Brixton twice about 15 years ago
30; Tom Waits at the Dominion, so good I went back the next night & got tout tickets
31; Dr John, barbican
32; Bowie & The Who at the Isle Of Wight
33;Robert Plant, a few times including Cornbury
34; Deep Purple at the Lycium a couple of years ago, my sons first gig
35; Drive By Truckers in Camden, my sons 2nd gig!
36; Nick Cave, last 4 London gigs
37; John Fogerty at RAH this year ( they were filming the gig & kept stopping it for shirt changes!)
38; Jackson Browne, brilliant acoustic tour & dull RAH gig this year
39; CSN at RAH
40; Handsome Family & Willard Grant at London uni
41; JD Souther at Camden
42; Jonathan Richmond in Shepard's Bush this year
43;Hayes Carll at The Luminare
44; James McMurty at The Luminare
45; Lyle Lovett at South Bank
46; Solomon Burke at South Bank
47; Albert Lee & Hogans Heroes anywhere I can
48; John Hiatt, Shepherd's bush & Barbican
49; Counting Crows at Brixton, they stank
50; Rodney Crowell & The Flatlanders, Barbican
I'm on a roll now & can think of loads more, next time.

what's wrong with a top 10? It's hardly surprising anyone round here has been to the odd gig or two.

First concert: Van Morrison, Kings Hall Showgrounds Belfast 1980 (support Mike Oldfield, Lindisfarne, The Chieftains & local band Sweat)

The Rolling Stones, Slane 1982 ... this is my last chance ... they're nearly 40 ... they'll never tour again.
The Pretenders 1982 - Maysfield Leisure Centre, raucous and came home with one of Martin Chambers' drumsticks.
David Gilmour 1982 - from the actual Pink Floyd! In my home town! With Mick Ralphs.
Elton John 1983 - the first and to this day last genuinely spontaneous encore I've ever seen.
Chris de Burgh 1984 King's Hall Belfast - "What do you mean it's just the two of us? You said there would be a group going ... !"It didn't end well.
Eric Clapton 1984, National Stadium Dublin - touring behind 'Money and Cigarettes', sadly Ry Cooder not in the band.
Joni Mitchell 1984, RDS Dublin - the night after the Clapton gig. Naturally I fell in love.
Bob Dylan / Santana Slane 1984 - Look! It's your actual Bob Dylan, oh and there's Van (hurray!) and Bono (oh dear ...).
Stevie Wonder 1984 Dublin RDS - patchy.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse 198? Dublin, - their billing as the third best garage band in the world confirmed.
David Bowie Slane 1985 - The Glass Spider Tour, probably the last time I actually cried with disappointment (although there was that time in Ko Samui when that very attractive 'woman' turned out to be ... oh never mind!).
Van Morrison 1985, Belfast New Vic - front row five nights on the trot - the Wednesday was the best.
Pink Floyd 198?, Wembley Stadium - I think I preferred the David Gilmour solo gig, although the exploding bed was nice.
Prince, 198?, somewhere in London - Diamonds and Rust ... dull.
The Stone Roses, 198?, Maysfield Leisure Centre Belfast - great gig and one I like to mention to anyone under thirty.
Bob Dylan 198? Dundonald Ice Bowl – Why, I do believe the man is drunk (Oh look there’s Van Morrison again).
10,000 Maniacs 198? QUB Belfast – the last time I headed to the front at a gig.
Mercury Rev 199? The Limelight, Belfast - unbelievably great.
Jackson Browne, 199?, Whitla Hall Belfast - all his songs sound better without a band.
Jimmy Page & Robert Plant 199? The Point Dublin – could Led Zeppelin ever have been any better than this?
Suede 1993 some club in Dublin – I don’t know who these people are, but I know what records they have.
The Velvet Underground 1993, Edinburgh Playhouse - second night of their first tour since 1968 and one I like to mention to people over forty.
U2 1993 RDS Dublin – the night before my finals. I know they will never be this good again (and I am right).
Fleetwood Mac 199? RDS Dublin –Without Lindsey Buckingham, but
Stevie is crying magic pixie tears for the people of Ireland. And what do you know ... it worked!
The Cure The Point Dublin 1993 – Dull. Oh God they were dull.
Bob Dylan The Point Dublin 1993 – Oh look there’s Van Morrison again.
Van Morrison The Point Dublin 1993 – Oh look there’s Bob Dylan ... and Chrissie Hynde … and Stevie Winwood …. and Kris Kristofferson … it’s a shame no-one knows the words to whatever it is they’re doing.
Marrianne Faithfull 199? somewhere in Dublin - called back for two encores, came back for four.
Brian Wilson 199?, The Point, Dublin – I cannot believe I am sitting 20 feet from Brian Wilson. Although I'm not sure he knows that I - or anyone else - am in the room.
Yoko Ono 199? Astoria London – "Dub dub train, ran through my mind!" God she is fantastic! And nobody seems to know this but me. (This was of course before I met Fraser online).
BB King 199? The Waterfront Hall Belfast – will that fucking woman in the row behind never shut up!?
Paul McCartney 2001, MGM Grand, Las Vegas - it was fab, particularly as I only heard about it and decided to fly over three days beforehand (not an FPO in sight!)
Ray Charles 1993(?)The Point Dublin – Dull, dull, dull ... I’ve not been so disappointed since … well you know …
David Bowie 199? Barrowlands, Glagow – stunning show, great setlist. David what say we just put The Glass Spider incident behind us and move on ...?
Roxy Music 200? The Point Dublin – they’re playing some old, and the people in Pringle sweaters are leaving!!!!
Crosby & Nash 2007 (?)Vicar Street Dublin - utterly sublime.
Stephen Stills 2008 Vicar Street Dublin – utterly rubbish and the only gig I have ever (in 28 years) walked out of early.
Al Green 2008 Vicar Street Dublin – it made a believer out of me, even though I didn't get a rose.
Ronnie Wood Vicar Street, Dublin – Just when you thought it couldn’t get any louder or more shambolic … oh look it’s Slash.
Fleet Foxes 2008 Vicar Street Dublin – excellently shambolic! Ronnie take note.
Brian Wilson 200? – Glasgow SECC – "Smile". When it was over I wanted him to play it again. And again.
Huey Lewis & The News 200? Belfast Waterfront Hall - taken along by a client. Patti Smith was playing an acoustic set the same night. And i had a ticket. And I was watching Huey Lewis. The most spontaneous thing the whole night was when the guitarist jumped on to the drum riser and slipped. I think his kneecap ended up under a seat in row six.
James Brown 200? The Olympia Dublin – he was great, and two months later he was dead.
The Rolling Stones 2006, Twickenham (both nights) – Now where did I put that prawn sandwich? :-)
The Rolling Stones Slane 2007 – so here we all are 25 years on …they'll never tour again you know!
Tom Waits, 2008 Phoenix Park Dublin – row 8 in a circus big-top and the best, and I mean THE BEST gig I have ever seen.
Kraftwerk, 2008 Kilmainam Dublin – they’ve borrowed Tom Waits’ tent. Fantastic.
Leonard Cohen 2008, Glasgow SECC – simply stunning.
Eric Bell, 2009 Ramada Hotel, Belfast – charity gig – amazing player. And a gent.
C.S.N. 2009, RAH, London – fantastic show ... maybe this is their last hurrah? Went with an old pal from college and my new best mate (ahem!) Eric Bell.

Please note that I have spared you details of 34 other Van Morrison gigs - the last one about 7 years ago because I simply got fed up being fed crap.

And finally ... not the best, but the one I wouldn’t have missed …
The Concert For George RAH – the 60s last hurrah. Paul, Ringo, Eric, Billy and Klaus on stage together … hell that’s practically the Beatles!! And Monty Python!

1. First big gig. Simply Red, Wembley Arena. 1988ish. Right at the back. They were very good.
2. Joe Satriani. Wembley Arena. 1995ish. Right at the front. Lots of widdling.
3. Pearl Jam. Wembley Arena. 1998ish. Right at the side. Awful sound (we were effectively behind the speakers). Those in front of the stage seemed to be enjoying it.
4. BB King. Royal Festival Hall. I had an arm in plaster and we went to see a Batman and Robin at the cinema afterwards, thus spoiling a pleasant evening.
5. Thee Hypnotics. Camden Underworld. Loud.
6. Motorhead. The Forum. They opened with Ace of Spades, so for me the gig was over. Someone dropped beer on the mixing desk
7. Terence Trent D'arby. The Forum. Half empty, but he rocked.
8. Billy Bragg and the Blokes. The Forum. He talked too much and I didn't like the solo numbers
9. Billy Bragg solo. Greenbelt festival. This time I loved the solo thing.
10. The Mean Red Spiders. Back room of the White Lion in Sible Hedingham. Made me want a Gibson ES 335. I still do.
11. The Police, Twikenham Stadium 2008. My brother and me fulfilling a teenage thing. There was an amazing gig going on somewhere in that stadium, but we weren't part of it.
12. Jazz Jamaica All Stars. Royal Albert Hall, part of the Proms a few years ago. Astonishing.
13. Richard Thompson, Cambridge Corn Exchange 2007/8. With Danny Thompson. Boy can they play.
14. Lily Allen. Cambridge Corn Exchange. Too many young people.
Have I paid for 50 gigs?
15. Kate Rusby. University of Kent 2000. I fell in love.
16. REM. Milton Keynes Bowl. 1995. I found the T shirt this morning and I'm going to sell it on ebay.
17. Paul McCartney. Earls Court. 1991/2. The only gig I've been to on my own.
18. Deacon Blue. Greenbelt Festival 1990.
19. Martin Joseph and Steve Knightly. Disraeli Room, The Bell, Castle Hedingham.
20. Atomic Kitten. UKC Ball, 2001. Awful. Only 2 of them turned up.
21. Garrison Keillor. Cadogan Hall, 2009. The future of live is not loud music, it's talking.
22. Prince, Wembley Arena. 1994ish. Amazing show, crap sound.
23. Prince, Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, 2004. Wow. GLW pregnant with no 1 child.
24. Prince, O2 Arena, 2007. Woooww. GLW pregnant with no 2 child.
25. Tunde Jegede, 1999. Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury. Kora player
26. Joe Jackson, Hammersmith Appollo 1994. Night Music Tour.
27. Joe Jackson, Oxford Zodiac. Volume 4 warm up tour. Best gig my wife's ever been to.
28. Joe Jackson, Cambridge Corn Exchange. Volume 4 tour.
29. Joe Jackson, Shepherd's Bush Empire. He was alright.
30. Joe Jackson. Cadogan Hall, 2007.
31. Joe Strummer, Shepherd's Bush Empire, July 2002, only a few months before he died. Played Clash songs better than I've ever heard them.
32. Happy Mondays, Cambridge Corn Exchange. 1991. They never came on, because Bez didn't show up. We let Shaun Ryder's tyres down.
33. The Wonderstuff, Ipswich Regent, just before they split up.
34. Blind Boys of Alabama. Greenbelt Festival, 2000. So good I cried.
35. Howlin'Wilf (James Hunter). Colchester Arts Centre, 1990.
36. Jools Holland and the R&B Orchestra, Ipswich Regent, 1996. Played Tempted.
37. Jools Holland, Cambridge Corn Exchange, 1997. Not as good as at Ipswich.
38. REM tribute band, Oliver Twist in Colchester, 1995. Better than REM at the Milton Keynes Bowl.
40. John Otway, Kelvedon Free Music Festival, 2007.
41. Automatic Slim. Kelvedon Free Music Festival 2006.
42. Martin Taylor, Boxford Fleece Jazz club. The best guitar playing I have ever heard, except for..
43. Unknown Jazz guitar duo, Disraeli Room, Castle Hedingham. 1994 ish. Only 4 people in the audience but they were mindblowing.
44. Polyphonic Spree, Greenbelt Festival. Scary, then joyous.
45. Dr. and the Medics. Colchester Hippodrome, many years after their only hit. Surprisingly good.
46. Jean Michel Jarre. Destination Docklands. We stood in the wrong place.
47. The Proclaimers. Greenbelt Festival, 1994
48. Jah Wobble. Greenbelt Festival 1994. Both great.
49. Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band. Kelvedon Free Music festival, last month. Terrible.
50. Tim Ten Yen, my wife's birthday party, in June this year. The best gig I have ever been to.

First gig was Toyah in 1981 at the Hammersmith Odeon (ahem...)

Off the top of my head, venues and dates are a bit rusty, need to check ticket stubs, diaries and things but seen all these between 1981 and this year and all great!
Missed off crap gigs and shite bands and haven't included my old band of course!

01. Audioweb
02. B-52's
03. Black Flag
04. Blue Aeroplanes
05. Brian Jonestown Massacre
06. Brian Wilson
07. Buzzcocks
08. Cramps
09. Damned
10. David Byrne
11. Devo
12. Discharge
13. Fall
14. Fatima Mansions
15. Flaming Lips
16. Fuzztones
17. Godfathers
18. Go-Go's
19. Gun Club
20. Hives
21. Hoodoo Gurus
22. Ian Dury & The Blockheads
23. Iggy Pop
24. Joe Strummer
25. John Cale
26. Julian Cope
27. Killing Joke
28. Lords of The New Church
29. Matthew Sweet
30. Music Machine
31. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
32. Nirvana
33. Patti Smith
34. Pixies
35. Posies
36. R.E.M.
37. Ramones
38. Roky Erickson
39. Rolling Stones
40. Ruts (with Henry Rollins)
41. Shack
42. Sisters of Mercy
43. Soundtrack of Our Lives
44. Sparks
45. Stranglers
46. Teenage Fanclub
47. Three Johns
48. Velvet Underground
49. Wall of Voodoo
50. Who

1. Rory Gallagher at the Ipswich Odeon. My first time in a denim jacket
2. Max Boyce at the Ipswich Odeon. First actual gig. We don't count that one.
3. Marillion at St. David's Hall (Cardiff?). I have no idea what we were doing in Wales.
4. Melanie at Glastonbury. Headlined over Marillion, bikers attempted to scale the stage in order to kiss her, leading to a frazzled roadie soaking the front of the pyramid with oil and then grabbing the mic to shout "One more and I'll torch it!"
5. The Waterboys, UEA. Pre show music - Bob Dylan's 'Saved'.What is this strange stuff they're playing? I only came to hear Whole of the Moon. Turned out to be Fisherman's Blues.
6. Fruits of Passion at a Manchester University toga party. They spported U2 at the Milton Keynes Bowl the week after.
7. Robyn Hitchcock, Glastonbury. "On bass, Matthew Seligman, in the same boiler suit he wore with Bowie last week at Live Aid!"
8. Spirit of the West, The Gaslight Club, Peterborough. Hang on - that bloke's playing a Chapman stick with one hand and keyboards with the other...
9. REM, Portman Road, Ipswich. The week after the London bombings, Stipey made an eloquent speech about how they weren't cancelling and then they played Everybody Hurts as a first number. Not a dry eye, etc.
10. Fairport Convention, Colchester Arts Centre. Ric Sanders was playing Here, There and Everywhere as pre show mood music and they did a scurrilous re-imagining of Matty Groves to celebrate Jeffrey Archer being banged up that day.
11. Dodgy, Ipswich Caribbean Centre. Some unsavoury graffiti around town, we were the support band and made up around 40% of the audience. They got arrested the next week at Speaker's Corner.
12. Neil Young, NEC, Birmingham. I actually liked Trans...
13. Dawn Trader, somewhere in Birmingham. It was NWOBHM time and they had, like, their own 7" single! Where are they now, eh?
14. The Popticians, Glastonbury. Went on early to try and deflect opprobrium from a well-refreshed Keith Allen toward the rest of the turns. It didn't work.
15. The Posies, The Waterfront, Norwich. I can only imagine that their session work paid for the tour. The fourteen of us there bloody loved it though.
16. Carter USM, The Hangar, Ipswich. Another support slot. Sheriff Fatman high in the indie charts at the time.
17. The Rutles, Ipswich Regent. Four session guys reading parts off music stands and Neil Innes trying to pretend they'd bothered to rehearse. Not one where you want to hear the phrase "...and here's a new song I've written". Disappointing.
18. Green on Red, The Waterfront, Norwich. Dan Stuart came on, spat his Marlboro into the front row, peered at the lights and said "Turn 'em all on, then turn 'em all down".
19. Earl Okin, The Gaslight Club, Peterborough. There was an awfully lascivious song about a mango.
20. Songs from The Blue House, Cornbury. Same day as Robert Plant was on. Our drummer soundchecked with Moby Dick. Mark Ellen "I give you - Songs from The Blue Room!"

1. Rory Gallagher -Wolverhampton Civic
2. Rick Wakeman - Stoke -Caper tastic, went backstage and me the man
3. Genesis -Stafford New Bingly Hall
4. The Who -Stafford New Bingly Hall first tour after keith died
5. Cambridge Folk Featival -The year Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee player, wish I still had the poster
6. Fairport Convention -Cropready the first one
7. Hawkwind - Wolverhapton Civic Hall
8. Yes - Stafford New Bingly Hall
9. Led Zeppelin - Knebworth the first one with Todd Rundgren
10. John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett -Stafford Poly
11.Camel -Birmingham Odeon
12. Steve Hillage -Wolverthapton Civic Hall
13. AC/DC -Wolverthapton Civic Hall Dirty Deeds Tour
14. Mike Oldfield -NEC yawn
15.Waterboys - necastle Mayfair
16.The Ramones -Newcastle Mayfair
17.The Long Ryders -Newcastle Mayfair
18. REM -Newcastle Mayfair
19. Bruce Springsteen - NUFC Born In The USA to if recall correctly
20. Judie Tzuke -Newcastle City Hall
21 Lindisfarne -Newcastle City Hall Xmas Gig
22.Bryan Adams -Newcastle City Hall -went to try and impress girlfriend, ending up having a top night!Hard to believe post everything I do!
23. Gary Numan-Newcastle City Hall -went to see OMD supporting
24. Elvis Costello -Manchester Apollo - King Of America Tour with the spinning song wheel thingy
25.Wings at Birmingham with my brother , Speed Of Sound Tour halfway phew
26. Little Village - Dominion Thatre sat behind one Mr David Hepworth
27. Van Morrison - HMV conference - NEC -he was on fine form! Audience number 100!
28. Black Crowes -Sheffield City Hall
29. Lenny Kravitz -SHeffield Arena -first gig I ever walked out of
30. Aerosmith -Sheffield Arena -went to a meet and greet before the gig,acidentally walked into the band's Dressing roon as they were getting changes
31.Ice T -Sheffield Leadmill
32. Rip Rig And Panic -Sheffield Leadmill - What a night that was
33.Husker DU - Newcastle Riverside -loud and wonderful
34. Microdisney -Newcastle Riverside
35. Jeff Buckley - Leeds Varities
36. Steely Dan - NEC first of their comeback gigs
37. XTC - Birmingham Odeon
38. Julian Cope -Sheffield Leadmill
39. Wonderstuff -Newcastle Riverside before the first album I think
40. Peter Gabriel - Secret World Tour Sheffield Arena
41. Radiohead -Sheffield Poly, my mates band were supporting -150 people
42. INXS -Sheffield Poly latter day tour for Hutchance
43. Pearl Jam -Wellington NZ my first gig after emigrating
44. Barenaked Ladies - Auckland Powerstation
45. Bob Dylan - Auckland Civic Theare -I was 20 yeards away from the man
46. Mansun- Leeds on their last tour before disbanding
47. Crowded House - Leigh Sawmill Cafe -last year Neil Finn and co testing out new songs -150 people
48. Lloyd Cole - Aucklands Kings Arms
49. Coldplay - Auckland Vector Arena
50. Paul Kelly -Auckland Montecrisdto Rooms - the last gig I went to, two weeks ago!

Nov 80 Echo and the Bunnymen/The Sound Uni of Liverpool
Nov 80 The Teardrop Explodes Uni of Liverpool
Dec 80 Roy Wood's Helicopters Uni of Liverpool
Feb 81 The Who Deeside Leisure Centre
May 81 The Kinks Liverpool Empire
May 81 Bruce Springsteen and the E St Band Bingley Hall Stafford
July 81 Bob Dylan NEC Birmingham
81 ? Hazel O'Connor/Duran Duran Uni of Liverpool
81 ? Stiff Little Fingers Uni of Liverpool
81 ? Buzzcocks Uni of Liverpool
Dec 81 Echo and the Bunnymen Liverpool Royal Court Theatre
82 ? Bauhaus/Southern Death Cult Uni of Liverpool
82 ? Teardrop Explodes Liverpool Empire
June 82 Rolling Stones/J Geils Band/Black Uhuru Wembley Stadium
Summer 82 ? Van Morrison Dominion Theatre, London
Summer 82 ? Neil Young Wembley Arena
March 83 Echo and the Bunnymen Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
83 ? The Style Council Liverpool Empire
83 ? New Order Some club in Swansea
May 83 Van Morrison Dominion Theatre, London
Nov 83 Simple Minds Hammersmith Odeon
Nov 83 Elvis Costello and the Attractions/The Pogues Hammersmith Palais
July 84 Bob Dylan/Santana Wembley Stadium
84? Echo and the Bunnymen Hammersmith Palais
July 85 Bruce Springsteen and the E St Band Wembley Stadium
Sept 86 Van Morrison Liverpool Empire
? 86 Elvis Costello and the Attractions Liverpool Royal Court Theatre
87 Elvis Costello - St David's Hall Cardiff
87 Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes - Hammersmith Odeon
May 87 U2/Pretenders/Big Audio Dynamite Basel Stadium
Oct 87 Bob Dylan/Tom Petty/Roger McGuinn St Jakob Basel
May 88 The Pogues Zurich Volkshaus
88 ? Lloyd Cole and the Commotions Zurich Volkshaus
88 ? Echo and the Bunnymen Zurich Volkshaus
88 ? Sting Zurich Hallenstadion
June 88 Bruce Springsteen and the E St Band Basel Stadium
June 89 REM Zurich Volkshaus
89 ? David Byrne Zurich Volkshaus
89 ? Lou Reed - Luzern somewhere
Nov 89 Paul McCartney Zurich Hallenstadion
90 ? Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Rote Fabrik Zurich
90 ? The Pixies Zurich Volkshaus
90 ? Pogues Winterthur Street Festival
90 ? The Pogues - Stuttgart
90 ? Billy Bragg Zurich Rote Fabrik
91 ? The Dubliners - German/Swiss border
91 The Pogues/Joe Strummer
92 ? The Primitives - Zurich
April 92 Bruce Springsteen Zurich Hallenstadion
92 ? David Byrne Zurich Volkshaus

As you can see a lot of these were in Switzerland, they tend to take the whole ticket there so I'm missing the stubs.

1. Echo & The Bunnymen – De Montfort Hall – Ocean Rain tour 1984 – first gig.
2. Yeah Yeah Noh – Leicester Poly 1985 – the Leicester HM,HB.
3. Elvis Costello – Newcastle City Hall – 31 January 1987 – just after King Of America and Blood & Chocolate – probably my favourite gig ever.
4. Husker Du – Glastonbury 1987 – intense.
5. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Glastonbury 1987 – barnstorming headline set including, inevitably, Knowing Me Knowing You.
6. Gaye Bykers On Acid – Glastonbury 1987 – Leiciester grebos.
7. Pixies – Brixton Academy 1991 – alright.
8. Bob Dylan – Hammersmith 1991 – turned up in tracksuit and Public Enemy hooded top. Bouncer asked me if I was at the right gig. Sorry everyone – Dylan was a complete shambles.
9. Jesus & Mary Chain - Rollercoaster package (JAMC, My Bloody Valentine, Blur & Dinosaur Jr) – Brixton 1992 – three brilliant bands playing fabulous sets, plus Blur.
10. Sugar – Town & Country 1992 – power pop par excellence.
11. Jeff Buckley – Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 1995 – magic.
12. Oasis – Astoria – 18 August 1994 – memorable (a month before release of Definitely Maybe).
13. Mazzy Star – The Garage 1994 – beguiling.
14. Tindersticks – Bloomsbury Ballroom 1995 – ashamed to admit that yes, that’s me snoring on the live album.
15. Suede – Hammersmith Palais 1995 – Dog Man Star tour – genuinely dazzling.
16. Bruce Springsteen – Royal Albert Hall 1996 – ‘The Boss’ was not meant to be seen playing a 3 hours solo acoustic set at the RAH.
17. Blur – Mile End – 1996 – rubbish. See Mogwai t-shirt.
18. Echo & The Bunnymen – Kilburn National 1997 – one of the great comebacks (see also Istanbul 2005)
19. R.E.M. – Earls Court 1999 – the first ten albums were ace (is there any other band you can say that about?).
20. Spiritualised – Forum 2001 – so good it’s no wonder they’re playing it again.
21. Ian Brown – Brixton Academy 200? – in the old days before you could get a spirit level App for your phone, people used to check whether things were completely flat by measuring them against Ian Brown’s voice. Abysmal.
22. Pete Wylie – Talk Of The Town – January 2000 – fantastic. Mick Jones was stood behind me.
23. Radiohead – Oxford South Park 2001 – back in the day, they were some band.
24. The White Stripes – Forum 2001 – for me, it’s been a steady decline since White Blood Cells.
25. The Eels – Forum 2001 – always, always fantastic live. Turned up in orange jumpsuits. E walked through the audience. Did that coming back after the house lights thing.
26. Sonic Youth - Shepherds Bush Empire 2002 – epitome of kool.
27. The Music – Astoria 2002 – was convinced at the time that they would be the next big thing (see also The Cribs, the Rascals and Salif Diao).
28. McAlmont & Butler – Shepherds Bush Empire – 2003? - first gig I’ve ever walked out of (but not the last). A real low.
29. The Coral – Shepherd’s Bush Empire 2003? – two days after M&B. Restored my faith in live music.
30. Dexy’s Midnight Runners – RFH, October 2003 – astonishing.
31. The Libertines – Forum 2003? – exciting for all the right reasons.
32. LCD Soundsystem – Hammersmith Palais 2005 - something great.
33. The Arctic Monkeys – Leeds Festival 2005 – Used to be good. Not as good live as The Cribs though.
34. The Kaiser Chiefs – Astoria 2005 – ended up in a club and almost missed last train home.
35. Arcade Fire – Leeds Festival 2007 – launched a scene. Broken Social Scene, to be precise.
36. Muse – Wembley Stadium 2007 – supermassive.
37. Art Brut – Astoria 2007 – after this, popular culture no longer applied to me.
38. Does it Offend You, Yeah? – Barfly 2007 – no, because it’s actually quite good.
39. Foals - Scala 2007 – included a song about the fall of Rome.
40. Neil Young – Hammersmith 2008 – the most I have ever played to see a single act. Worth it? Unquestionably.
41. Wild Beasts – Borderline 2008 – soaring.
42. Santogold – KOKO 2008 – with S1W style dancers.
43. My Bloody Valentine – Roundhouse 2008 – quite loud.
44. Crystal Castles & Metronomy – Eldectric Ballroom 2008 – bounce, bounce, screech.
45. Whitest Boy Alive – Scala 2009 – in the groove and ready to move.
46. David Byrne – RFH April 2009 – early contender for gig of the year.
47. The Phenomenal Handclap Band – Latitude 2009 – they nailed it.
48. The Passion Pit – Latitude 2009 – this year’s buzz band.
49. Datarock – Latitude 2009 – Don’t stop the rock, obv.
50. Dinosaur Pile Up – Water Rats 2009 – okay.

1. 10cc, Hammersmith Odeon, 17th March 1983 - First gig, unforgettable, wonderful.

2. Randy Crawford, Hammersmith Odeon, 1986 - Backed by an Icelandic hard rock act.

3. Nirvana, Kilburn National, 1991 - I got punched in the face by a drunken oaf.

4. Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, Shepherds Bush Empire, 1999 - Rock n' Roll indeed.

5. Alaska, Marquee, 1985 - I have no memory of this whatsoever, but I was there.

6. Michael Brecker, Greek Theatre, Berkeley, 1988 - Saxy. Very, very saxy.

7. Supertramp, Earls Court, 1983 - Just brilliant... loved by the 14 year old me.

8. Solstice, Marquee, 1984 - None more hippy. Bloody good live band though...

9. Deep Purple, Knebworth, 1985 - I saw a drunken longhair fall in a cess pit.

10. Chaka Khan, North Sea Jazz Festival, 1990 - She gave me a kiss. I swooned.

11. Richard Thompson, 100 Club, 1999 - He finger-tapped a solo like Van Halen.

12. Little Feat, Town & Country Club, 1988? - I'd never heard a band as tight as that.

13. Robert Palmer, Town & Country Club, 1990 - He was absolutely superb.

14. ZZ Top, Hammersmith Odeon, 1983 - Lemmy's warts brushed my cheek.

15. Radiohead, South Park, 2001 - Transcendent and magical. And very, very wet.

16. Albert Collins, Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland, Astoria, 1986? - Bluesy.

17. Marillion, Marquee, 1985 - Possibly the best atmosphere of any gig I've been to.

18. Barry White, Hammersmith Odeon, 1986? - His voice caused earth tremors.

19. Hiram Bullock, somewhere on North Halsted St., Chicago, 1988 - Widdly.

20. The Grateful Dead, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, 1988 - Can I go home now?

21. John Lee Hooker, a church in Oberlin, Ohio, 1988 - 1st half crap, 2nd stunning.

22. Yes, Wembley Arena, 1984 - The ugliest clothes I've ever seen worn on a stage.

23. Stevie Wonder, Wembley Arena, 1987 - Possibly the best gig I've ever seen.

24. Robert Plant, Kings Head pub, Fulham, 1993 - He played some mean blues guitar.

25. Eric Clapton & Elton John, Wembley Stadium, 1992? - Ticket to Yawnville.

26. Black Sabbath, The Astoria, 2000? - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - tune.

27. Morrissey, Town & Country Club, 1998? - Lots of clones in West Ham shirts.

28. Men at Work, Hammersmith Odeon, 1983 - There were lots of Australians there.

29. AC/DC, Wembley Arena, 2000 - They shook me (and everyone else) all night long.

30. Chick Corea Elektric Band, somewhere in London, 1986? - Bill Oddie was there.

31. Billy Cobham, Marquee, 1986? - What a drummer. Bill Oddie was there.

32. The Cure, Wembley Arena, 1987 - 3½ hours, did Merry Christmas Everybody

33. Genesis, Birmingham NEC, 1984 - They had lots of lights. Music was brilliant.

34. Paul McCartney, Wembley Arena, 1989 - Did Side 2 of Abbey Road. Ace.

35. Motörhead, The Astoria, 2000 - Turned the volume up for Ace of Spades.

36. GWAR, Astoria 2, 2000? - Nuns outside venue saw crowd covered in fake blood.

37. Neil Young with Booker T. and the M.G.'s, Finsbury Park, 1992 - Megalithic.

38. Peter Sarstedt, Guilford Festival, 1993? - His lovely was still missing. Oh well...

39. Bob Dylan, Wembley Stadium, 1984 - The guy next to me was sooooo stoned.

40. Whitesnake, Hammersmith Odeon, 1984 - Coverdale held his mike like a penis.

41. Dio, Hammersmith Odeon, 1984 - "Dragons and kings, demons and rings..." etc.

42. Status Quo, Hammersmith Odeon, 1984 - Bloody great. The joint was rockin'.

43. Level 42, Hammersmith Odeon, 1989 - Ford Cortinas aplenty in the car park.

44. Robert Plant, Marquee, 1988 - I untangled his mike lead. He thanked me.

45. Radiohead, The Astoria, 1997 - I paid a bouncer £60 to get in. Well worth it.

46. Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham, Embassy Rooms, 1999 - A magical, magical night.

47. Nick Harper, 12 Bar Club, 1999? - I chatted with Glenn Tilbrook about Zeppelin.

48. Meat Puppets, Mean Fiddler, 1991? - An extraordinarily brilliant live band.

49. Pete Townshend, Brixton Academy, 1985 - I'm One was beautiful.

50. Peter Hammill, Queen Elizabeth Hall, 1986 - Intense, scary, brilliant.

1. Ramones / Talking Heads, Strathclyde Uni, June 1977
2. Television / Blondie, Apollo, Glasgow, 1977 [the next night]
3. Fleshtones, Night Moves, Glasgow, Nov 83. (absolutely fantastic) these rule supreme and are byond ranking
4. Cramps / Primevals / Alex Chilton Rex, Paris, 86
5. David Johansen / Primevals, Dingwalls London Jan 85
6. Aerosmith, Glasgow Apollo, 76.
7. Hanoi Rocks, a lot of times, but Strathclyde 82, with Razzle.
8. James King & The Lonewolves, Maestro’s 82 (and many other times)
9. John Fogerty, Hampden Park, supporting Tina Turner, 01 ?
10. Dick Dale/ The Beat Poets, Garage, Glasgow, 95
11. The Police / The Cramps, Apollo, Glasgow, 79 (I think)
12. The Clash / Theatre Of Hate / The Plastic Flies : Apollo, Glasgow, 81
13. Wah! Heat, Bungalow Bar, Paisley, 1980
14. The Fall / The Cramps, Glasgow Tech 1980
15. Ian Dury & The Blockheads / Whirlwind / Matumbi , Apollo, 78
16. Orange Juice – Bungalow Bar, Paisley, 1980
17. Dr Feelgood / The Bishops – Apollo, 1979
18. The Alleged, Doune Castle, Glasgow, 1978 (and many many other times)
19. Miles Davis, SECC, Glasgow, 85
20. Don Cherry, Glasgow, 87. (Top 5)
21. James Brown, Las Vegas, 99
22. Link Wray, Glasgow, 89
23. Dan Penn, Glasgow 13th Note, 92
24. Jerry Lee Lewis, Armadillo, Glasgow 05
25. Eli “Paperboy” Reed & The Trueloves, O2, Birmingham, 09
26. New York Dolls, Glasgow Garage June 08 (top5!)
27. MC5/Sun Ra Arkestra London 06 [?] Arkestra were Top 5! )
28. Jimmy Smith, Glasgow Tramway 97 [?]
29. Bill Frizell, Glasgow Tramway 88
30. Suicide, Glasgow Venue, 88
31. Alan Vega, Strathclyde Uni, 85
32. Elvis Costello & The Confederates, Edinburgh, 85. (JAMES BURTON!!)
33. The Animals with STEVE CROPPER, Bilston, 08
34. McCoy Tyner, Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, 94 ?
35. Roger McGuinn, Fruitmarket, Glasgow, 95 ?
36. Patti Smith, Edinburgh, 1978.
37. Patti Smith, Glasgow, 1997. (TOP 5!) )
38. Sonny Rollins, Glasgow, 87 (?)
39. Blasters, King Tut’s late 80s ?
40. El Vez, King Tut’s, 90s ?
41. Dexys Midnight Runners, Glasgow, Pavilion Theatre, early 80s
42. Tortoise, Glasgow Art School. 03 ?
43. The Exploited, Edinburgh, (some dodgy pub full of gluesniffers) 1979
44. Robert Gordon/ Link Wray, Strathclyde Uni 1979
45. Thin Lizzy, Glasgow Apollo, 1978 (ON MY BIRTHDAY! TOP 5)
46. AC/DC [with Bon Scott, obviously] Glasgow Apollo 1977
47. Order Of St Jude, Dundee Uni, 82.
48. Ramones / Rezillos Glasgow Apollo 78
49. Jesus & Mary Chain, Splash 1 Glasgow. 84 ?
50. Irma Thomas, New Orleans 94

please note, many dates are guesses and dates may be miles out

First...maybe 1963/64 (age 7 or 8) Fairfield Halls Croydon, I was a big Beatles fan so my Dad took me to see a package featuring The Overlanders (hit song Michelle) and IIRC headliners were Johnny Kidd & The Pirates. I have a recollection of having to duck because of the volume of autograph books flying through the air.

Wishbone Ash/Spirit - Hammy Odeon - 83ish. Ash touring New England and Spirit playing the songs I wanted to hear. Excellent.

The Clash - Swansea Uni - first LP - I didn't like punk but went out of academic interest - nasty atmosphere with skinheads kicking some poor sod's head in

Sigur Ros - Hammy Odeon - 2006/7? Astounding but spoilt by crowd talking, texting, filming etc.

Sigur Ros - Southampton - 2006/7 again. Astounding again - standing so better.

Explosions In The Sky - Reading South St - couldn't believe one of my faves were playing 10 miles from my home - blistering, best gig in years.

Genesis - Colston Hall - supporting Wind & Wuthering - we had a box! Best gig ever (at the time)

Jo'burg Hawk - Hull - Charisma recording artists. Pretty sure I saw them here, likewise Peter Hammill.

Yes - Union tour - well, I liked it

The Musical Box - Albert Hall - twice. Just like the real thing.
G2Genesis - High Wycombe - lots of fun.
Genesis - July 2007 - not as much fun as The Musical Box and setlist not as interesting as G2Genesis.

The Enid - lots of times - love the first couple of LPs

The Who - Swansea football ground 76? - Blimey they were good

Van Der Graaf - reunion at QEH 2005? - I was a bit bored actually and wished I'd sold my ticket on eBay

The Alarm - Half Moon Herne Hill - worst night of my life although the band were OK

Huang Chung - Half Moon Herne Hill - very good indeed

Jeff Buckley - Shepherds Bush - too many notes really

Neil Young - Greendale at Hammy Apollo - worst concert ever
Neil Young - Landing On Water - Wembley - first time - brilliant
Neil Young - solo acoustic Hammy Odeon - delayed by traffic - very cross, moody and magnificent
Neil Young - Fleadh / Reading w/Pearl Jam / Stratford / Hyde Park

Supertramp - Swansea Uni - supporting CrimeOTC - 75? - loved it

Genesis reformed at Milton Keynes 82? It rained. Hard. Gabriel didn't know the words. Bumped into my brother and a friend from uni.

Raymond Frogget Band - Freshers Ball 74 - 10cc pulled out so we got Raymond.

Renaissance - Swansea Uni 75/76 - supporting Caravan. I'd love to see it again.

Be Bop Deluxe - Swansea twice - bass player kept trying to get us to sing along. I hate that.

Robyn Hitchcock - small club in Reading - wonderful solo on Element Of Light. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

Roy Harper - Windsor & High Wycombe - I hope he wasn't driving

Love - QEH - brilliant
Electric Prunes - QEH - they loved being there and so did I

Steve Hackett - prog fest somewhere in Hampshire mid 90s. Got tinnitus for 2 or 3 years from standing too close.

John Martyn - Bracknell festival - he was pissed as a fart. Rubbish.

Pat Metheny Group - Half Moon Putney - playing on their day off - joyous. Saw them the previous 2 nights at Hammy Odeon too. I was quite keen at the time.

Marillion - London Victoria somewhere after seeing them described as influenced by Genesis circa Foxtrot - that was true - so appalled by Grendel (= Suppers Ready backwards) that we walked out. Love the band with H though.

Manfred Mann's Earthband - Disneyland Paris - 2004. That was a surprise, maybe to them as well. Always good value, the MMEB.

Yes, with Buggles - Hammy Odeon - the crowd gave them a hard time - why had they bought the tickets?

Sutherland Bros - lots of times - always good. See also Curved Air.

I'll give you some that I have clear memories of.

1. My very first was Budgie in Belfast in 1982. Fairly average. they were at the fag end of their career.

2. Rory Gallagher - twice in the mid 80s in Belfast. A genuine artist sadly missed. A great guitar player both electric and accoustic.

3. Deep Purple in Birmingham in 1987 after they had reformed. Worshipped Ritchie Blackmore in those days. Amazing show. Made a big impression on me. Gillan was good too.

4. AC/DC London 1988. Seen them umpteen times since. But that night Angus Young delivered a performance that we talked about for about a year afterwards. That little man headbanged, played riffs, duckwalked and skipped backwards at the same time for 2 hours solid.

5. Rolling Stones Wembley 1990. What do I need to say except I got my money's worth?

6. Guns'n'Roses Wembley 1991 - disappointed. Axl was well into his self important twat phase. The sound was crap. I remember a lot of lassies got their puppies out for the cameras. Slash was good.

7. Paul Weller Vienna 1998. This was in a small club and was a very intimate greatest hits gig. He is a seriously talented performer and a bloke's bloke.

8. Primal Scream Brixton 2006 - it was just a mad mad gig and I was very pissed..

9. Alice Cooper and Ted Nugent etc Milton Keynes 2006. A very enjoyable summer day drinking beer and listening to half a dozen rock bands in the sun.

10. Bob Dylan twice in London in the last 2 years. Whether Bob can still cut it live is a subject for its own thread. It prompted a lot of discussion afterwards on both occasions.

11. Alabama 3 The Astoria 2007. Love their stuff. Very professional gig. Great crowd.

12. Metallica this year twice. Apart from AC/DC they are the best at delivering a full tilt metal show. Its like a hurricane hitting you through the PA system. Their discipline and timing are phenonenal.

13. Oasis and Kasabian this summer. Two cracking bands live. Never seen so much booze being drunk at a concert in 25 years of gigging.

14. The last 3 Download festivals. Myself and a buddy decided to get out of our office shirts and ties and relive our metal teenage years for three days each year on Jack Daniels and beer.

in chronological order:

Voila!

1. Supertramp, Brighton Dome, 1975(?). Opening act: Chris de Burgh. Support: Gallagher and Lyle. Loudest thing I’d ever heard until then (the ‘Tramp, obviously)
2. Sutherland Brothers and Quiver, Brighton Dome, 1975. Support: Moon. First mirror ball. I still want one!
3. Thin Lizzy, 1976, Support: Radiators from Space (went down badly. TL were beyond exciting).
4. The Tubes, 1976, Support: Wire (went down badly. Were astonishing). First London gig. Quay Lewd and semi-naked ladies. And that hippy guy everyone seemed to know as “Jesus” sitting behind us, with his motley percussion instruments.
5. Daryl Hall & John Oates, 1977 Everyone dressed up. I even had DH’s haircut. I had the hair to do it.
6. Peter Gabriel, 1977 Support: Nona Hendryx. Just after he left Genesis.
7. The Plastix, 1977. Forgotten punks. Gig erupted into a minor riot.
8. Elvis Costello and the Attractions, 1978. Instant conversion. May be the best live band ever.
9. The Tubes, 1979, Support: Squeeze. Gilson left the drums to chase some miscreant. None of the band batted an eye or missed a note.
10. The Police, 1979. One of the few gigs I’ve been too where the band have reached escape velocity and everyone knows it.
11. Abba (!), Roxy Music, Kate Bush, Boney M, Switzerland 1979. Bizarre circus tent, Eurovision mimed thing.
12. Zaine Griff, Reading Festival 1979. Left after Molly Hatchet…
13. Magazine, 1979, support: Prag Vec. Despite them touring “Secondhand Daylight” and being my (then) favourite band, nothing stands out.
14. XTC, LSE, 1980 ? again, I can’t remember a thing. Too many cocktails at Peppermint Park?
15. Rush, 1980. Beyond terrible. What was I thinking?
16. Blue Oyster Cult, 1980. It must have been a slow night in Brighton.
17. Ultravox, 1980, Before “Vienna” was massive. They played a blinder.
18. Mike Westbrook Brass Band, 1981, moving, odd. And I went on my own – my friends missed out.
19. Bruce Springsteen, Wembley Arena 1981. Finally Bruce comes back to London. One of my best-ever gigs.
20. Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Birmingham, AL, 1981. First US gig. Quite a good first US gig.
21. U2 / Comsat Angels, Brighton 1981. Touring the dreary “October” album. Sidekick managed to sit in some vomit. Rather spoiled the evening.
22. Echo and the Bunnymen, 1982. This, this is the voice.
23. ABC, Brighton, 1982. Shockingly bad. Even then Martin couldn’t hit the high notes and the others couldn’t dance/
24. Big Country, The Venue 1983. Loved The Venue. Great show too.
25. The Liberation Music Orchestra, The Venue, 1983. Almost as many people onstage as in the audience – and it was SRO. Astonishing music
26. Rockin’ Jimmy Byfield and the Brothers of the Night, 1983
27. T-Bone Burnett, 1983
28. Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1983. Very loud. Very good.
29. Iggy Pop, Brixton Academy, 1986. He can’t keep this up. Yes he can. You gotta see Iggy at least once
30. Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, 1986. I thought they’d never stop. Maybe they didn’t
31. The Waterboys, Brighton 1988, ludicrous and grandiose at the same time. Wonderful gig
32. Salif Keita, Brighton Top Rank 1988, touring “Soro”. One of the greatest voices singing one of the greatest albums of all time and genres.
33. Joe Walsh, Redondo Beach, 1989, Joe may have overindulged and forgot his lyrics, but he could still play
34. David Lindley and El Rayo-X, Redondo Beach, 1989. Almost too much fun.
35. The Church, 1990, on the way up – cold and aloof
36. Gregory Isaacs, 1990 – the Cool Ruler came on at around 1.30AM on a Sunday night. Played for 30 minutes. No-one seem surprised or disappointed.
37. Keith Jarrett, 1991 – One of KJ’s tantrum gigs. But the night my niece was born!
38. Lloyd Cole, Westwood, CA, 1991. Robert Quine on guitar. Stunning.
39. Dread Zeppelin, UCLA, 1991. Still makes me smile.
40. Crowded House, 1993, a bit dull, to be honest.
41. The Mavericks, LA, 1996, covered Springsteen’s “All that Heaven Will Allow”. But there was something in my eye.
42. Sigur Ros, Brixton, 2004, Spoiled by idiots chattering. Don’t they understand the quiet LOUD, quiet LOUD thing?
43. The Mars Volta, Brixton Academy 2005. I wound up drunk, in a circular room in the Savoy. And then took a train to France, ears ringing. But I missed my connection at Gare du Nord because I couldn’t focus on the station board.
44. Fiona Apple, London, 2006. Clearly a genius, but a touch sensitive
45. Loreena McKennitt, Barbican 2007. Crystal clarity but emotional too
46. Secret Machines, Concorde 2, Brighton 2007, great gig, maybe their best lineup, great venue. Perfect gig
47. Stan Tracey, 2008. Keith Tippett showed up too. One of my best gigs.
48. The Church, 2008, intimate, relaxed with nothing to prove.
49. Al Green, Hammersmith Apollo, 2008. So many greatest hits
50. Kaki King, Jazz Café, 2009. Incredible talent.

1. Ralph McTell - Croydon Fairfield Halls, early 70s (my parents took me)
2. The Adverts - Croydon Greyhound, 1977 (1st punk gig)
3. Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Croydon Greyhound, 1977
4. XTC - Croydon Greyhound, 1978
5 Be Stiff Tour (Wreckless Eric/Lene Lovich, Rachel Sweet/Mickey Jupp/Jona Lewie) - London Lyceum, 1978
6 The Cure - Kingston Poly, 1979
7 Barracudas/Swell Maps/Essential Logic/Red Krayola - London, The Nashvile, 1979
8 UK Subs/Mekons/Gloria Mundi - ULU, 1979
9 The Watersons - pub somewhere in Surrey, late 70s/early 80s
10 The Bernie Torme Band - Whitgift School, Croydon, 1980 (loudest gig EVER)
11 Thompson Twins (when they were a 12-piece or something) - Exeter Uni, 1981
12 U2 - Exeter Uni,1981/2
13 The Beat - Exeter Uni,1981/2
14 The Chameleons - Exeter Uni, 1982
15 Sex Gang Children - Exeter Uni, 1983
16 The Alarm - Exeter Uni, 1983
17 Southern Death Cult - Exeter Uni, 1983
18 The Fall/The Birthday Party - Hammersmith Palais, 1982
19 Altered Images - 100 Club London, 1981
20 Simple Minds - Hammersmith Palais (?) 1983/4
21 Triffids - London ICA, 86/7?
22 Go Betweens - Town & Country Club, 1988
23 KD Lang - London Dingwalls, 1987/8
24 Rollercoaster Tour (Blur/MBV/Dinosaur Jr/JAMC) - Brixton Academy, 1992
25 Cocteau Twins - Brixton Academy, late 80s?
26 Sugarcubes - Brixton Academy, late 80s?
27 Pere Ubu - ICA London, late 80s
28 The Pixies - Kilburn National Ballroom, 1988?
29 The Rockingbirds - somewhere near Mornington Crescent, early 90s
30 The Velvet Underground - Town Country Club/Forum, 1993 (bit disappointing)
31 The Kinks - Clapham Grand, early 90s (fantastic gig)
32 Jerry Lee Lewis - The Forum, mid 90s
33 Bo Diddley – London 100 Club, early 80s
34 The Seeds - Borderline, London, 2001
35 Madeleine Peyroux - Bush Hall, London, 2004/5?
36 Cat Power - Union Chapel, London, early-mid 2000s
37 The Residents - Hammersmith Odeon, mid-80s
38 Laura Cantrell - Borderline, early 2000s
39 Tift Merrit - orderline, early 2000s
40 Bjork - London Palladium, late 90s/early 2000s
41 Brian Wilson (Smile) - RFH London, mid 2000s
42 Love - RFH London, mid 2000s
43 Broadcast - Scala, London, mid 2000s
44 Young Marble Giants - Hay On Wye, 2007
45 Caetano Veloso - Barbican, mid 2000s
46 Effi Briest - Barfly, London 2008
47 Francoiz Breut - Spitz, London, mid 2000s
48 Tuxedomoon - QEH London, 2008
49 Marissa Nadler - London Luminaire, 2009
50 St Vincent/Blue Roses - ICA London, 2009

I'm sure I've missed out whole swathes of gig-going, but that's how they occurred to me.

1. The Spinners, Colston Hall, Mid 70s aged about 5.
2. Dr Hook, Colston Hall, maybe 77? I was a bit young for punk
3. Texas, The Studio, Bristol (1986?)(Don't look for it, it's not there anymore, etc) - Worthy but dull. Walked early.
5. Er. Radio One DJ Mike Read's band. Did a nice cover of Eton Rifles.
6. Pink Floyd, Wembley Stadium. (1986) Hugely exciting to the 16 year old me, and surprisingly wonderful sound
7. Kitchens of Distinction - Bristol Beerkeller. Low ceilings, tall lead singer.
8. The Darling Buds Beerkeller again. Very hot and sweaty. Leading singer's dress eventually so saturated that her "Darling Buds" became clearly visible, thus turbo charging my teenage hormones
9. Dogs D'Amor. Possibly Redcar? Fronted by a singing muppet. Somebody stage dived onto my head, breaking my Richard Baker glasses. I was possibly the uncoolest person in the room
10. Hawkwind. Redcar Bowl. Very loud. Lady singer was wrapped up like a mummy during one number. Bizarrely, she used to teach at my old school. Pretty enjoyable gig, actually
11. Del Amitri - Middlesbrough Town Hall - Excellent live band.
12. The Black Crowes, somewhere in Sheffield. Painfully loud and interrupted with microphone feedback.
13. Jethro Tull, Newcastle. I know I was there, but I can remember more about seeing the Spinners aged 5 - I literally have no memory of this gig other than going to the pub afterward, and I say that as a fan. Odd.
14. Robert Plant, Newcastle City Hall. Manic Nirvana tour - Planty played a blinding guitar solo for one number which surprised me hugely.
15. Richard Thompson - started to See RT around this period. He's never disappointed.
16. Levellers in Pavillion in Bath - Pretty good, I seem to recall. Boisterous crusty crowd, just as you'd expect.
17. Australian Pink Floyd, small venue, few lights. Excellent. Played "Sheep"
18. Christine Collister - Pavillion in Bath.
19. Pink Floyd at Wembley Arena. Do "Sheep"! Oh, alright, don't.
20. Del Amitri at Colston Hall. Never sit upstairs towards the corner. Awful sound.
21. Bootleg Beatles - Tour with Orchestra, excellent. Probably better than the real thing.
22. Tori Amos (1989) - First UK tour, above a nightclub in Middlesbrough. Possibly the most intimate and thrilling gig I've been to, with maybe 200 in the audience. She also bumped into me whilst fleeing the stage down the common staircase.
23. Shooglenifty (sic?) - Something accordian-driven, anyway - Fleece in Bristol
24. Page and Plant at Wembley Arena. Holding my breath to see if Pagey would fuck up the heartbreaker solo.
25. I'm not going to mention all the RT gigs, though this one was supported by a zither-wielding American lady who made the most horrendous noise I've ever heard on stage, and was greeted with polite bafflement.
26. Maria Mckee St Bon's, Bristol. Full, nay crammed, to a capacity of about 80. The best pub gig ever. Boy can she sing. bumped into her at Bristol airport the next day as she wheeled her gear off to the next destination.
27. KatyDids

- Great band, and very creative guitarist - he ended up playing in the Pretenders.
28. Kirsty McColl - Fleece in Bristol. Giving it her all, a wonderful gig, and very close to her tragic end.
29. Indigo Girls - The chonology is all out now, as this was in 89. Touring the "Swamp Ophelia" album. Victoria Rooms, Bristol. I think my friend and I were the only men in the place. Stood behine a T-shirt stating "Lesbians are leaders. You're following one". Gail Ann Dorsey on bass and backing vocals, plus lead on a version of "Midnight Train to Georgia" which made my armhairs rise.
30. All About Eve Fleece in Bristol. Played all the hits, and appeared to enjoy themselves immensely. Good night.
31. Maria McKee Back at St Bon's only this time with a band. Noisier and wonderful. Refused to play "Show me Heaven" claiming she couldn't remember it.
32. Indigo Girls Again. Bristol. Wonderful harmony singing.
33. Australian Pink Floyd Many years after my first experience - now they have the original films, a rather good light show, and also a non permanent band member who could uncannily mimic both David and Roger. Wife opted for earplugs as it was painfully loud.
34. Sarah McLaughlin St David's Hall, Cardiff. Didn't want to go to this one. Glad I did. Surprisingly awesome. Great singer and nothing like as fey as I'd feared.
35. Rose Royce Butlins, Minehead - Having an ironic holiday. They did the hits and refused to come back for an encore when the announcer said - "Who wants to hear more from Rolls Royce?" I felt decidedly under-tatooed at this venue. Also saw Baccara
36. Julianne Regan and Marty Piper Wilson Bath College of Higher Education Gym. Bizarre venue. Wonderful gig. Again, they seemed to enjoy it as much as we all did and it was very informal.
37. Tears for Fears last month, Portland Zoo. See my profile for review. likewise Indigo Girls again.

And that's about it. Additional Del Amitri and RT gigs aside, I'm sure there have been more but...

1 Traffic @ Liverpool Stadium - 1st gig,
2 Leon Russell / Freddie King - Liverpool Empire - Freddie was the support but he blew Leon away
3 Free - Liverpool Stadium - The only time i saw them but what a memory
4 Bad Company - Liverpool Stadium - They hadn't released a record but on reputation alone they sold it out
5 Paul Kossoff - Birmingham Town Hall - He was pissed and it probably wan't very good but so were we and we loved it
6 Roy Harper - Birmingham Town Hall - The first time of many. First night of the HQ tour
7 Jess Roden - Birmingham Town Hall - side 2 of the live album was recorded at this gig
8 Randy Newman - Birmingham Town Hall - First of many gigs - promoting Little Criminals
9 - Roy Harper Royal Festival Hall - 60th birthday gig. Excellent night
10 - Randy Newman - Royal Festival Hall - Notable for his back up band - the London Symphony Orchestra.
11 - Eric Clapton - Manchester Free Trade Hall - I won tickets in the Melody Maker and Van Morrison joined him on stage
12 - Curtis Mayfield - Town & Country Club, Kentish Town. Only about 100 people in the audience but Curtis didn't care. He was superb.
13 - Bobby Womack - Town & Country Club, Kentish Town. Did everything you'd want him to do.
14 - Southside Johnny & Asbury Jukes - Town & Country Club, Kentish Town. Loose but tight despite SJ's flu.
15 - Green On Red - LSE - First time I saw them. Tiny audience, great gig.
16 - Wah! - ULU - Wylie in his pomp.
17 - Counting Crows - ULU - Don't know how they managed to book the Crows, as they were already big.
18 - The Jayhawks - The Barbican. I thought they'd be massive, but this was as big as they got over here
19 - Eileen Rose - The Borderline - Saw her supporting the Jayhawks and went to see her headlining. Jampacked, damn hot and superb gig.
20 - Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart - The Borderline - Another hot night, another great night
21 - Steve Earle - Hammersmith Odeon - When he sang Sweet Virginia with Allison Moorer you knew her then marriage was on the rocks.
22 John Martyn - Shaw Theatre - One of many JM gigs, but this was probably the best.
23 - Shawn Colvin - a club in the West End - Supporting A Few Small Repairs she came on late but the gig was so good we forgave her.
24 - The Church - Town & Country Club, Kentish Town. Surprisingly the loudest gig I've ever been to.
25 Emmylou Harris - Shepherd's Bush Empire - In my stupidity I'd ignored Emmylou for 20 years. This just confirmed how dumb I'd been.
26 Jackson Browne - Royal Albert Hall - The GLW got me to go after ignoring him for 20 years. Turns out she was right.
27 - Ella Fitzgerald - Royal Albert Hall - my first gig at RAH. Pretty good, but underpowered PA nearly spoiled it.
28 - Elvis Costello - Royal Albert Hall - one of many Elvis gigs, but this one on the Spike tour was one of the best.
29 - Lucinda Williams - House of Blues, New Orleans - we went on a tour of the Deep South and Lu was playing what was in effect her home town gig
30 - Ronnie Lane - Birmingham Town Hall - Just great fun.
31 - John Cale - Birmingham Repertory Theatre - Cale dismembered a shop window dummy with an axe and performed cunnilingus on the torso
32 - Julian Cope - Lyric Hammersmith - we went because we always go to see Cope. He blew us away
33 - Ryan Adams - Shepherd's Bush Empire - This is reckoned to be one of Ryan's great gigs. I was happy to be there.
34 - Paul Brady - Town & Country Club, Kentish Town. the first gig I went to with the future Mrs P. We never miss him.
35 - Delbert McClinton - the Garage Islington. Superb american country blues from a man who should have been in a venue 20 times bigger
36 - The Icicle Works - Town & Country Club, Kentish Town. I went with my brother and could see exactly why he was a fan.
37 - Big Daddy Kinsey and the Kinsey Report - Superb blues from a band way down at the bottom of a long bill supporting Albert Collins. Noone else had a chance after Big Daddy.
38 - The Who - Bingley Hall Stafford. Harvey Goldsmith thought this venue was a winner. it wasn't, it was a shithole. However the Who banished those moans for 90 minutes.
39 - Rory Gallagher - Liverpool Stadium - Got pretty drunk. I thought he was great and was told that indeed he was.
40 Neil Young - Wembley Arena - On the Trans tour. I thought it was wonderful.
41 - George Melly with John Chilton's Feetwarmers - Birmingham University Guild of Students - Dragged my unwilling girlfriend along. She was converted.
42 - Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Reading Festival - I didn't know what to expect. I was pummelled into submission and arose a convert
43 - Chris Knight - The Ents Shed Bedford. His plane got delayed by snow so he missed his Borderline gig. It was worth the journey.
44 - Tift Merritt - Radcliffe Centre, Bucks. her London gig sold out in no time. It was worth the journey.
45 - Chuck Prophet - The Borderline - One of many CP gigs, but this night he came out and for half an hour played one of the most brilliantly intense sets I've seen. The rest was just good.
46 - Kim Richey - First gig we went to at the Borderline. She was great and we've been back many times.
47 - Blue Rodeo - the Borderline - Canada's finest. We were probably the only Brits in the audience. They are simply great.
48 - Crosby Stills and Nash - Royal Albert Hall - We worried they might be past their best, but they very really good.
49 - Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell - The Borderline. the GLW says this was one of the finest gigs she's ever seen. I enoyed them too.
50 - Thin Lizzy - Birmingham Odeon. On the Bad Reputation tour. Phil in his pomp. Gorham and Robertson were incendiary.

1977 - Thin Lizzy, Bristol Colston Hall - first one!
1979 - Blondie - Bham Odeon - Parallel Lines Tour
1979 - The Vapors & The Beat - my first night at Uni
1979/ 80 - Various - UB40 - Warwick Uni - freebie nights
1979 - Coventry Tiffanys - Pretenders supported by UB40
1980 - Coventry Tiffanys - The Clash
1980 - Magazine - Bham Digbeth Hall
Xmas 1980 - NEC - Squeeze, Dave Edmunds, The Selecter, UB40, Elvis Costello & Madness
1981? - Ramones - Bham Odeon
1981? - Stiff Little Fingers - Bham Odeon
1981? - The Skids - Bham Odeon
1981 - U2 - Warwick Uni
1982/ - The Cure - Bham Odeon
1982 - The Jam - somewhere in the Midlands!
1985? - Gil Scott-Heron - Camden Town & Country
1986? - St Patricks Day - The Pogues - Camden Town & Country
1986? - Go-Betweens - some small club in Croydon!
199? - Jools Holland - Cheltenham Town Hall!
last weekend - David Byrne - Big Chill - never got to see Talking Heads so this made up for it!

Got a bit carried away and have had loads of fun typing out the list, got to 50 and kept going but Strange things happened. I missed out some of my favourite gigs in the first 50. Then I went through other people's list and added more bands - the fun just kept coming.

But then I found there are a number of artists I am not sure if I ever saw at all, I just think I did? They may have been support for someone or I just didn't see them! Is this the first sign of dimentia? Maybe it could be another post: Bands I think I might have seen, but can't remember. I submit:
Southern Death Cult - possibly at the Hammersmith Palas?
Terrence Trent Darby - The Limelight or Wagg Club? (think I might have seen him twice!!!)
Chakka Demus and Pliers - Brixon or somewhere smaller?
Long Ryders - Town and Country Club or Mean Fiddler?
I just don't know.

1. The Werewolf Muskets (The Camden Tandem): Hair styled in a tornado; berserk Little Richard cover versions; overly fond of getting their cocks out onstage.

2. Gull Mirror (The Bracken Arms, Danbury): After the show, their new drummer Andy told me that he gets his unique sound by curing his skins in vats of Guinness.

3. Nell Bluet (The Tin Inn, Braintree): What had Gallic, 1960s child star, Nell Bluet, been up to during the intervening three decades? Apparently she had been writing a lot of songs about dogs.

4. Granitic Slug (The Brackern Arms, Danbury): Monolithic Prog Rock. Even the Hammond organ appeared to be wearing a velvet cloak.

5. Port Gutty (The Railway Tavern, Southend): Fabulous Ska band from Tooting. Sadly Mr Gutty passed away last year from leukaemia.

6. Inlay (The London Science Museum): Like Joy Division on downers and with less words. The encore - ’Drizzle’, made an interminable 50 minutes feel like the entire Proterozoic era.

7. The Lazy Bills (Piper’s): Bass player and lyricist, Sarah Blenheim’s, farewell show before she took holy orders and joined a convent.

8. The Steeple Peels (Piper’s): On the same evening as The Lazy Bills. Hand bell ringing / choral group from Canada. The tolerable face of Christian folk music.

9. Tors of Punk (Chalkwell Park Tearooms): Cornish post-rock quartet, incorporating three bass players and a drummer. I nodded along and pretended to be into it. Privately I wondered when they were going to stop practising scales and play an actual tune.

10. The Begging Ring (Piper’s): Everyone in the audience seemed to be waving novels in the air in time to the songs. Among them I noticed many copies of The Bell Jar, including a couple of 1st editions. I didn’t have a book with me so I waved my copy of the London A-Z.

11. Bad Nepenthes (The Barbican): One of many overwrought goth cabaret acts I have seen over the years, all of which seem to be fronted by borderline-hysterical, drama students called Amanda.

12. The Tipping Pours (Piper’s): All the way from Glendale, CA. A surf rock group in the thrall of The B52s . Dressed like a 1950s American nuclear family.

13. Welsher (The Cardiff Lion): Famously refused to play live, or distribute their records outside Wales. The Red Dragon flag was very much in evidence. Loud, intense and actually rather good.

14. Baa Row Tot (Hyde Park 2): Ghastly fake world music group. Members claimed diverse geographical origins but all originated from the same street theatre school in Highgate. Played a reggaefied version of the Captain Planet theme music.

15. The Stormy Mittens (The Sun Rooms): The band were in the midst of an identity crisis. Singer, Brian informed us that if we really loved music we would be at home listening to Marvin Gaye.

16. Penitence Reconvene (Lockwells Brewery, Chalk Farm): Known as Penitence in the US, but renamed to avoid confusion with UK Christian rock act. Claimed to be vampires. Played unremarkable black metal. Guitarist Jason Nowe was later forced to give up his nocturnal lifestyle after he was jailed in Florida on a DUI charge.

17. Jenny’s Gown (The Sun Rooms): Lots of songs about unrequited love, all with girls names as the titles. Good in small doses, then a bit samey, then a bit creepy.

18. The Fourteenths (Chalkwell Park Tearooms): Covered Toploader’s - Achilles Heel. Unforgivable and, unfortunately, unforgettable.

19. Knitted Owl (Watford Flyover Club): Who was behind the warped techo of Knitted Owl? The NME thought it was the Aphex Twin, which possibly accounted for the large audience. It turned out to be a bloke from Sidcup with a laptop that kept crashing.

20. Breakaway (Chalk Farm Cottage): Britpop’s great white funk hopes. Copious slap bass and energetic dancing were unable to dispel the reality that outside it was a wet Wednesday evening in Camden.

21. Whiner (Shoreditch aRt sPacE): Named as kings of the ‘Newmo’ scene by the NME, who granted them cover star status during a slow news week. During the set a member of the audience asked me if I wanted anything from “Pharmaceutical Dave?” I declined.

22. The Hope Calendar (Piper’s): Enjoyed a flourish of popularity after they were briefly taken under the wing of David Bowie. The merchandise stall sold Hope Calendar Hope Calendars.

23. Ringgit (The Vauxhall Arms): I raised my hands in the air and waved them around like I just didn’t care. Then my arms got tired so I stopped.

24. Mouth Pin (The Go Show): Bizarre booking for an outdoor show advertising business opportunities in Essex. Part Rage Against the Machine rap rock / part lecture on the evils of Thatcherism. Earlier in the day I failed the Pepsi Challenge.

25. Mainmast (Leigh-on-Sea Regatta): Stalwarts of Essex delta blues. Played on the flatbed of a lorry, with a portable generator roaring away in the background. Between songs, lead singer, Tony Baitman recalled the time in the early 1960s when the band opened for a little known act called The Rolling Stones.

1.Tony Adams & The Viceroys - Easingwold Town Hall, North Yorkshire, 1964 (York’s top group, who went on to become The Smoke of ‘My Friend Jack’ 'fame'. My first gig)
2.Daryl Hall & John Oates – Aston Villa Leisure Centre 1991 (Best atmosphere at a gig ever. Basically a stand-up gig, that turned into a school dance)
3.Procul Harum – Tinned Chicken Club, New Earswick Folk Hall, North Yorkshire, 1967 (Whiter Shade Of Pale had just gone to No 1 – Promoter cleaned up)
4.Sam & Dave – Leeds Rolarena, 1968 (The Atlantic Records tour that followed the more famous Otis Redding one. Also on bill Joe Tex & Clarence Carter)
5.Bruce Springsteen – Villa Park, 1987 (First time I’d seen him. Cried my eyes out midway through The River)
6.Fleet Foxes – Wolverhampton Civic Hall, 2009 (They were late on stage and took an age to get started, but magical once they did. Michael Jackson died that night)
7.Michael Jackson – Wembley Stadium, 1993 (Dave’s first gig. Great show, made more memorable by Geraldine mistaking Jo Whiley for 80’s popster Marilyn)
8.Rolling Stones – Knebworth 1976 (Also on bill 10cc and Lynryd Skynryd. Spent all night wandering around the car park. ‘If you can roll your own chapatti, you’ve cracked it')
9.Rolling Stones – Cardiff International Stadium 2007 (Grip & grin beforehand plus front row seats, making it possible to hear band conversations between and during songs)
10.Coldplay – Ronnie Scott’s Birmingham 2000 (The night before Parachutes was released. About 100 people in audience)
11.Bob Marley – Stafford Showground 1978 (Strangest venue ever, but an absolute magical night. Took my ex-girlfriend’s sister)
12.King Crimson – York University 1969 (Epic mellotron performance of Mars from the Planets Suite, which the Holtz estate banned from being released on vinyl)
13.Grateful Dead – Empire Pool Wembley 1972 (Dark Star went on forever. Wore my very smelly afghan coat)
14.Stevie Wonder – Empire Pool Wembley 1980 (Flew with Laker Airlines the following day to LA for the very first time)
15.Elton John – York University Summer Ball 1970 (I blagged it in as a roadie. Took Elton a drink onstage midway through his set)
16.Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Phoenix Festival, Stratford Upon Avon 1996 (Shame this festival didn’t survive, it was right on my doorstep)
17.Madonna – Brixton Academy 2000 (Record Company showcase for Music album)
18.Isle Of Wight 1970 (Seen the movie, got the T shirt)
19.Sharleen Spiteri – Symphony Hall, Birmingham 2008 (My god, she’s got stage presence – fabulous show at the UK’s most beautiful venue)
20.Robbie Williams – Albert Hall 2001 (The Swing When You’re Winning Event – you can see my hair on the DVD when Rupert Everett is doing the intros)
21.Paul McCartney – NEC 1992 (First time I’d ever seen a Beatle on stage)
22.Grandaddy – Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall 2003 (Support act was Snow Patrol who were equally excellent)
23.Caravan – York University 1971 (I was the support act playing the tunes on my stereo)
24.Beach Boys – Wembley Stadium 1975 (Gave the Watford boy a good kicking)
25.Split Enz – Scunthorpe Tiffany’s 1977 (Great music, great make-up)
26.Bob Dylan – Blackbushe 1978 (The Picnic with Eric Clapton & Joan Armatrading)
27.Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours – St George’s Cinema, York 1966 (Standing in for The Who !!)
28.Damien Rice – Wolverhampton Civic Hall 2007 (What a surprise – a rock show. Got a speeding ticket on the way home)
29.Thin Lizzy – Hypnotique Club, York 1973 (Phil Lynott, what a front man)
30.Peter Gabriel – NEC, Birmingham 1993 (Most original concert staging I’ve ever seen)
31.Jewel – Studio 4, 100.7 Heart fm, Birmingham 1997(Audience of just Producer Fishy, me and someone from Warners. Gorgeous in every way)
32.Emmylou Harris – Jazz Café, London 1995 (Wonderful voice, her mum was there that night)
33.Kid Creole & The Coconuts – Odeon, Birmingham 1982 (They were over an hour late going onstage, due to a city centre cycle race, but a great show nonetheless)
34.Roxy Music - Crystal Palace Bowl 1972 (5th on the bill, but the stars of the show, together with 4th on the bill Stone The Crows)
35.Sheryl Crow – Shepherd’s Bush, Empire 1996 (Her squeeze-at-the-time, Eric Clapton joined her)
36.Bon Jovi – Milton Keynes Bowl 1996 (Had my 15 minutes in the on-stage viewing area)
37.David Bowie – Top Rank Suite, Sheffield 1972 (Just before the full launch of Ziggy)
38.Harry Chapin – Sheffield City Hall 1977 (Locked my keys in the car outside the gig)
39.Can – Leeds University (or Polytechnic) 1972 (Sure I enjoyed it, nowadays not sure why)
40.Brian Wilson ‘Smile’ – Festival Hall 2005 (I loved every random moment, Geraldine aghast)
41.The Killers – NEC, Birmingham 2007 (What a showman, what a show)
42.Love with Arthur Lee – Robin 2, Bilston 2004 (Robert Plant seen standing at the bar)
43.Al Stewart – York University, 1969 (Introduced by John Peel as Bob Miller & The Millermen)
44.Arlo Guthrie – Rhythm Festival, Bedford 2006 (Scene of a Midsomer Murder)
45.Manhattan Transfer – California Ballroom, Dunstable 1977 (Class)
46.U2 – NEC, Birmingham 2001 (Elevation tour – 1st time I’d seen them. Still not sure)
47.Prince – Neptune Theatre, London 1999 (Afternoon album launch, he blew the house down)
48.Mike Oldfield – Horse Guards Parade, London 1998 (Got soaked to the skin)
49.Mott The Hoople – Redcar Jazz Club 1970 (Platform boots to the fore)
50.Deaf School – The Garage, London Sept 2009 (Can’t Wait)

1. Talking Heads - 1979, Hammersmith Palais, Fear of Music tour.
2. The Slits - 1979, New Theatre, Oxford.
3. Kid Creole and The Coconuts, Oxford, ‘80s.
4. Adam and the Ants, Oxford 1981?
5. Morrissey, Oxford, 2006? ROTT tour.
6. Alison Moyet, Oxford ‘80s. All Cried Out era.
7. Communards, Oxford, we all stood for Don’t Leave Me This Way. ‘80s.
8. Supergrass, 1993?, Oxford, Hollybush pub Osney Mead, before first album.
9. Oasis, Earls Court 1995, Morning Glory tour.
10. Radiohead - Brixton Academy 1997 or 8? OK Computer tour.
11. Iggy Pop - Brixton Academy 1985? Blah Blah Blah tour.
12. REM, Twickenham 2007?
13. Ian McCullough, Newcastle Riverside 1990? Candleland tour.
14. David Byrne, Newcastle theatre, ‘90s, Rei Momo tour.
15. Van Morrison, Newcastle, early ‘90s. He did some old – on form this time.
16. John Martyn, Oxford New Theatre, ‘80s.
17. Doves, Oxford Academy 2008.
18. Eels, London Astoria mid nineties.
19. The Amps, London Astoria. Kim Deal vehicle.
20. Alice Cooper, few years ago, Peace and Love festival Sweden.
21. Mano Chao, as above.
22. Misty in Roots, Newcastle university, early ‘90s.
23. Roky Erikson, Peace and Love festival Sweden, I have attended this festival 3 years running, it’s just down the road from the in-laws.
24. Chuck Prophet, late eighties/early 90s, Borderline, London.
25. Editors, Birmingham NEC arena, couple of years ago.
26. Waterboys, Peace and Love, Sweden.
27. Martha Wainwright, Oxford Town Hall, couple of years ago. Also Angus and Julia.
28. Sons and Daughters, Birmingham with Editors.
29. Keane, Sweden festival 2009.
30. Guillemots, Twickenham, with REM.
31. Idlewild, Hyde Park when REM played.
32. Radiohead, south park, Oxford.
33. Beck, as above.
34. Loudon Wainwright III, Oxford New Theatre, late seventies.
35. Eddie Tenpole, pub in Peckham, nineties. And after in someone’s kitchen.
36. The Young Ones (Rik Mayall etc. – also with Rik as Kevin Turvey) ‘80s.
37. Morecambe and Wise, 197?, Oxford New Theatre.

Not actually been to as many as 50 gigs, unless you include acts at festivals, I could have added more of these. I may have broken the rules with some of those included. So why did I bother? Seemed like an enjoyable exercise I suppose. This is from memory. My dates are vague. I have trouble with dates generally. Hope this is of interest to someone out there.

1. Toyah Wilcox, Leicester De Monftord Hall. My first gig. She briefly held my hand.
2. Consolidated, Espace Ornano, Paris. Best gig I've been to.
3. Smashing Pumpkins, Stockholm Skansen Gardens. So cold the band played in gloves
4. Radiohead, Eve's Club, London. Only type I've ever been to an "industy" gig where no-one ruined it by yakking.
5. Metallica, 100 Club, London The new bass player, Jason Newsted, fainted.
6. Guns N' Roses, Marquee Club, London. They released a recording of Knocking On Heaven's Door from the show as a b-side to Mr Brownstone. I can be heard screaming during the quiet bits.
7. Goran Bregovic, Guca Festival, Serbia. 200,000 drunken Serbs going nuts.
8. Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra, London Barbican. Best recent gig, by a country mile.
9. Butthole Surfers, London Clarendon. The Shamen supported, before they were a dance band.
10. Page & Plant, London ULU. Gig for Canadian competition winners, who'd been flown in for the show.
11. Motley Crue, Hammersmith Odeon, London. I clumsily tried to chat up page three girl Suzanne Mizzi.
12. Georgia Satellites, Town & Country Club, London. Lemmy stole my date.
13. Queen at Knebworth. Didn't realise until this year that it was their last ever show.
14. Thin Lizzy at The Reading Festival. Another last ever gig.
15. The Cure, Radio City Music Hall, New York. Got so bored I left the venue and went for a meal. When I returned two hours later, they were still playing. The following night they were brilliant in the same venue.
16. Ray Charles, Royal Festival Hall, London. He was drunk.
17. Rick Astley, NEC, Birmingham. I worked at the gig, giving away free 7" singles of the support act to excitable young girls.
18. Hawkwind & Vera Lynn, Crystal Palace Bowl, London. They actually appeared onstage at the same time.
19. The Damned, Derngate Centre, Northampton. Rats thrown about the audience, the band walked, police stomed the building.
20. World Domination Enterprises, LSE, London. Actually spent the show with my head in the bass bin.
21. Mogwai, Shepherd's Bush Empire, London. Awoke the next morning in the bed of an Amazonian blonde from Kazakhstan.
22. Townes Van Zandt, Union Chapel, London. He told a joke about penguins.
23. Celibate Rifles, Fulham Greyhound. London. Hottest gig I'vew ever attended. Lots of fainting.
24. Savage Republic, same venue, supported by The Young Gods. In the top five.
25. David Bowie, Wembley Stadium. Glass Spider Tour. Worst. Gig. Ever.
26. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Shepherd's Bush Empire, London. Second. Worst. Gig. Ever.
27. Bjorn Again, Subterrania, London. Their debut UK show. Camptastic.
28. The Family Cat, The Garage, London. I appeared onstage during the encore, dressed as Santa and singing Big Star's Jesus Christ
29. Steve Marriott, Five Bells pub, Northampton. I drunkenly leapt onstage and sang - uninvited this time - for the encore, All Or Nothing
30. Gary Glitter, Northamptonshire Cricket Club. He arrived by train and taxi, the band in a transit. This was post-success, pre-trouble era Glitter.
31. Status Quo, Leicester De Montford Hall. End Of The Road Tour, 1983. A quarter of a century later, and they're still playing.
32. Wu Tang Clan, Astoria, London. Terrible, terrible gig. They simply couldn't be bothered.
33. Run DMC/Beastie Boys, Brixton Academy, London. Showing how good rap gigs can be.
34. Unknown folk group, Elstei Ger, Mongolia. Dulcimer, horse-head-violin and throat singing, outside on the steppe as the sun set.
35. Motorhead, Hammersmith Odeon. 10th anniversary show. Phil Lynott and Samantha Fox appeared onstage with the band.
36. Hanoi Rocks, Marquee, London. On numerous occasions.
37. Elliott Smith, The Roxy, Los Angeles. Michael Stipe & Courtney Love sat at the next table. Afterwards, I saw Elliott sing Cat Stevens 'Matthew & Son' in a karaoke bar.
38. Oasis, Knebworth Park. I sat in an empty field on the day before the two shows and watched the full production rehearsal. At the end I clapped, and Noel thanked me.
39. Spiritualized, Royal Albert Hall. I don't mind admitting that I was completely off my nut. It helped.
40. Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, Brixton Academy. I worked security, collecting crowed surfers as they tipped into the photographer's pit. The most physical work I've ever done, collecting 12 stone of live, kicking person every 15 seconds, for two hours.
41. Bob Dylan, Roundhouse, London. Rubbish.
42. Spice Girls, Wembley Arena. Brilliant.
43. The Happy Flowers & Bitch Magnet, Powerhaus, London. Ultimate 80's noise-fest.
44. The Swans, Town & County Club, London. So loud people were being sick.
45. Manic St Preachers, Polytechnic of Central Wales. Months before they were signed. They were awful.
46. Underworld, Reading Festival. Just after 'Born Slippy' was a hit. Lift-off achieved.
47. Cud, ULU. I'm in the video for 'Magic' filmed at the show.
48. David Kilgour in a record shop in Auckland, New Zealand. Spellbinding stuff.
49. Gogol Bordello, New Year's Eve, Terminal 5, New York. Chaos. They celebrated midnight two minutes early.
50. Goran Bregovic, Barbican, London - last gig I went to.

Almost chronological:

1. Dire Straits, Newcastle 1980. Red guitars and unbelievably loud drums.
2. Sky, Newcastle 1981. Yes, that 'rock' band with classical guitiarist John Williams. All I can say is that it was not my idea to go.
3. Michael Schenker Group (at least twice), Newcastle early '80s. A mad axeman even then
4. UFO (at least twice), Newcastle early 80's. Loud. Stupid trousers.
5. Gillan, Newcastle early '80's. Loud. Long hair.
6. Marillion, 3 f*cking times, Newcastle early '80's. Don't ask me why.
7. Gary Moore (at least twice), Newcastle early 80's. Loud.
8. BB King (twice - '83 and '85), Newcastle. First time I was 3 rows from the front in the middle. Heart-stoppingly good. His bass player grinned at me all through his solo.
9. Def Leppard, early '80's, Newcastle. Meh.
10. Eric Clapton, Newcastle, 1983 Money and Cigarettes tour. He wore a very well cut brown leather suit which I coveted for some time afterwards until I saw sense.
11. Thin Lizzy, 1983, Newcastle. On their farewell tour. Phil Lynott looked huge.
12. Level 42, 1984 Newcastle. It was all bass as I recall. Which is no bad thing but after an hour my head was filled with cotton wool.
13. Chris Rea, 1985, Newcastle. I told friends I went because he played slide like Ry Cooder (which he does) but I secretly liked Stainsby Girls as well.
14. Dr Feelgood. Newcastle 1987. The day after, I boarded a National Express coach for a life in London.
15. The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Town and Country Club, 1987, four days after the above.
16. Nine Below Zero, Town and Country Club, 1989. Superb version of 'Just a Little Bit' which I haven't forgotten
17. Dr John (at least 3 times) London since 1991. He walks on gilded splinters.
18. Ry Cooder/David Lindley, Hammersmith Odeon, 1991. Brilliant. He introduced 'The Very Thing that Makes You Rich' as a 'chinese blues'
19. Robert Cray, Hammersmith Odeon 1992. Soul.
20. John Lee Hooker, Hammersmith Odeon, '90's One chord. But the right one.
21. Van Morrison, Albert Hall. His guitar player wigged out massively on his solo to absolutely no response from the audience or Van.
22. Status Quo ,(twice in the '90's) London. Didn't play much old and 'Burning Bridges' featured heavily both times. Having said that they took no prisoners.
23. Richard Thompson (many times since 1991). A lovely man who should feature more in this blog.
24. JJ Cale, 1994, Hammersmith Odeon. My best gig. 'Call Me The Breeze' was a joy. His squeeze, Christine Lakeland, stunned everyone with a brilliant rendition of a song I think called 'Black Cat'
25. Little Village 1993 or 4, Hammersmith Odeon, Bill Oddie was there as well.
26. Mark Knopfler on all his solo tours since the late '90's, London. Red guitars again. Drums less loud now. Fantastic way with a lyric and a melody, that man.
27. Deep Purple, late '90's, Hammersmith Odeon. Right at the back in the Gods but the bass volume pinned me to the wall.
28. Jeff Beck, Festival Hall, , late'90's. Vast noise. Some twat in the audience heckled guests The White Stripes with shouts of 'You're not worthy - get off the stage!'
29. Buddy Guy (twice), London. The last time was my second best gig ever at the Festival Hall. He spent the bulk of the of the performance in what amounted to a conversation with the audience intermittently playing segments of songs. But what songs and what a delivery. The funkiest man alive.
30. Motorhead, 1998, London. The Loudest Noise Ever. Their support were mightily pissed off with the crowd and told us all to fuck off. Well,really!
31. Bert Jansch, Festival Hall on his 60th birthday. Was one of the three fools who started the 'Happy Birthday' sing-song. Very embarrased. Saw a Mr Mark Ellen in the bar. He's very tall. He probably knows this already.
32. The Hamsters (well known blues rock trio playing a pub near you as we speak). Countless times since 1998.
33. Fairport Convention, 2007, Maidenhead. Only 2 of them turned up because of a diary mix up. They stood at the door of the gig and offered anyone that wanted it their money back. No-one took it so the two of them got up and strummed brilliantly for 2 hours.

1. Muse, Cambridge Corn Exchange. First gig (I started late) didn't think much of 'em.
2. The Wildhearts, The Junction. Rock n roll! sweaty and great.
3. The Prodigy, Reading. First headliner of many years of Reading Festival.
4. Radiohead, Wolverhampton Civic. Passed out from smoking something 'funny'.
5. TV on the Radio, Brixton Academy. Venue too big for them.
6. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Troxy. Always incredible.
7. Neil Young, Hammersmith Apollo. Front row, the most incredible gig I could ever imagine.
8. Flaming Lips, Brighton Dome. Big hands, santa claus.
9. Dillinger Escape Plan, Concorde 2. Wonderfully brutal, ears ringing for weeks.
10. Fleet Foxes, Junction. Aaaahh.
11. Sigur Ros, Latitude 08. Smell of putrid bogs in the air.
12. Bruce Springsteen, Emirates. Too quiet, very drunk, lots on dancing in the dark.
13. Tom Waits, Rat Cellar. Barking mad, genius.
14. Bloc Party, Corn Exchange. Meh..
15. Racontuers, Hammersmith Apollo. Surprisingly good.
16. Mogwai, Junction. So loud I felt sick.
17. Oasis, Milton Keynes Bowl. Drunken singing, iffy Who covers.
18. Deftones, Koko. Refreshing reminder of my nu-metal roots.
19. Nick Cave solo, Corn Exchange. Better with Seeds.
20. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Brixton. Abattoir Blues tour. Never been better.
21. We Are Scientists, Portland Arms. funny guys, catchy tunes.
22. Leonard Cohen, The O2. Just the wrong side of intimacy.
23. Thom Yorke, Latitude 09. True Love Waits. What else can I say?
24. Public Enemy, The Forum. 20 years too late.
25. Guillemots, Fopp Cambridge. Tiny shop, packed to the rafters.
26. Robbie Williams, Knebworth. No I'm not proud.
27. U2, Twickenham. Started and ended on Vertigo, poor form.
28. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, All Tomorrows Parties. Great fun, wildly underrated.
29. Pixies, Reading (forget the year). Not nearly busy enough.
30. Prince, The O2. With special guest star Elton John.
31. REM, Twickenham. With special guest stars The Guillemots...ahem.
32. Hell is for Heroes, Junction. Getting bored now..
Festival back up!
33. The National, Glastonbury.
34. The Cribs, Glastonbury and Reading.
35. Wild Beasts, Latitude x2 and Field Day.
36. Final Fantasy, Field Day.
37. Green Day, Reading.
38. The Who, Glastonbury.
39. Bjork, Glastonbury.
40. Iggy and the Stooges, Glastonbury and Reading.
41. Queens of the Stone Age, Reading.
42. Libertines, Reading.
43. Babyshambles, Reading.
44. Shlomo, Glastonbury and Latitude.
45. Joanna Newsom, Latitude.
46. Grinderman, Latitude.
47. Dinosaur Jr., ATP.
48. Mclusky, Reading.
49. The Specials, Glastonbury.
50. Hold Steady, Glastonbury and Reading.

but off the top of my head here are 50 bands I have seen and some random thoughts:-

Deep Purple (1970?) - first gig, hooked on the strobes and Blackmores guitar smashing antics
Free - Same year - brilliant - their back catalogue was small so played alright now twice
Captain Beefheart/Foghat - Foghat were huge in USA for some reason
Gentle Giant twice - awesome
Greenslade
Camel
ELP - under duress at Wembley Empire - awful
Pink Floyd/Steve Miller Band etc at Knebworth
Joni Mitchell/CSNY - Wembley Stadium
Steeleye Span - 3 times incl infamous mummers play
MAN
Jethro Tull
Caravan
Linda Lewis
Genesis - headlining x 5
Genesis supporting Lindisfarne
Peter Gabriel/Sting/Springsteen/Tracey Chapman - Amnesty tour
Talking Heads/Jonathan Richman
Tina Turner/Level 42 - Sunrise Fort Lauderdale
Billy Joel - Miami x 2 - consummate showman
Bruce Springsteen - Cyrstal Palace/NEC/Villa Park/Madison SG/Old trafford/Wembley
Van der graaf Generator
Steve Gibbons Band xmas show Birmingham Town hall - most fun at a concert
Ry Cooder x 3
Hatfield and the North - awful
Gong - Mad as a box of frogs
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Arduous
Beck Bogart and Appice - made my ears bleed
Green on Red - ragged but great
Chuck Prophet better than Green on Red
SXSW 2008 - Brilliant Experience - first exposure to the Ting Tings
Alabama 3 x 3 in last year - 4th time coming in November great live
Elvis Costello x approx 15 - Solo,With Steve Nieve,Attractions,Imposters and Brodsky Quartet - best was Manchester Bridgewater hall for Delivery Man tour - brilliant.
Gillian Welch
Emmylou Harris
Lucinda Williams - fantastic
Mary Chapin Carpenter/Lyle Lovett
Paul Simon x 2
Dire Straits x 6, Mark Knopfler x 4, Notting Hillbillies
Rolling Stones - Voodoo lounge Wembley and Bridges to Babylon,Murrayfield
Martin Stephenson x 4
David Byrne
Fleetfoxes
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Roddy Frame
Tom Russell
Gretchen Peters/Matraca Berg/Suzy Bogguss - Thanks to Carl P
Leonard Cohen
Steely Dan - After a 30 year wait (mid 70's gig cancelled)
Nils Lofgren - Acoustic - brilliant - signed a cd to the wife
Prince - 3121 tour
Fleetwood Mac - Bingley hall Stafford - worst venue ever
Eels - great live act
John Martyn x 2 - 1 great (just before he died) 1 below par
Ian Dury and the Blockheads - 1 great and 1 poignant (just before he died)
Richard Thompson - too many to mention
Ian McNabb x 2 - a hero of mine, should have seen much more but timinghas been out on a number of occasions
Elton John x 2 - Crap - WHY IS HE SO FAMOUS??

Sorry its a few more than 50 - got carried away.

Linda Lewis (1st gig at Keele University)
Clash (Hanley Victoria Halls)
Stranglers (Victoria Halls)
Talking Heads (Hemel Hempstead Pavilion)
Rockpile (Hemel Hempstead Pavilion)
Q-Tips (Lots of times - Such a great live band)
The Undertones (Best was probably Hemel Hempstead Pavilion)
XTC
Wreckless Eric (lots of times from 1977 to now)
Elvis Costello (Don't know how I got this far down the list before adding the great man)
Nick Lowe (Am I allowed to list him seperately from Rockpile)
Dave Edmunds (Ditto)
The Smirks (One of Berserkleys best)
Jonathan Richman (with and without the Modern Lovers)
Ingrid Michaelson (right up to date)
Neko Case
The Ramones (Lots of times)
The Waitresses (The Venue,Victoria)
Edwyn Collins (lots of times)
Orange Juice (Friars Aylesbury)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts (A couple of times at Friars Aylesbury)
Stiff Little Fingers (Friars again)
Eddie & The Hot Rods (Keele)
Ultravox! (Keele)
Mud (Keele)
Slade (Keele)
Sparks (Probably seen them more than anyone else)
Morrisey (Forgotten about that one but he's just come on the television!)
Chris Mills (lots of times)
Amy Rigby (lots of times)
Ben Vaughn
Sid Griffin
Laura Cantrell (going through some solo performers now - it's getting harder than it should as there are loads I've forgotten)
This Happy Breed (The FPOs band)
That Petrol Emotion
Jason & the Scorchers
The Pogues
The Men They Couldn't Hang
Black Box Recorder
Charlotte Hatherley
The Damned
The Yachts
Fountains Of Wayne
The Supernaturals
Mercury Rev
The Beach Boys
Squeeze
The Photos
Graham Parker
Thin Lizzy (The great Hitchin Regal - it was on TV a few weeks back)
Phew! That was a lot harder than I thought it would be but I know there are loads I've forgotten (in fact I've just thought of a few more while typing this sentence)

I know we're all spread around the country (or world) but it's still amazing how many gigs that other people have listed, I was at and didn't remember to put on my list.

Not including repeat viewings - which are never as good as the first time - and ones that I'll remember at 2am tonight, here's 25:

1) Tangerine Dream, Manchester Apollo Oct 1981 – First ever gig and an incredible experience
2) Hawkwind, Manchester Apollo 1983 – Bob Calvert sporting a Mohican is all I remember
3) Robert Schroeder, UK Electronica 1983 – So dull, I almost fell asleep
4) IQ, Redcar Coatham Bowl Redcar 1984 – Actually rather good
5) That Petrol Emotion, Teesside Poly 1985(?) – First experience of the moshpit. Loved it!
6) Erasure, Teesside Poly 1985 – My only experience of having seen a group prior to mega-stardom; “Er… why are they singing "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" as an encore?”
7) The Godfathers, Teesside Poly 1986 – Quite good
8) The Proclaimers, Teesside Poly 1987 – Fantastic, until some twat threw a (fortunately plastic) pint pot across the room into my face
9) The Alarm, Newcastle 1987 – All I remember is that it was Comic Relief night
10) Throwing Muses, Liverpool Poly 1989 – Stunning!
11) Front 242, Manchester International 2 1989 – Truly excellent
12) Pixies, Crystal Palace 1991 – Disappointing. Spent most of the gig trying not to fall down and get trampled to death in the crush
13) Blue Aeroplanes, London 1991(?) – Brilliant
14) Band of Susans, London 1991 – Good, but there weren’t many of us there
15) The Wolfgang Press, The Venue, New Cross 1991 – The best gig I’ve ever been to in my life. Exceeded my expectations by such a huge margin that I’ve rarely come close to repeating the experience.
16) Gong, London 1997 – Awful. The only gig I’ve ever walked out of
17) The Mavericks, Shepherds Bush Empire 1998 - Superb
18) Stereolab, Heaven 1999 – Another favourite gig. I was astounded by how much they rocked!
19) To Rococo Rot, London 1999 – Pretty good, although I’ve always regretted not bothering with the support act, Clinic
20) Vic Chesnutt, Union Chapel 2000 – Weird. Was he drunk or very nervous? Second instance of ‘missed-support regret’, this time Howe Gelb
21) Grandaddy, London 2000(?) – Okay, but below (admittedly, massive) expectations
22) Lambchop, Somerset House 2001 – A very gentle evening
23) Kraftwerk, Manchester Apollo 2003 – Number 2 in the all-time faves list. A fabulous gig
24) Amon Düül II, London 2005 – Another bunch of old gits who delivered in spades. Quite superb
25) The Zutons, House of Blues Orlando 2006 – Another brilliant gig. They were supporting Keane, but just blew them out of the water

What a great thread!

Information, photos and more of concerts I have visited you can find on www.rockdock63.blogspot.com, and list of 50 gigs follows:

1.McLAUGLIN,COBHAM,BRUCE & GOLDBERG,4-Nov-1979,ZEMUN/BELGRADE,PINKI HALL
2.GINGER BAKERS ENERGY,21-Mar-1980,ZEMUN/BELGRADE,PINKI HALL
3.WISHBONE ASH (MK II),2-Apr-1980,ZEMUN/BELGRADE,PINKI HALL
4.WEATHER REPORT,31-Oct-1980,BEOGRAD,PIONIR HALL
5.GILLAN BAND (MK IV),2-Mar-1982,BELGRADE,PIONIR HALL
6.ALVIN LEE,13-May-1982,BELGRADE,PIONIR HALL
7.STAN WEBB"S SPEEDWAY,13-May-1982,BELGRADE,PIONIR HALL
8.NIGHTWING,13-May-1982,BELGRADE,PIONIR HALL
9.URIAH HEEP,3-Dec-1983,NOVI SAD,FAIR HALL
10.ERIC CLAPTON,26-Jan-1984,BELGRADE, FAIR HALL
11.ERIC BURDON BAND,5-Mar-1984,NOVI SAD,FAIR HALL
12.BO DIDDLEY AND MAINSQUEEZE,27-Feb-1984,NOVI SAD,FAIR HALL
13.DIRE STRAITS,11-May-1985,BELGRADE,PIONIR HALL
14.STATUS QUO,29-Apr-1986,BELGRADE PIONIR HALL
15.NAZARETH,3-Dec-1986,BELGRADE,PIONIR HALL
16.JOHN MAYALL AND BLUESBREAKERS,28-Mar-1987,BELGRADE,SAVA CENTAR
17.BOB DYLAN,11-Jun-1991,ZEMUN/BELGRADE,CITY STADIUM
18.TINA TURNER,19-Aug-1990,ZEMUN/BELGRADE,CITY STADIUM
19.IGGY POP,5-Feb-1991,BELGRADE FAIR HALL
20.BLOOD,SWEAT AND TEARS,13-Nov-1994,BELGRADE,SAVA CENTAR
21.REY CHARLES,22-Oct-1996,BELGRADE,SAVA CENTAR
22.B.B. KING,17-Mar-1997,BELGRADE,SAVA CENTAR
23.JAMES BROWN,26-May-1997,BELGRADE,FAIR HALL
24.BLUES BROTHERS BAND,30-Jun-1998,BELGRADE,SAVA CENTAR
25.PETER GREEN,5-Jul-1998,BELGRADE,SAVA CENTAR
26.MOTORHEAD,26-Jul-2002,BELGRADE,TASMAJDAN STADIUM
27.ZZ TOP,23-Jul-2003,BUDAPEST,PETOFI CHARNOK
28.TEN YEARS AFTER,20-Nov-2003,BELGRADE,SAVA CENTRA
29.DEEP PURPLE,7-Dec-2003,BELGRADE,FAIR HALL
30.JETHRO TULL,26-May-2004,BELGRADE,SAVA CENTAR
31.METALLICA,15-Jun-2004,BELGRADE,FC PARTIZAN STADIUM
32.DAVID BYRNE & THE TOSCA STRINGS,4-Jul-2004,BELGRADE,SAVA CENTAR
33.CARLOS SANTANA,21-Jul-2004,BUDAPEST,ARENA
34.R.E.M. 21-Jan-2005,BELGRADE,FAIR HALL
35.JAMIROQUAI,21-Jun-2005,BELGRADE,FAIR HALL
36.BLACK SABBATH,23-Jun-2005,SOFIJA(BULGARIA)FC LOKOMOTIVA STADIUM
37.PHIL COLLINS,28-Oct-2005,BELGRADE,ARENA
38.LOU REED,15-Mar-2006,BELGRADE,SAVA CENTAR
39.STING,19-Jun-2006,NOVI SAD,PETROVARADIN FORTRES
40.THE CULT,6-Jul-2006,NOVI SAD,PETROVARADIN FORTRES,EXIT FESTIVAL
41.BILLY IDOL,7-Jul-2006,NOVI SAD,PETROVARADIN FORTRES,EXIT FESTIVAL
42.ROXY MUSIC,16-Jul-2006,BELGRADE,SAVA CENTAR
43.WHITESNAKE,30-Jul-2006,ELGRADE,TASMAJDAN STADIUM
44.RED HOT CHILIE PEPPERS,26-Jun-2007,near NOVI SAD,OPEN ARENA
45.ROBERT PLANT & STRANGE SENSATIONS,12-Jul-2007,NOVI SAD,PETROVARADIN FORTRES,EXIT FESTIVAL
46.THE ROLLING STONES,14-Jul-2007,BELGRADE,USCE OPEN AIR ARENA
47.GARY MOORE,7-Sep-2007,BELGRADE,KALEMEGDAN FORTRES
48.MUSE,7-Oct-2007,BELGRADE,ARENA
49.JOE COCKER,9-Nov-2007,BELGRADE,ARENA
50.AC/DC,26-May-2009,BELGRADE,FC PARTIZAN STADIUM

1 John Miles Hull City Hall Mid 70s First gig - supported by Johnny Cougar (became Mellencamp)
2 Stiff Tour Hull University Late 70s Went on pushbike from school to meet them at Stardisc in Hull. Rachael Sweet's album was on white vinyl.
3 The Dammed HCHE Cottingham Road Hull Late 70s Rat set fire to his drums and the building had to be evacuated
4 The Skids HCHE Queens Gardens Hull Late 70s Fell over pissed
5 Eddie & The Hot Rods/The Members Hull University Late 70s Somebody threw a glass at Nicky Tesco?
6 The Undertones Hull City Hall Late 70s Couldn't walk for days afterwards too much pogoing at the front.
7 Elvis Costello Bridlington Spa Late 70s He was unusually talkative for that time
8 The Jam Bridlington Spa Late 70s Paul Weller's birthday. Hundreds of scooters outside.
9 The Stranglers Bridlington Spa Late 70s Jean Jacque offered everbody out and jumped into the audience
10 Judie Tzuke Hull City Hall Early 80s God I was in love with her
11 Judie Tzuke Beverley Picture House Mid 90s Still had feelings 10 years later!
12 Eddie Reader Beverley Picture House Mid 90s Terrific Victorian venue. American support suggested it could do with refurbing without a hint of irony.
13 Eddie Reader The Adelphi Mid 90s Very small venue ruined by people talking
14 Souixie & The Banshees Hull City Hall Early 80s Loudest gig I have ever been to ears were ringing for days
15 Glen Tilbrook Beverley Picture House Early 00s Glen wanted to busk outside whilst the crowd went to the pub
16 Glen Tilbrook The Adelphi Club Hull Mid 00s Glen stopped the gig for a piss and then came back. Did Perfect day.
17 Saw Doctors Hull University Early 90s First gig with brother who nearly had a fight when crowd erupted as they came on stage
18 Saw Doctors York Barbican Early 90s Wife was about 8 months pregnant and she stood all through the gig
19 Tori Amos Hull Truck Theatre Mid 90s First single had just been released - 200 people there.
20 Tori Amos Hull City Hall Mid 90s Amazing how one person can keep a crowd so enthralled.
21 Everything But The Girl Hull Truck Theatre Mid 90s Almost a homecoming gig for them. Splendid.
22 Kirsty McColl Hull Truck Theatre Early 90s Kirsty seemed nervous but then really got into it.
23 Sam Brown Hull Truck Theatre Early 90s I think she was pregnant at the time but one of the great British voices.
24 Prince Wembley Stadium Mid 90s Brilliant but even as a huge fan had had enough after 3 hours
25 Bruce Springsteen Sheffield Arena Mid 00s Pete Seeger tour - great to see so many musicians enjoying themselves.
26 Bruce Springsteen Pop Bercy Paris Mid 00s One of the great days of my life.
27 Bruce Springsteen Hampden Park 2009 Poor sound to start but just got better. Does he ever do a bad show?
28 Bow Wow Wow Tower Hull Early 80s Annabella Lwin the only Anglo-Burmese singer I've seen
29 Echobelly Hull University Mid 90s Where did they go? Just great songs.
30 Jonathan Richman George Street Hull Mid 90s The bastard didn't play Ice Cream Man!
31 Morrissey Hull City Hall Early 00s Too many lookalikes for comfort.
32 Morrissey Hull Ice Arena 2009 A man of his age should keep his shirt on.
33 The Wedding Present Paradiso Amsterdam 2007 Memory is a bit vague on this one for some reason.
34 Martina McBride O2 Indigo Arena 2009 Could be the next Mrs Pinmonkey if she plays her cards right.
35 Kevin Montgomery Barton Mid 00s Why isn't this man a huge star?
36 The Stranglers Hull City Hall 2008 Jet was 40 at gig in Bridlington above. He's now 70 so next time I see him he'll be 100 and I'll be 78!
37 Elton John Apollo Manchester Late 70s With Ray Cooper. Apologies to the girl whose bum I pinched.
38 Elton John KC Stadium Mid 00s A musician told me it was his opinion that Elton wasn't actually playing the keyboard (allegedly).
39 REM KC Stadium Mid 00s 5th July with a wild storm raging. They were excellent though.
40 Van Morrison York Barbican Mid 00s Just wow!!
41 Van Morrison Hull City Hall Mid 00s Just shit!!
42 Wax Hull City Hall Early 90s Never thought I'd see Andrew Gold play and then he comes to Hull.
43 Kings of Leon Bridlington Spa Mid 00s My son's first gig so good bragging rights (we'll forget about X Factor)
44 Kings of Leon Hull Ice Arena 2008 Must be going deaf because I didn't think it was loud enough.
45 Bjork Sheffield Arena Mid 90s Nutty as a fruitcake but charming and sexy.
46 Alison Krauss & Union Station Bridgewater Hall Manchester Mid 00s Saw Dan Tyminski outside and could only wave in a daft manner. My son
still takes the piss even now.
47 Tift Merritt Sheffield 2007 Backing band were too loud but she can sing
48 Beth Nielsen Chapman York Opera House 2008 Very spirtual.
49 Midge Ure Hull Truck Theatre Early 00s Didn't want to go but wife did. His anecdotes between songs were very entertaining.
50 Sarah Brightman Manchester Apollo Early 00s Probably ruins what little street cred I've got left but I did enjoy it.

Really interesting to read the variety of artists and gigs seen by the same person. As an additional question, who haven't you seen that would make your gig selection complete?
If I could add George Strait, Brian Wilson, The Eagles and Emmylou Harris to the above list I would be a happy man.
Too late unfortunately for The Ramones, Johnny Cash and The Carpenters.

01 - Oasis noise and confusion 10th anniversary show barrowlands glasgow the only time they have played the set I wanted to hear.
02 - Aerosmith June 2007 SECC Glasgow
03 - Led Zepagain Whiskey a go go sunset strip LA too young for the real thing 'Jimmy' wore a dragon suit and was note perfect
04 - Muse Meadowlands Edinburgh... Incredible.
05 - Radiohead Kid A tour Glasgow Green...confused by the new direction.
06 - Oasis forum melbourne ...Last minute secret gig due to Bali bombings interrupting tour schedule,,fantastic
07 - AC/DC Hampden 2009 long time ambition fulfilled superb
08 - The Rolling Stones Rod Laver arena Melbourne Great seats forty Licks tour got Some Girls night in the set list so pretty pleased.
09 - The who SECC Glasgow..first gig I ever went to on my own.. drove there drove back loved it. had to explain 'I dont even know myself' to the people around me who never recognised it..
10 - Wu tang Clan - T in the park 2005 I think
11 - Guns N Roses Docklands London Axl only version was still great
12 - Velvet Revolver Academy Glasgow ..First time seeing Slash (boyhood hero)
13 - Stereophonics Secret gig in a club in melbourne circa 2002 rolled under a shutter in the back ran through back stage area onto the stage and jumped into the crowd, it was a free gig but was so busy they were turning people away
14 - The Rolling Stones Murrayfeild Edinburgh
15 - Manic Street Preachers Barrowlands 2009
16 - Ocean Colour scene barrowland 1997
17 - Iron Maiden First gig Barrowlands 1995
18 - Oasis Loch Lomond 1996
19 - Eight T in the Parks over ten years so too many to mention
20 - Chemical Brothers barrowlands 1997
21 - Reef Barrowlands 1997
22 - The Enemy barrowlands 2009
23 - Ocean Colour scene Stirling castle 1998
24 -REM Stirling Castle 1998
25 - The Eagles Hampden

Cant go on many more will catch up later...missed out tonnes of doubles Oasis 12 times OCS 15 ...
16 -

1. Pulp (first gig - Sheffield Arena(?) Peed next to Jarvis Cocker in a club afterwards)
2. Interpol
3. Blur
4. Editors
5. Eels
6. Lambchop
7. Her Name Is Calla
8. R.E.M.
9. Arcade Fire
10. Franz Ferdinand
11. Oasis
12. Radiohead
13. Supergrass
14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
15. iLiKETRAiNS
16. British Sea Power
17. Twilight Sad
18. Earth
19. Whitehouse
20. That Fucking Tank
21. Mercury Rev
22. Suede
23. Young Knives
24. Doves
25. The Rumble Strips
26. The Futureheads
27. The Fall
28. The Cooper Temple Clause
29. The School of Seven Bells
30. Brendan Benson
31. Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
32. The Bronx
33. Oceansize
34. Forward Russia
35. Elastica
36. Embrace
37. Soulwax
38. Kasabian
39. Foo Fighters
40. The Coral
41. Johnny Foreigner
42. Spiritualized
43. Fun Lovin' Criminals
44. worriedaboutsatan
45. I Am Kloot
46. The Young Gods
47. Blood Red Shoes
48. Artic Monkeys
49. Super Furry Animals
50. Half Man Half Biscuit

Because I met my wife there.

1. First gig - Van Morrison, Wavelength tour, Portsmouth Guildhall 1978

and in no particular order:

2. Joy Division (twice)
3. The Ramones
4. The Buzzcocks
5. New Order (about a dozen times)
6. James
7. The Smiths
8. Magazine
9 Bauhaus
10. Siouxsie and the Banshees
11. Gang of Four
12. Altered Images
13. U2 (Porstmouth Locarno Ballroom, October tour 1981)
14. Comsat Angels
15. Sisters of Mercy
16. The Damned
17. The Undertones
18. The Fall
19. David Bowie (serious moonlight tour at Milton Keynes Bowl, memorable mostly for a travel nightmare)
20. Magazine
21. A Certain Ratio
22. Living Colour
23. Roachford
24. Miles Davis (twice)
25. Sonny Rollins
26. Courtney Pine
27. Andy Sheppard
28. Humphrey Littleton
29. Acker Bilk/Chris Barber/Kenny Ball
30. Elvis Costello (several times)
31. Swans
32. Happy Mondays
33. Luxuria
34. Rip Rig and Panic (an absolutely extraordinary gig on South Parade Pier in Portsmouth with the crowd clapping in rhythm for ages after the final song. If I remember correctly, they came back on stage and joined in with the crowd. Love to hear a bootleg if there is one and see if I'm right).
35. Throwing Muses
36. Soundgarden
37. Lush
38. Pop Will Eat Itself
39. That Petrol Emotion
40. The Stupids (Granny's nightclub at the top of the now demolished Tricorn car park, one voted the ugliest building in the UK. I fancied myself as a bit of a mosher at the time, but lasted exactly 5 seconds in the front row of this gig. It was a war).
41. Shellac
42. Sonic Youth
43. Hot Chip
44. Manic Street Preachers
45. Bruce Springsteen
46 Peter Gabriel
47. The Cure
48. The Jam
49. Psychic TV (Zap Club, Brighton 16 Jan 1991 party to celebrate the release of the dolphins from the Brighton Aquarium back into the sea. P Orridge was a Brighton resident at the time and he and his late wife had been involved in freeing the poor beasts. He announced the commencement of Desert Storm from the stage that night. Not that he had any direct involvement you understand, it was pure coincidence).
50. Kitchens of Distinction

Here we go. I tried for structure, but started losing punctuation by the end...

1. Thin Lizzy, Glasgow Apollo ( numbers 1 - 14 are all the Apollo) 15.04.1979. The first. Phil Lynott’s buffed up bass shining into our eyes. We were so happy.
2. The Who. 1979. Second gig for me, third gig (?) for them after Keith’s death. I can feel a bit of a welling up at the thought of See Me Feel Me, huge floodlights on the audience.
3. The Clash. London Calling Tour, First Night in Glasgow. A bit drab.
4. The Clash. The Next Night . Wow. Energetic, ferocious, and this is just the audience. I skip into the stalls from the gods just as DJ plays Anarchy, crowd goes ape, notorious bouncers get very twitchy. First three rows of stalls collapse in during first song.
5. The Undertones. 1981 (?) . Sheer joy. Feargal sitting at the edge of the White Cliffs Of Dover stage of the Apollo, his legs dangling over an unimpressed bouncer.
6. Peter Gabriel The third solo album tour, unreleased at that point. Bizarrely, get last ticket from tout for nothing. Genesis Fans yell for Supper’s Ready. They don’t get it. Instead they get first hear of “Biko”. And an astonishing, otherworldly performance of “Mother Of Violence”
7. The Who , 1981. They have an album to push, and they are not as good, but I have never been so deaf afterwards.
8. The Specials : Christmas 1979. Bouncing heaven.
9. The Specials : 1980, second album tour, half full , at the end more are on stage than in the seats (maybe), even better than first time. Supported by Rhoda, terrifying us with “The Boiler”
10. Blondie : the OGWT show. Thought it terribly listless at the time, but on telly this year seemed rather good.
11. The Jam : December 1979 : Setting Sons tour : intense, full of mod suits including on Weller
12.The Jam, Autumn (?) 1980 : Sounds Affects Tour : smilier, friskier,
13. The Clash, 1981. All over the place. At one point Mick Jones is crawling about on his hands and knees looking for….what ? A contact lens ?
14. The Wolfe Tones 1984/5 ? The last show I saw at the old place. The old hall has its masonry finally kicked out by mad Celtic supporters.
15. Altered Images, Bungalow Bar, Paisley. Altered Images : the band from our school, prior to record contract. Getting into pubs ! Oooh ! Claire Grogan trips over me on the way to the dressing room.
16. U2/Altered Images, Strathclyde Uni , January 1981: going to see “our band” (in great form) and stick around for some barely known Irish combo, who destroy them utterly.
17. Motown 25th Anniversary Review : Strathclyde Uni, 1983. Michael Jackson performs Billie Jean and shows us the Moonwalk. On a screen. Girls scream. A lot.
18-22. Simple Minds, Glasgow Tiffany's. 5 gigs in half a year, in the lead up to and release of New Gold Dream. They did rock. Honest. Not sure I would open my curtains for them now.
23. The Fall, Glasgow Plaza. 1980 ? An early and valuable introduction to What The Hell Was That ?
24. Rolling Stones, Roundhay Park, Leeds. 1982 Coach from Glasgow Apollo, beers open immediately, drink by the border, bus driver won’t stop. Most glad ever for a piss. First kebab. Hottest day of the year. Never seen Stones better , though this turns out not to mean much.
25. David Bowie. Murrayfield. 1983 First experience of the Biblical stadium downpour. Sobering up standing up in the rain . Never again. Bowie great, but he were proceeded by The Thompson Twins and Vanilla Ice, so pathetically grateful. Later chased by mad Irishmen down Princes Street,
26. Van Morrison . Edinburgh Playhouse, early 1980s. Plays Ballerina and Madame George. We didn’t know when we were well off.
27. Van Morrison / Lonnie Donegan. Grosvenor Park, Chester, early noughties, several Van gigs later. Our friends can’t get over how grumpy he is. I say it is the most cheerful I have ever seen him.
28. REM : Glasgow Barrowland 1985. Stipe drags himself about like wounded animal. Eventually roaring out of trips. Some fool throws firework on stage inches from my and sister’s face. Stipe stomps it. Thank you Michael. Most memorable gig in so many ways.
29. Prefab Sprout : Glasgow QMU : days later. I liked the Sprout as much as REM beforehand, but can I remember anything now ?
30. Pogues : Student ball at Glasgow QMU. 1985, so possibly even drunker than Shane. Seem to recall urinating on the balcony. The shame.
31. Dick Gaughan : McLellan Galleries, Glasgow. At the height of miner’s strike, probably the most intense of the many times I’ve seen the great man. (What would I do for a basic version of “Freedom Come All Ye”…)
32. Def Jam Tour, Glasgow Barrowlands, 1987 : Public Enemy a thing of awe, but gig curtailed as LL Cool J's (huge, huge) minders pile into the audience and take revenge for some slight. Nasty.
33. Style Council : 1984 ? Dull, dull. Though the bouncers tell us they had Chris de Burgh the night before, with 3,000 women in red dresses, and were never been as bored. This anecdote more memorable than gig.
34. Tina Turner, Glasgow SECC, about 1992 : the very definition of “old trouper”.
35. Bob Dylan, Wembley Stadium . 1984. More to the point UB40, supporting , on perfect summer day. Only the Beach Boys could have been more fitting. Santana interminable. Dylan goes on too long. I fall out with mate.
36. Bruce Springsteen, Wembley Stadium. 3rd July 1985. Some dates stay memorable. The best.
37. Bruce Springsteen, Bramhall Lane, Sheffield, 1988 (?): more rain. Mate’s girl wears bread-loaf wrapper as headgear. Never looked lovelier. Boss show more like soul revue.
38. Bob Dylan / Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, NEC, Brum, 1988. The most frigid audience ever. Tom Petty unimpressed. Dylan profoundly unimpressive.
39. Billy Connolly, Manchester Apollo, dated as follows : “Eric Cantona has been charged today. With common assault. I thought it was a wonderful assault.”
40. Van Morrison / Ray Charles, Manchester NYNEX, 1996 . Horrible barn of a place. Show goes way, way over, go for last train, miss last train. Never let first wife forget it !
41. Taraf de Haidouks, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 11/5/03 : never seen anyone play faster. Bruce Springsteen talked of starting with an earthquake and working up to a climax, but this is nearest I’ve seen.
42. Finn Brothers, Liverpool Empire, the day Peel died. Johnny Marr comes on for encore, and crowd get him to play, and sing “Teenage Kicks”. Despite claiming not to know the chords ! Not a dry eye…
43. Toumani Diabate, Liverpool Philharmonic 2007. Good with orchestra, great with his band, utterly incomparable solo. A privilege.
44. Kate Rusby, Glasgow Concert Hall January 2007, for Underneath The Stars , with brass band boys behind. Why do I blub so much these days ?...
45. Patti Smith : Manchester Academy, Trampin' tour. I have now heard her doing Gloria at full pelt. I can die happy.
46. Gogol Bordello, Manchester Academy, 2005 (?). The most full-on live band since maybe The Clash. I am away from the fray but still utterly exhausted.
47. Tinariwen, Glasgow Arches, 2008. That groove, that groove.
48. REM (again) : Liverpool Royal Court 1989. Stipe with suit and megaphone. Only time I ever pay a tout.
49. Rachel Unthank & The Winterset. Royal Northern College Of Music, early 2008. They rope in a string quartet from the college. Now that's clever. Devon Sproule no bad either.
50. Waterson : Carthy, Telford's , Chester, years ago. Norma, Martin, Eliza. Some bastard steals Eliza's jacket.

John Cale x 2
Lou Reed - surprisingly good, excellent Venus in furs
Eric Clapton x 2 - both concerts promoting his album of Blues standards - first gig in Montreal was crap saw him in UK and if anything was even worse - soulless experience
Fairport Convention x 5 - always great fun
Crusaders and Randy Crawford - no no
Savoy Brown/Chicken Shack - post success tour
Shawn Colvin - grumpy
Yes - Topographic Oceans played in its entirety prior to release - brave but stupid
Erin McKeown - engaging
Howe Gelb - Weird
Giant Sand - just as weird as Gelb solo
Los Lobos x 2 - great in patches but disappointing overall
Calexico - Hollywood,CA - GREAT BAND - have always been otherwise engaged when they have toured UK which is a shame as it is the band I would most like to see again
John Mayall and Peter Green double header
Robert Cray - lifeless
Sly and Robbie - lively
Grace Jones - what a woman
Was not was - x 2 - how can you not dance?
Tom Tom Club - great cover of 96 tears
Boo Hewerdine x 2
Loudon Wainwright x 3 - great live performer and raconteur
REM - DIDNT ENJOY
Rod Steward x 5 - value for money live shows
Van Morrison - great music zero stage presence
Wings - Karaoke Beatles show with Linda on harmonies
Waterboys x 5 - still remember a stunning version of Red Army Blues
Jackie Leven - played barefoot, was close enough to smell his feet!!!

I've mentioned before that I've seen Elvis Costello an unhealthly amount of times. I sometimes wonder if, actually, he's coming to see me. Best shows would be Manchester Apollo in the early 80's, the gig with Allen Toussaint in Liverpool in 2007, Leeds University with the Attractions in '82 and with the Imposters in '05, solo in Liverpool in '84 and at the Albert Hall in '99.

John Prine a number of times - a top man

The Proclaimers - in Manchester, Liverpool and Birkenhead. Surprisingly good the first time I saw them.

Lucinda Williams - 3 times - ranging from the dire to the sublime.

Lyle Lovett - after 2 cancelled shows finally saw him in Ediburgh this year.

The very lovely Laura Cantrell in Manchester and Liverpool

Billy Bragg - again a few times starting in the early 80's with a show at the Gracie Fields theatre in Rochdale in support of strikers in Barnoldswick.

The New Seekers - my first 'gig' as a 10 year old.

Elton John - at Belle Vue in Manchester in 1974 - there was an evacuation due to a bomb alarm - the hall seemed twice as full when we went back in.

Bobby D - a couple of times but neither satisfactory.

Bruce at the MEN Arena - I just don't enjoy arena shows.

Josh Ritter - in Manchester and Leeds - a really engaging performer - possibly the nicest man on the planet.

Josh Rouse - really enjoyed the first time I saw him - he was objectionable the next time.

Emmylou - I like everything about her - but her shows are, I think curiously, unengaging.

Steve Earle - with the Dukes in Manchester for the El Corazan album - fantastic but a couple of other times not cutting the mustard with me.

Stacey Kent - a number of times. British based American singing of the Great American Songbook. Always lovely.

Djelimady Tounkara - just a completely fabulous Malian guitarist - wonderful. Seen solo in Newcastle and with Bill Frisell in Leeds.

Salif Keita - in Leeds - magnificent.

Toumani Diabete - in Liverpool - he plays the Kora - he's a magician.

Rokia Traore - the Malian diplomat's daughter somehow turns up in a dodgy, dingy pub in Oldham - it was great.

Youssou N'Dour - cooking up a storm in the blue rinse town of Harrogate

The totally wonderful Bhundu Boys a number of times in Manchester in the eigthies. Some of the best nights of my life.

Hugh Masekela - at the International Club in Manchester - a favourite haunt in the eighties where I also saw;
Loudon Wainwright, Peter Case - playing to about 10 of us and
The Happy End - really good gig with the girl singer who had a big hit with the Communards

Squeeze - loads of times including a couple of weeks ago in Liverpool with the Pretenders

Alison Krauss - in Manchester - all beautifully sang and played but, somehow, boring.

John Hiatt - solo in Edinburgh - the Queen's Hall a really lovely venue

Dwight Yoakum - in Newcastle, along with Lyle Lovett, the sharpest dressed man I've ever seen and a great show.

Thad Cockrell and Caitlin Cary in Newcastle - just magnificent the spirit of Gram and Emmylou reborn.

Eddi Reader - just a pleasant evening

Kate Rusby - great when singing - but someone ask her to speak less between songs please.

Devon Spoule - bringing sunshine to a cold day in Manchester in February

Neville Staple - at Bury Met - a real good night.

Smokey Robinson - in Halifax in the early eighties - this is a man who doesn't get the credit he deserves. Fantastic songwriter.

Hot Club of Cowtown - again fabulous musicians but maybe a bit souless.

Gretchen Peters, Suzy Boguss, Matrecea Berg - in Sheffield - proper music beautifully sung and played.

The worst show I've ever seen was by Maria Mckee - walked out.

One of the best Solomon Burke in majestic form in Manchester in 2003.

The Beautiful South

Gillian Welch, Aimee Mann, Mindy Smith, Kevin Montgomery, Iris Dement all at the Academy in Manchester.

The Be Good Tanyas in Liverpool in 03

Any Trouble - in Huddersfield and Ormskirk - disappointed that the reformation didn't really kick off.

Joe Jackson and UB40 a number of times in the eighties.

U2 in Salford at the Uni in about 1980 - I wasn't convinced.

Diana Krall before she married the man at the Bridgewater Hall.

Tony Bennett at the same venue.

And to round things off - the greatest living Englishman;

Nick Lowe, again at the Bridgewater, earlier this year. Wonderful in every way.

1. Public Enemy - Birmingham Hummingbird
2. Ride - Birmingham Hummingbird
3. Carter USM - Birmingham Hummingbird
4. St Etienne - Birmingham Institute
5. Happy Mondays - Birmingham NEC
6. Dinosaur Jr - Birmingham Hummingbird
7. Buzzcocks - Kidderminster Market Tavern
8. Kingmaker - Hereford Bull & Gate
9. Wonderstuff - Walsall Bescott Stadium
10. Manic Street Preachers - Wolves Civic Hall
11. The La's - Birmingham Hummingbird
12. The Soup Dragons - Middlesborough Town Hall
13. Bjorn Again - Nottingham Rock City
14. Nirvana - Reading Festival
15. Boo Radleys - Cambridge Corn Exchange
16. Primal Scream - Cambridge Corn Exchange
17. Black Grape - Cambridge Corn Exchange
18. Erasure - Cambridge Corn Exchange
19. PJ Harvey - Cambridge Corn Exchange
20. Blur - Cambridge Junction
21. Teenage Fanclub - Cambridge Junction
22. The Cardigans - Cambridge Junction
23. Tiger - Cambridge Junction
24. Beth Orton - Cambridge Boat Race
25. Spiritualized - Leicester Uni
26. UNKLE - Leicester Uni
27. Idlewild - Leicester Princess Charlotte
28. Orbital - Phoenix Festival
29. Tricky - Glastonbury Festival
30. Iggy & the stooges - Glastonbury Festival
31. The Beta Band - Kilburn National
32. Elvis Costello - Glastonbury Festival
33. Chas & Dave - Glastonbury Festival
34. Paul Weller - Kentish Town Forum
35. Neil Young - Hammersmith Apollo
36. Prince - Camden KOKO
37. Bob Dylan - Cardiff CIA
38. Brendan Benson - Bristol Louisiana
39. The Raconteurs - Brixton Academy
40. The White Stripes - Wireless Festival
41. Jay Z - Wireless Festival
42. Pavement - Brixton Academy
43. Low - Bristol Academy
44. Grace Jones - Royal Festival Hall
45. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Queen Elizabeth Hall
46. Elbow - Camden Roundhouse
47. Leonard Cohen - Royal Albert Hall
48. ZZ Top - Wembley Arena
49. Fleetwood Mac - Wembley Arena
50. Lulu & The Lampshades - Cecil Sharp House

1.Kraftwerk, Birmingham Town Hall 1975, my first
2.Rory Gallagher, the first ever gig at Birmingham NEC
3.Kiss Bham Odeon, and then Stafford Bingley Hall
4.Rush Bham Odeon
5.Aerosmith Bham Odeon
6.The Who at Wembley, first gig post Keith Moon I think
7.Rolling Stones Wembley 1982, showed world cup on the jumbotron screens,used by the Pope the previous week
8.WonderStuff Villa Leisure Centre
9.Genesis Bham Odeon post Gabriel trick of the tail
10.Ramones supported by Boomtown Rats Bham Hummingbird
11.Robert Plant - homecoming at Wolverhampton Civic Hall 2005
12.Little Feat WOlverhampton Civic
13.Steely Dan NIA
14.George Thorogood - Bank of America Pavilion Boston
15.Neil Young - Waikiki Beach Hawaii ( we were, he was playing in the garden of the Royal Palace hotel)
16.AC/DC Bham Town Hall
17.Motorhead Bham Town Hall, sheer volume destroyed the foundations and caused closure for about 10 years
18.Ultravox Bham Odeon
19.Japan Bham Odeon
20.OMD Bham Odeon - they were rubbish
21.Tangerine Dream - Bham Odeon, the Motors were on at Town Hall same night, but I chose the Tangs
22.Dr Feelgood - Bham Odeaon
23.The Cult - NEC
24.Level 42 - NEC - the worst gig I have ever been to
25.Def Leppard - Bham Odeon very early on
26.Van Morrison - NEC
27.INXS NEC, the Kick tour, brilliant
28.U2 Zoo TV Wembley
29.Depeche Mode and Blancmange Bham Night Club, name escapes me
30.Queen Bham Odeon
31.Climax Blues Band supported by Dire Straits Bham Hippodrome
32.Joe Satriani Symphony Hall
33.Deacon Blue Symphony Hall
34.Joe Jackson - Symphony Hall
35.Black Crowes Wolverhampton Civic Hall
36.Pink Floyd - Earls Court when the seats collapsed
37.John Mayall Bluesbreakers - St Albans Arena
38.Robin Trower Bham Odeon
39.Quireboys and Dan Baird - JBs Dudley
40.Mott - Bham Bingley Hall

and 10 more recent ones

Focus - MK Stables
G2 Genesis, brilliant tribute band - Stables
Buddy Whittington - Stables, dull
Airborne - Bham Academy, exciting
Oasis Wembley, predictable
Larry Miller - Stables, fantastic entertainer and guitar player
Magnum Wolverhamton, poor
ZZ Top Wolverhampton Civic, as brilliant as expected
Southside Johnny & Asbury Jukes - Stables last tuesday , superb
Alice in Chains - Bham Academy last friday, very loud

The Jam
The Clash
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Gang of Four
Penetration
Buzzcocks
REM
The Beautiful South
Belly
Pixies
XTC
Selecter
Pogues
The Men They Couldn't Hang
Microdisney
Daintees
Del Amitri
Skids
Cabaret Voltaire
Lene Lovich
Wire
Wah
Generation X
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Echo and the Bunnymen
Teardrop Explodes
Haircut 100
10000 Maniacs
Fairground Attraction
Jesus and Mary Chain
James King and the Lone Wolves
Armoury Show
Tom Robinson Band
AC DC
Mott
Tools You Can Trust
I Fuck a Nun
Stiff Little Fingers
Primitives
Bogshed
Wedding Present
Shop Assistants
Adam and the Ants
Mighty Lemon Drops
The Cabinet
Negatives
UK Subs
Elvis Costello
Rip Rig and Panic
Big Flame

first local - Chain - chiocago blues based
first internatioonal depp purple -supports manfred mann and free

in no particular order

ac dc bon scott era when they were "big in melb"
nick cave - numerous iterations
led zep - kooyong tennis , led zep 3 just released half of pa off stage due to weather - my ears were thankful
stones kooyong 73 aaah mick taylor
zappa -underwoods era then apostrophe era
little feat v.good
marley and wailers -alas too stoned
focus - lots of times on one tour
split enz - numerous lost interest after true colours
gabriel
eagles
neil young a few times
richard thompson
steve earle - mutliple
rodney crowell - a highlight
reba mcentire -surprisingly excellent
dylan form 1975 onwaerds
ray charles - 1974 damn good
bb king
buddy guy and junior wells 1974 been a blues hog ever since
clapton 74 threw up on stage , 2008 never sopoke to audience unimpressed
van - reading and melbourne - he's a prick
ry cooder
weather report- stunning
miles davis- late in career
keith jarrett -every body sit still and dont breathe
david bromberg- begging for a joingt from the crowd- he got one
jeff beck twice - loud then loud now and still excellent
franco - kinshasa
mapfumo zimbabwe many times and oz - a hero
mtukudzi - slicker but still excellent
talking heads -stop making sense tour - outstanding
patti smith - she does go ona bit doesn't she
albert collins - cut those solos in halfplease
albert king - just right
freddie king - r.i.p
jarvis cocker - intelleigent bloke that one
paolo nutini -rather shy, great voice
nusrat fateh ali khan- fantastic
elvics costello - tiring
canned heat- that stage nealry collapsed under the bear's weight
james brown - 80s still good but not for much longer
prince - few times - can do and does everything
roy ayers
tony joe white - one riff
the cure -4 hours !also in a pub for 5 bucks in about 75
odetta - legend
wilco - one of the best
rem -one of the worst
steely dan - clinical - unsurprisingly
jackson browne - earnest
tinariwen - the lead bloke never comes down here
mahlathini and mahotella
that's close enough

*The Pogues, King’s Hall, Belfast 1988 (?) YEEEEEEOOOOOOOO
Danny Wilson, Mandela Hall, Belfast 1989
Aztec Camera, Mandela Hall, Belfast, 1988, incredible
The Four of Us, Mandela Hall Belfast, 1990, first guest list!
The Hothouse Flowers, Belfast, 1990, Don’t leave me now, now, now. Didn’t. Great
Something Happens, Drumsill House Hotel, Armagh (1991), incredibly underrated
An Emotional Fish, Guild Hall, Derry (1990) see above, shit name though
The Charlatans, Snack Bar QUB (1991), stole beer backstage
The Stone Roses, Maysfield Leisure Centre, Belfast (1991), appalling
Inspiral Carpets, Mandela Hall ?, Belfast 1990/1, brilliant
The Farm, Snack Bar QUB, 1990/91? Loved them, still do
Bill Frizell, Senior Common Room QUB, 1991, Jazz club ‘Nice’ First journalist assignment - still have no idea what he was on about.
Lenny Kravitz, Ulster Hall, Belfast 1991... first proper uni girlfriend, outcome justified means
Luka Bloom, Limelight, Belfast 1991/2, incredible, LL Cool J/ Prince done folk
Oasis, Limelight, 1994, 60 odd people!
A House, Limelight, 1991, see Something Happens/ An Emotional Fish
Bob Dylan, Dundonald Ice Bowl, Belfast, 1990, (A smiling Van duets, insanely happy)
U2, Meadowlands NYC/ Vets Stadium, Philadelphia, 1992 (converted, for a while)
Richie Havens, Stone Island Tavern NJ, 1992, unbelieveable
Freddie White, Roisin Dubh, Boston, 1992, seek out his website
Green Day, Manchester Apollo, 1995, great
Cast, Mountford Hall, Liverpool 1995, great, Gem Archer’s band (Heavy Stereo?) in support
Black Grape, Royal Court, Liverpool, 1996, appalling
Proper/ Space, Big Tent, Sefton Park, Liverpool, 1996, more Scouse than Cilla eating a bowl of scouse singing Yellow submarine with a Shankly t-shirt on
Lou Reed, Manchester Apollo, 1996, truculent
Bruce Springsteen, LCCC, 2003, miles away but still immense
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, 1999, 2000, 2002, Liverpool, (sniffs manfully, was even overcome by shadow of Strummage quiff projected by lights on the wall beside me)
The Go-Betweens, Liverpool Academy 2005, (backstage, met Grant, sniffs again)
Lloyd Cole, Stanley Theatre UoL, 2001/2?
Moby, Liverpool L2 circa 'Play', (1998?) v good but had ‘enhancement’
Jamiroquai, Liverpool Royal Court. Utter cack. Marital duty done for Van Morrison accompaniment earlier in year. Spent second half in bar talking GAA with Tyrone bar man
Frank Black and the Catholics, Liv Uni, over long, nearly 3 hours by end. Not enough Pixies. Missed lasties, frowns at thought)
Bo Diddley, Cavern, Liverpool, great, better in that Lee ‘The La’s’ Mavers nearly got chinned for heckling.
Horace Andy, L2 Liverpool (1999?)
Paul Brady, Liverpool Phil, 2005/6, brilliant
John Martyn, Royal Court, Liverpool, guess what? we’d all had a drink
Shack, L2, Liverpool , perhaps 2005/6, brilliant, dedicated last song to Grant McLennan
Embrace, Royal Court, Liverpool, tune/ bucket carriage malfunction
Super Furry Animals, Royal Court (maybe 2004), on stage volcano! Yeti-suited, white noise guitar techno Bill Hicks sampled encore. What’s not to like there?
Paul Weller, Summer Pops, Liverpool, truculent in extremis
Public Enemy, Liverpool Academy, 2005, bringthemotherfuckingnoiseboi!
Christy Moore, Liverpool Phil, 2007, The Greatest
Brian Wilson, Summer Pops, Liverpool, 2005, Vegas-ly perfunctory
American Music Club, Carling Academy, Liverpool, Eitzel wine fest
Lloyd Cole, Pacifc Road Arts Centre, Liverpool, 2003/4?. As a pig in merd.
The Who, Summer Pops, Liverpool, 2006, LOUD, BRILLIANT
James Brown, Summer Pops, Liverpool, 2006, may have killed him as well as Strummage and Grant McLennan
The Coral, Mountford Hall, 2005, nearly as Scouse as Space/ Proper
Seu Jorge, Liverpool Phil, 2007 (?) Favela comes to Liverpool, does encore going through the aisles including us up in the circle – a truly magical night

Thinking about it:
The Fat Lady Sings
Del Amitri
The Hold Steady
Primal Scream
Blur
Teenage Fanclub
10,000 Maniacs with Kevin McDermott Orchestra
and shudders
The Wolfe Tones (on the piss in Glasgow after the match) not wholly historically accurate. Powerful craic as a Buckie teenager, though

Here are some of my best concerts from the list I did on myconcertarchive.com ( btw you should give it a try at : http://www.myconcertarchive.com )

Maureen Tucker + Lou Reed
casino de paris, Paris (FR)
Feb 20, 1992

The Buzzcocks + Smashing Pumpkins
Elysée Montmartre, Paris (FR)
Feb 5, 1992

The Cramps
Elysée Montmartre, Paris (FR)
Nov 15, 1991

Kraftwerk
Olympia, Paris (FR)
Nov 12, 1991

Suprême NTM + Zebda
Le Bilbo, Elancourt (FR)
Oct 20, 1990

Spiritualized
La Locomotive, Paris (FR)
Jul 3, 1990

Dee Nasty + Lionel D
La Clef - lEclipse, Saint-Germain-en-Laye (FR)
May 19, 1990

Najma Akhtar
Théatre de la ville, Paris (FR)
Feb 2, 1990

De La Soul
Le Palace, Paris (FR)
Nov 6, 1989

Depeche Mode
Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy, Paris (FR)
May 6, 1986

.. come to see my full listing with pictures on http://www.myconcertarchive.com/en/user_home?id=4

Luckily for you lot there's no way I've been to 50 gigs.

I'm going to cheat by getting out my tickets.

1. Bootleg Beatles, Northampton, December 2001.
- First gig, sat near the front, brilliant. Like the Sixties without the screaming girls.

2. KT Tunstall, Life Cafe, Manchester, 23/11/2004
- Went after being mesmerised by her performance on Jools a few weeks earlier. The entire crowd sat down to let the people at the tables watch. Very odd.

3. Bootleg Beatles, Liverpool Empire, 05/12/2005.
- Bought too many tickets. 'John' looked to old. Not as good as they were before.

4. The Zutons, Royal Court, Liverpool, 17/12/2005- Went on my own. Stood on the balcony. The support act (The Stands) were brilliant, the main act less so.

5. KT Tunstall, Liverpool Academy 3, 18/02/2005- First time with a band. Still intimate (before she reached her commercial peak), still good.

6. The Coral, Carling Academy, Liverpool, 19/05/2005- 'Secret' gig in Academy 2. Lee Southall did things with his guitar that I couldn't explain, I also showed my naiveity when it comes to drugs. Excellent.

7. KT Tunstall, Sheffield Leadmill, 20/05/2005. First of the forum get-togethers. Went backstage afterwards.

8. Supergrass, Roadmender, Northampton, 24/05/2005. They refused to play 'Alright'. The 'new' song, 'St. Petersburg' made up for it though.

9. Ray Davies, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 04/10/2005. Was pleasantly surprised at how good his voice sounded.

10. Supergrass, Carling Academy, Liverpool, 16/10/2005. They barely said a word. They were great though.

11. The Coral, Liverpool Academy, 29/10/2005. Without Bill Ryder-Jones. Crowd only seemed to get going during 'Dreaming Of You', which the band performed at breakneck-speed.

12 and 13. KT Tunstall, Glasgow Barrowlands, 04/11/2005-05/11/2005. Two nights in a row; the second of the meet-ups. My new favourite venue. Enjoyed myself immensely, and went backstage (again).

14. Michael McGoldrick, Liverpool Academy, 12/11/2005. Irish folk. Don't know what I was thinking.

15. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Carling Academy, 21/11/2005. Tremendously Forgettable.

16. Maximo Park, Carling Academy, Liverpool, 09/12/2005
- I have no recollection of this gig at all.

17. Ben Folds, Manchester Apollo, 15/12/2005. Brilliant venue (sloping floors are great), and I'm sure I would've enjoyed Ben even more if I knew the songs.

18. KT Tunstall, Liverpool Academy, January 2006. Postponed from November, my two gig-mates abandoned after the support because they were both extremely hungover.

19. Belle and Sebastian, Carling Academy, 27/01/2006
- Ruined by one bloke continuously asking for 'I Fought In a War'. Murdoch performed the first few lines, then told him to shut up. Otherwise, the gig was excellent.

20. Darren Hayman, Jabez Clegg, Manchester, 16/02/2006.
- He of Hefner 'fame and fortune'. Told friend off for going too fast along the motorway back home.

21. The Flaming Lips, Carling Academy, Birmingham, 24/04/2006.
- Maddeningly brilliant. Once was enough though.

22. The Decemberists, Somewhere in Oxford, Somewhere in May 2006. My favourite band, I fell in love with Juanita Stein (of Howling Belles) and it was all marvellous; including the fire alarm.

23. KT Tunstall, Wolverhampton Civic Hall, 19/06/2006.
- Hello KT, have we met?

24. KT Tunstall et al. Wireless Festival, London, 21/06/2006.
- I admit it, I like KT Tunstall. However, she was not the girl I was after today. Unfortunately events didn't quite go as planned. Sigh. I have no idea who else played that day as my mind was too occupied.

25. Maximo Park, Manchester Academy, 01/10/2006.
- Could've sworn it was Birmingham we saw them at. Art Brut supported, I like both bands, therefore, I was happy.

26. Tapes 'n' Tapes, Manchester Academy, 07/11/2006.
- I remember being impressed, though I don't remember why. Their debut album is brilliant. I am saying 'brilliant' a lot.

27. Art Brut, Carling Academy, Liverpool, 12/11/2006.
- Eddie Argos and some other people.

28. The Zutons, Liverpool Academy, 09/12/2006.
- Crap.

29. Arcade Fire, Manchester Apollo, 08/03/2007.
- The best gig I've been to. Fell in love with two women: Régine Chassagne, and a friend of a friend. My gig going partner proceeded to tell the 'friend of a friend' the excellent 'Arcade Flyer' pun that I'd mentioned to him moments before as if it was his. 'Friend of friend' found it funny. Grrrr etc.

30. Maximo Park, Carling Academy, Birmingham, 03/05/2007.
- I knew I'd seen them in Birmingham! This is obviously the gig I'm talking about earlier up the post.

31-33. KT Tunstall, HMV London, somewhere else and The Roundhouse, August-31/10/2007.
- First couple were promotional gigs for the 'Drastic Fantastic' album, third was part of the proper tour. Was starting to get bored of her by now.

34. KT Tunstall, Paris, November, 2007.
- I still went to Paris to see her though; I split up with my girlfriend a couple of weeks later.

35. The Fall, Roadmender, Northampton, April 2008.
- One of us was thrown out for booing at the 'support act'. I wish I'd gone out with him. I'm glad I didn't pay for this.

36. KT Tunstall, Wolverhampton Civic Hall, 09/04/2008.
- Still slightly bored of her, but met up with a few friends at the gig and had a good night.

37. Manic Street Preachers, The Roadmender, London, 28/05/2009.
- First they played 'Journal For Plague Lovers' then the hits. Both were excellent.

38. The Decemberists, HMV Forum London, 18/11/2009.
- First they played 'Hazards of Love' them the hits. Both were fucking magnificent.

39. John Grant, The Muscian, Leicester, 18/07/2010.
- Gorgeous as expected.