What I can't understand is why more hugely successful bands don't use a bit of imagination and play spectacular, one-off gigs in amazing locations. I am thinking here of The Grateful Dead playing by the pyramids in Egypt... something really unusual. The cost of air travel being what it is, people would go...

...made that pledge following Springsteen's shows at the Emirates last summer. No atmosphere, seemingly populated by idiots and you can't see a damn thing. Exercise in utter futility all for £55 plus booking fee.

Came to the conclusion that, similar to the Hep's column this month, Bruce is never going to better the performances seen on the Tom Joad tour at Brixton, The Rising Tour at Wembley Arena and the Seeger Sessions tour at the same. Why bother listening to sub standard songs in a sub standard venue for a premium price?

They're a Dutch band I thought?

last year at the Manchester Cricket ground,although fairly enjoyable it was not an experience i'll be in a rush to repeat. In over 30 years of gig going it was my first 'stadium' experience. I've always avoided such events. I guess for these bands it's the easiest way to tour.

Shall hopefully be going to Latitude this year, and really looking forward to it, tony I can't explain why it should be any different

are by some band on their Zooropa tour for the sheer spectacle and hutzpa and spookily enough, Boss at the Emirates. Although down in the middle of the crowd during Boss' tribute to his late friend, a woman behind me asked 'Who's Danny?'

Unless you're going to throw on a real show that can be appreciated in Row Z then don't bother. Playing likr its just another gig doesn't work.

Go see the Boss or\and Neil Young in Hyde Park this summer thou. Really great atmos and view if past experience is anything to go by.

or stay at home and watch Glasto highlights on the telly cos they are playing that too.

This is precisely why I had no desire to see Genesis play a circa 1992 set (which wasn't particularly brilliant anyway) transplanted to Twickers on their last money spinning tour. Too many people too many metres between me and the stage. Having said that I saw Peter Gabriel at Selhurst Park football ground in the mid-80s and it was great - but then the audience was in the low thousands, the stage was set in one of the side stands so you could see and the sun shone. Oh, and I was much younger.

I'm more or less within walking distance of the V Festival so that gets a look most years. Although sharing a field with with several tens of thousands of Oasis fans is not giving me warm feelings at the moment. Ho hum! At least there's Elbow to look forward to.

to see a band in a football setting but I did see that band U2 in Wembley. Wha? Hypocrite you say? Nah, I was working as a steward when inbetween jobs.

My pitch was in the old stadium's Olympic gallery with double-priced seats and dealing with the knobs, who might as well have tatooed across their foreheads..."don't you know who I am?"

Madonna was a much better gig tho.

I saw Michael Jackson at Wembley Stadium in 1991 and that was a fantastic show and felt thoroughly entertained by the spectacle. Well done him.
I did not expect between-song banter or off-the-cuff spontanaeity, so it was very much like going to the cinema, really.

However, if it was a concert by a bunch of miserable musos that take themselves too seriously (most of the bands I like fit this description) then the stadium setting simply doesn't work.
Comedians don't work with big audiences either - I suppose the appeal of serious live music is the need for a personal connection with THAT audience there on that night.

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Early 90s, the Monster tour. Lucky me.

Left after 30 minutes.