the answer is David Bowie. Unlikely, sadly.

(By which I mean, I've not seen him, but would like to see him, and he has a track record of being quite good live)

would be rather fab.

though I doubt it'll happen. I never thought the Roses would reform mind, but Abba don't need the money.

would be fonky dory.

no one I can think of

Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Alabama 3, Eels.

Want to see:

Ryan Adams (on form), Alejandro Escovedo, Arcade Fire, Joni Mitchell

Saw them at the Move Festival in 2004 but they haven't played in North West England since. I'd love to catch them again without too big a travel cost to add on.

I would have gone for McCartney, but 8 years on he's finally back in Manchester and I'm going to see him in December!

(Also, happy to report I have a Stone Roses ticket!)

Television, Husker Du and The Replacements.

... Squeeze. And Nick Lowe.

I missed him in London and I guess the chances of him ever coming to NZ are slim to say the least.

With a support of Roddy Frame and Vic Goddard

Chris Wood, Lau, Bellowhead (stifled scream off stage from Sour Crout) The Imagined Village, Martin Simpson, Spiers and Boden, The Unthanks

And I'm getting to see them all on a regular basis. My gig-going life has never been happier.

But I'm with Steve Turner on a faint hope of ever seeing Joni Mitchell. Suspect I've missed the boat on Fripp too. Have read all the recent 'Stone Roses to reform' posts and have wished to swap the band name for XTC.

I'd love to have seen Talking Heads in their pomp with Adrian Belew on guitar as captured on the Name of this Band is... album.

Of bands I have seen, I'd love to see Tackhead again, ideally without Bernard Fowler on vocals. They were much better live without him. I hope I'll never forget the sheer power and overload they generated playing the Kilburn National Ballroom in 1990. I remember seeing them at a later gig at the Astoria I think, and me and my pals having a laugh at the three baseball capped forty somethings at the front nodding to one another like real ale fans at every flourish by Keith le Blanc, Doug Wimbish or Skip McDonald. Even at the time, we said that would be us some day. I'd love that day to happen and to stand at the front with my pals.

Of those that are at leat possible, I'd love to have been at this weeks Roddy Frame gigs. Sadly he didn't make it to Ireland this time around and my disposable income didn't extend to a trip across the irish Sea. I live in hope because Aztec Camera was my first ever proper gig and every time I've seen him since has rekindled the flame of youthful hero-worship.

the mighty Wire. These are one of those bands that when they announce a tour I will try and get to at least two or three of the dates.

I'll always try and catch John Foxx when he comes to town and indeed have just come back from his show with his marvellous backing group The Maths and it was ace.

Neither of these acts are nostalgia for me (I wasn't old enough to see them in their prime) and both acts have decent new stuff to play rather than just cranking out oldies.

I'm not particularly excited about The Stone Roses or any acts from youth coming back. I've recently passed up the chance to revisit The Flaming Lips playing Soft Bulletin, and Primal Scream playing Screamadelica having seen both albums performed in their heyday...don't feel the need to go back.

I would quite like to see Kate Bush and XTC live because I've never seen them. I'm not holding my breath.

That is all.

I never tire of seeing Costello live. He never disappoints. After the last rubbish, mumbly Dylan gig I was at I wondered why do we let him get away with it. EC's setlists are always eclectic and his performances improve with age.

Would like to see: getting to see Simon & Gardunkel in 2004 was a major tick off my list. I still can't believe there hasn't been a Talking Heads reunion. I wonder if the window has passed? I think my real choice would be Split Enz. Would it kill them to do a few night at the Albert Hall? Hmmm? Check out this footage of them from 2007 apparently.

Original Line up of Guns N Roses. Although having watched a few videos of his Rock in Rio performance this month maybe not...

Not forgetting of course that next week is Wilco week. I start tomorrow with a drive and an overnight in the Lake District on my way to Glasgow to see them Monday night, then onto Manchester Tuesday, down to Bristol Thursday then across to London for the Friday & Saturday night shows in Camden. Did a similar thing last year except that was just 3 cities (London, Newcastle & Glasgow) and they were all very different shows with a total setlist of almost 50 songs over the 3 nights.

this far down and no mention of The Smiths!

Also R.E.M. - it's been way too long...

Be among the first to buy tickets if Super Furry Animals or Primal Scream come to town. Always a fantastic night at either

Elvis Costello, Billy Bragg, Ron Sexsmith, Youssou N'Dour

2. Still alive and I would love to see them in concert, but know I never will:
Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Brian Eno (doing the early solo albums)

3. Would love to see them in concert, and I've got a decent chance of doing so:
The Decemberists, Afro-Cubism, Bellowhead, Waterson Carthy, Matthew Halsall, Ketil Björnstad

Talking Heads and The Tubes.Problem is i'd like to see them in the late 70s/early 80s,thus time machine required.

Could not make it to Cropredy this year .

Glaringly obvious yes, but I never got to see The Jam first time around and The Smiths were always a fiery live proposition. Still the best show I've ever seen at the Albert Hall.

Strange how the perception of impending mortality focuses minds. Mani's Mum's passing brought the Roses back together and the sad decline of Foxton's wife brought Weller back in contact. Obviously itches are there that need scratching somewhere.

...(Miami Vice millionaire and musical semi-retiree) finds an emotional/musical itch relating to 1971-73 needing scratching.

I speak, of course, of the Mahavishnu Orchestra (Mk 1):

John McLaughlin
Jerry Goodman
Rick Laird
Jan Hammer
Billy Cobham

Jerry and Billy have taken part in MO tribute albums in recent years; Billy has jammed MO material with John at last year's Montreux Festival; Jan has jammed MO material with Jeff Beck onstage in recent times; John has proudly sleevenoted several MO tribute CDs; all five have been to see Gregg Bendian's uber-tribute act The Mahavishnu Project at various times (Hammer even hiring them as his backing band for a one-off spot at a Moog-Fest recently). All five co-operated with Walter Kolosky's MO biography.

Deep down, they KNOW they should do it... I think Jan is the sticking point...

Would LOVE to see Sparks. And in the words of McLongWhiteCloud - zero chance of them making it to NZ....

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/billy-bremner-v-billy-bremner

I'd love to see Rockpile again - but I guess it's not going to happen anytime soon.

(Oh - and an XTC reunion - ditto)!

New Model Army - notched up my forty-somethingth gig of theirs last weekend. Not a fashionable band, but they always deliver a set full of power, passion and some of the best songs I know. The thing I love most is that they are still a working band, and not just trotting out the oldies - approx 75% of their typical setlist these days comes from the post-2000 albums. There's not a lot of bands who have been around for thirty years that can say that.

Would love to see Jane's Addiction. Never have, suppose I could in the future but I have a nagging suspicion it would be a colossal disappointment these days.

1. Never tire of seeing live

AC/DC: I'm not going to bother explaining why. Anyone on the blog who's seen them knows already. Those who haven't mustn't be interested and, if so, fair cop.

2. Would like to reform and/or re-tour so I can see them live

Bowie (will he ever tour again?)

Ozzy and Black Sabbath (I've seen them separately but never together. Another reunion seems to be on the cards)

Dire Straits (liked their earlier stuff. Shame Knopler has ruled it out)

Roger, David and Nick, the remaining Floyd (I could go on about this but what's the point?)

Cream (one last tour before they all die of old age, please?)

UFO and Michael Schenker (again, I've seen them separately but a reunion is very unlikely)

3. Don't want to see re-tour.
Led Zeppelin. Debate it if you must but I just don't think it would work in their case. The legend and mystique would be gone forever. Plant's voice isn't up to it either.
The Faces - for the same reason e.g Rod's voice.

The 1973 "Great Deceiver" or "Bb00m-Boom" late 90s version. But according, to a pal who met Fripp recently, never going to happen. So we must rely on Adrian belew and the Sticksmen making it over here

Gigs are as rare as hens teeth. One of the few being in a pub a mere gentle stroll away from this house. As I discovered by reading the review in the paper...