Besides guns/hunting, my other passion in life is music, specifically hard rock/heavy metal. I've been to many great concerts over the years but a few really standout. I tried to pick one favorite but that was too hard to narrow down, especially from the first three. So, I settled for Top 5.
#1: KISS - Reunion Tour 1996 KISS was the band that started it all for me. I was captivated by the makeup and imagery like most kids of the '70s, but never had the thrill of seeing them live in the Glory Days. I saw them numerous times in the '80s-early '90s with the non-makeup lineups and enjoyed each show (especially the '92 "Revenge" tour), but dreamed of a reunion of the original four in full regalia. There was so much bad blood, nobody thought it would happen, but in 1996 the planets aligned and the Catman, the Demon, the Spaceman and the Starchild took the world by storm again and showed all the pretenders out there how the big boys did it. It was like time traveling back to 1977 and I felt 8 years old again. I knew it likely wouldn't last but it lasted longer than I thought and I was fortunate enough to see them twice more before the original lineup imploded again. The current "KISS" is a joke to me. It's now basically Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and two imposters. The makeup belonged to Peter Criss, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Paul Stanley. The original lineup is clearly done for good this time so they really need to ditch the makeup now, kick Tommy Thayer ("Fake Ace")to the curb, bring back Bruce Kulick on guitar, wipe Peter Criss' makeup off Eric Singer's face and revive the "Revenge" lineup.
#2: Black Sabbath - Reunion Tour 1999 KISS is my sentimental favorite, but from a pure musical standpoint, Black Sabbath wins hands down. Tony Iommi specifically is like a God to me. The man created the genre and has composed some of the most earthshaking riffs ever played on a guitar. I was a loyal Iommi follower throughout the many revolving lineups of Black Sabbath and was never one of the "No Sabbath without Ozzy" guys. Iommi was the creative force of the band anyway so I loved each "era" of the band and actually pick the later Tony Martin era as my favorite, even over Ozzy and the late, great Ronnie James Dio. I was one of probably three guys on the planet who was disappointed when Tony Martin was pushed out to allow the reunion with Ozzy Osbourne. The metal world rejoiced, while I cringed. That being said, my only opportunity to ever see Black Sabbath, in any form, live came in 1999 on the reunion tour of the original lineup. Sabbath routinely avoided my area of the South on their previous tours, but on August 8th, 1999, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward stormed the stage in Greenville, SC and it was almost a religious experience. Ozzy was actually in fine voice and seeing Tony Iommi alone would have been worth the price of admission. The power generated from that stage was awe inspiring and my one and only chance to see the band that started it all will always bring a smile to my face.
#3: Stryper, Loudness, TNT - 1987 It might seem ironic that two of my favorite bands are Black Sabbath and Stryper. While Sabbath certainly sang of the darker side of life, Christian band Stryper showed that metal didn't have to be about gloom and doom. They took the music in a whole different direction and had the chops to pull it off. They were touring in support of their "To Hell With The Devil" album and they proved that Christians could rock as hard as any mainstream band out there. They were supported on that tour by Loudness, the band from the "Land Of The Rising Sun". Stryper and Loudness had a lot in common because they both had to prove themselves to a lot of fans, Stryper for the Christian thing, and Loudness for being Japanese. Both were regarded as "gimmick bands" by some. Loudness' guitar wizard Akira Takasaki, was and still is one of the most amazing guitarists on the planet, far eclipsing a lot of less talented axe-men out there who had bigger names. TNT opened the show that night and I had heard very little of them until that night. They held their own and converted me into a fan. Awesome show with three amazing bands.
Journey: "Frontiers" Tour - 1983 Journey is the only non-metal band that I am fanatical about. Neal Schon is such a fantastic guitarist that he brings a certain "heaviness" to the band that even makes metal-heads love Journey. They are the one rock band that my 75 year old mother even appreciates. They have written songs that transcends all genres. I have seen them numerous times over the years with several singers: twice with Steve Perry, once with Steve Augeri, once with Jeff Scott Soto and twice with current vocalist Arnel Pineda, but the '83 "Frontiers" tour with the classic lineup of Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Ross Valory, Steve Smith and Jon Cain was the one all others are judged by. I was 14 years old, that concert was on my birthday and I took my first real girlfriend to that show, a gorgeous redhead named Ginger (ok, her real name was Jennifer but everybody called her Ginger). Ahh, I still wonder if the carpet matched the curtains but never found out! Anyway, Journey was firing on all cylinders and put on a show I will never forget....
#5: Dio, Deep Purple, Scorpions - 2002 Three awesome bands and I saw it all from the front row (a first and last at any "big" concert for me). I never got to see the late, great Ronnie James Dio with Black Sabbath or Rainbow, but at least I got to see him once with his solo band. For a tiny guy of only 5'4", he sang like a giant. There will never be another one like him and I'm thankful to have been that close to him once. Deep Purple played all their classics and old Ian Gillan proved he still had that banshee wail that could shatter glass. I wish I had seen them with Ritchie Blackmore, but Steve Morse filled his shoes nicely. The Scorps also showed why they had been around for over three decades and Matthias Jabs made some of the most amazing sounds I've ever heard come from a guitar. A truly world class band and a concert great enough to land a spot in my Top 5.
Whew, didn't mean to ramble but I got carried away with the memories. Don't know how many metal guys are here and don't expect everybody to be familiar with the bands I mentioned but what are YOUR favorite concert experiences, regardless of genre?
Steve Miller band in the 80's. Made out with a very, very hot strawberry redhead girl that I met there who had been seated in front of me, though she somehow became seated on my lap. Awesome.
ZZ Top, also in the 80's. There was a chick in a fishnet shirt with very large holes in the netting and no bra. Also awesome.
In 2006, the Rolling Stones in Austin. The Stones began with maybe 3 classic Stones' songs and then Mick Jagger stopped the whole show and said, "It's great to be in the Live Music Capitol of the World and in honor of that I'd like to a song that was taught to us by our old friend, Mr. Waylon Jennings." And then the Rolling Stones launched into played "Bob Wills is Still the King". The crowd went CRAZY. Super fun.
More recently I saw live Austin City Limits tapings of Shovels and Rope and The Avett Brothers. Both great shows.
Too many good ones to list. I roofed the house of the director of marketing for Gaylord Entertainment in Nashville. Spent several years being her personal Bob Vila.
She gave me all her prime holds on tix for years.Your show sell out in 45 mins? Pffft my sh*ts in Will Call in perfume scented envelope with my handwritten name on it. Grins
The one I would consider my best was an accident. When I was in College the school had booked Living Colour which I liked at the time (still do). It was booked in the school auditorium but at the last minute it was relocated to a small club in downtown Pueblo Co. It was a former movie theater turned into a bar. Full stage as old movie theaters had back then. I still have no idea why the venue was changed.
The warm up band was the Black Crowes, before they had made a name for themselves. Living Colour was awesome from 10 feet away.
You could tell the bands enjoyed the venue as it probably was better than the basketball court and wooden bleachers. Both groups put on a great show. I was young enough to actually be in the mosh pit.
ELO back in the day (Second greatest show), Jethro Tull, Kiss (but I did not remember that show till years later), Aerosmith, Styx, Scorpions, I am sure a few others. Sadly I missed Led Zep even though I had the opportunity, never regret not seeing the Dead, missed Metalica and Guns and Roses, probably too poor at the time.
My first big rock show, and the band was at the height of their powers. When they opened up with the 2112 Overture at full volume the Riverside Centroplex was rocking.
Stevie Ray's last two concerts. His last song with his brother Jimmie,Clapton,Robert Cray, and Buddy Guy was.....no good words. Drove from California and set next to folks from 10 miles from our house. "Festival Seating".......on the grass.
Roy Orbison's tribute concert. 48 artists from Dylan to John Lee Hooker to Iggy Pop to the Byrds to Townsend and Cash on video feed.
Cream at Madison Square in 2005.
My daughter was there for all of them. She never understood the Michael Jackson thing.
God bless her for putting up with her fathers ADHD. She didn't mind. Lol
For my birthday a couple of years ago she got me a bootleg of SRV last concert. His last song was "Sweet Home Chicago" 15 minutes.
Being a single parent has it's advantages. The ex wasn't a blues fan.
And Dylan and the Dead tour was great. They were good that night.
Ozzy and GNR played all the old good stuff, and rocked it from start to finish with no extended breaks. Ozzy mooned the crowd. lol. The GNR concert was one of the last before Axl Rose buffed up and changed his music style.
Really dating my self here, but from my younger years, it was Boston and Bruce Springsteen. After that Alabama, and now my tastes run to the likes of TobyMac and Casting Crowns.
I grew up in Chicago so that was the thing to do on the weekend saw most everyone late 70 and 80s Tickets were 20bucks and you had to get a T shirt (If you didn't you didn't go)
Have seen may great shows NOTHING compares to the Eric Clapton Cross Roads festivals I was at # 2 and #3 The first one was with my Daughter Samantha got in and 9AM left a bit after midnight it was way too short Second was with Sam Peggy and a few friends it was also great If someone likes guitar music buy the DVDs you will be glad you did
Currently if you get a chance see Kid Rock its quite a "show" he really makes you have a good time and the MILF get pretty excited and dialed in. Some are hot some are scary. I have seen many shows few like Kidd
1.) Dwight Yoakam in 1990. He came to play that night. He walked onstage with a bottle, took a swallow, set it on the amp and repeated that throughout the night. He never got sloppy but was definitely in the mood to party. He played until someone from the venue walked onstage and told them they had to shut it down. They even played most of the album that was released later that year.
2.) Waylon in the late 80's. He said "they tell me I've played here before but this is the first time that I'll remember"
Stevie Ray's last two concerts. His last song with his brother Jimmie,Clapton,Robert Cray, and Buddy Guy was.....no good words.
I saw Clapton 3 days after the crash. Mark Knopfler sat in. EC played a little over 3 hours and never left the stage. When the band took their break, he stayed on stage playing SRV solos with tears running down his face. Goose bumps still...
Tom Petty played homecoming the year I graduated UA. Probably not one of the best shows I've ever seen, but it sure was fun! Admission was $12.
Went to see Delfayo Marsalis in New Orleans. His brother Wynton showed up and they jammed for hours. We were sitting at a table 20 feet away and when they took a break Wynton came and sat with us, took pictures, signed autographs and let me blow a couple notes on his trumpet. Cool Stuff. Admission was $4 with a college i.d.
November 1987 Motley Crue, Girls Girls Girls Tour with Guns-n-Roses opening. No one had heard of Guns-n-Roses but we left very impressed and went and bought Appetite for Destruction. That January they skyrocketed with Welcome to the Jungle video.
Stones 1966 Steve Miller 1969 Cream with Steppenwolf opening 1969 John Myall 1969 Paul Butterfield 1969 Eagles 1974 Jeff Healey 1989 Buddy Guy, BB King & Koko Taylor 1994 Robert Cray 1994
Rock festival in Denver in 69 (if I remember right) three days of music and fun. Three days had 20 or so bands each I remember Creedence, Jimi H, Zappa, some gospel group, Canned Heat, Johnny Winter, 3 Dog NIght and a little 5' chick from Boulder that simply outclassed Janis J in all ways, wish I had a recording of her St James Infirmery, Candy Givens was a real talent but OD'd a year and half later.
The old football stadium was the venue had your usually himmies, biker gangs, suburban kids and adults. LEOs were fighting semi rioters in the lots trying to get in, brought out their new "fogging teargas machine" and promptly gassed everyone BUT the crowd outside.
Last set was Iron Butterfly, the stage down on the field and someone tripped the sprinklers. That shut down the electrics on stage but the drummer went on with additions to his solo on Inna Godda Devita.
:Pretty heavy experience for a 15 yo kid. 45 years later wish my memoriy was a bit better as to all who played.
Really dating my self here, but from my younger years, it was Boston and Bruce Springsteen. After that Alabama, and now my tastes run to the likes of TobyMac and Casting Crowns.
Caught some great shows at the Budokan in Tokyo while we were homeported in Yokosuka in the early 70's with some shipmates. Ten Years After and Jethro Tull standout. Alvin Lee could flat out play the guitar.
Doobie Brothers with REO Speedwagon opening. This was 1974, when REO was a real rock band and not doing their teen girl crap. The Doobies closed with smoke and pyro that blew almost every hippie's mind. This was cutting edge then and the music was fantastic.
I didn't want to go to the Blue Man Group a few years ago, but my wif dragged me there. If you ever get a chance to see the Blue Man Group, do it. They are better than anything out there...
Didn't make Woodstock, but a few years later was at a 4 day event in Speyer, Germany along the Rhine river in September, 71 with the British Rock-Fest, pretty much had all the bands of the times, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Fairport Convention, Stone the Crowes, Rod Stewart, and
ozzy and metallica, master of puppets tour ozzy, alice in chains, sepultura queensryche however its spelled Pantera megadeath, over kill and slayer ( my band opened at the eagle auditorium 1995) Volbeat last sunday.
I have seen kiss to many times to remember but the reunion tour was the last time I has seen them. I loved them as a kid and a teen but wouldn't walk across the road to watch them for free now.
I have seen way more concerts but many sucked Guns n roses sucked all three times I seen them and skid row was horrable. I never liked that glad crap anyways.
Van Halen at the BJCC in Birmingham in 1984. Eddie Van Halen could do things on a guitar that seemed inhuman.
Journey on their Frontiers tour.
Aerosmith at the BJCC
ZZ Top saw them 3 times. Great every time.
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November 1987 Motley Crue, Girls Girls Girls Tour with Guns-n-Roses opening. No one had heard of Guns-n-Roses but we left very impressed and went and bought Appetite for Destruction. That January they skyrocketed with Welcome to the Jungle video.
Cool. I went to a Ozzy Osboure concert back in 1984 and saw a then not widely known opening band called Motley Crue. LOL!
AC/DC, 1985, Greensboro NC. Angus in full form, dead center against the barricade for me. I ve seen them 5 times since, while all good, they never matched that energy again. Stevie Ray Vaughn, 1986, Raleigh NC. The height of his wild living and performing, we talked with people that were following the band through the southeast swing of the tour after the show, and they all agreed that this was by far the best the band had played and the longest they played for one show. Reverend Horton Heat,2013, Green Bay Wi. Wildly talented guitar picker, great band, great songs, I can't say enough how much I enjoy the Rev's shows
More notable to me are shows that I missed AC/DC with Bon Ronnie James Dio version of Black Sabbath Metallica w/Cliff Waylon was through here in the early 80's and I had a game...
I've been to many, many shows and some were pretty good, some not-so-much, but these stood out to me
ACDC-late 70's with Bon Scott touring with unknown Cheap Trick. Saw them twice with Bon Scott, once without-not the same. Boston-late 70's Had tik's for Lynrd Skynrd[postponed and then....] Early 80's ZZTOP, Grand Funk Railroad, Rush
1990-Alan Jackson & Clint Black
Ricky Skaggs at a private show at Grand Ol Opry with Ry Cooder July 2014
Been to a few over the years, but the most memorable was the first. Back in '72 the Canadian group "Bread" was playing and they performed well. It would have been better if their warm-up band hadn't brought down the house ... some new upstart group called Aerosmith.
I've seen - Brooks and Dunn, Joe Diffie, Garth Brooks (before he went weird), Lita Ford, The Architects (from KC not the UK), Frank Turner and Flogging Molly. (not counting local bands from GB)
Best concert was Flogging Molly hands down. Frank Turner and The Architects opened for them and my best friend and I were front row, center. The energy was amazing and the show blew everyone away - including Garth.
I'd not go see GB again for free but I'd pay a good price to see FM again.
Johnny Cash, Hank Locklin, Chuck Berry, Larry Williams, and Jerry Lee were in Flint at the old I.M.A. Auditorium. Chuck Berry, Larry Williams, and Jerry Lee preformed at the same concert.For all you old timers Larry Williams claim to fame was the song "Boney Maroni". John Denver and Santana were in Detroit.
The Oak Ridge Boys - great music and the ability to make the audience feel like they were part of the show.
Andres Segovia - I know, he doesn't fit most of the genre mentioned here but undisputedly was the worlds greatest classical guitarist. I was lucky enough to have a seat third row center and the sounds he could get from a guitar was amazing.
In the 90's (can't remember which year) I took my mom to see Ray Charles. He was backed up by the Sacramento Symphony conduced by David Ogden Stiers (Maj. Charles Winchester). That was a HELL of a show, and Ray Charles was quite predictably brilliant.
Late '90's I saw The Steve Miller Band at Arco Arena in Sacramento on a New Years Eve. 3.5 hour show and Norton Buffalo was with them; they played everything.
Also in the '90's saw Styx, Bad Company, and Billy Squier all at one concert; got my money's worth at that show.
RUSH - 2012 Clockwork Angels tour, in Dallas. This was the concert they made the video at; hell of a show. Neil Peart did not one, but 3 drum solo's, each were different, and each were mind blowing.
1982 - The opening concert of Journey's "Escape" tour, with Loverboy.
Early 90's saw Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I was never much of a fan, but I'd go to another Tom Petty concert in a New York Minute. That guy knows how to put on a show.
And just this past Cinco-de-Mayo, caught Sammy Hagar in Lake Tahoe. 67 years old and that guy didn't pull or miss a single note; great show, I'd recommend it to anyone.
Rolling Stones in West Berlin, 1973 by a nose. They put on one hell of a show.
Close second was Jethro Tull, also in W. Berlin.
Hard to choose a third place, so many great performances by bands big and small. One of the most enjoyable was a concert by BR-549, a bar band out of Nashville. It was in the Egyptian Theater in Boise which is a terrific venue for concerts. It's an old, old restored movie palace with great acoustics and since it's small as concert halls go there are no bad seats anywhere.
Didn't go to a lot of them as a youngster. In the last 15 years, Bob Seger, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood, Heart, Pat Benatar, Bad Company, the rest were at Sturgis and escape me right now. Saw Waylon in about 1985. Outstanding. At the Buffalo Bill Arena in North Platte, Saw Blake Shelton, wasn't too impressed. Brad Paisley was good though.
I went to some big rock & roll, mini Woodstock extravaganzas,..and I've been to see some big names in relatively small venues, but the one that stands out was a concert by Hank Williams Jr. somewhere back around 1980 or so.
He was hot back then and selling a lot of records.
The concert was in a big ballroom type affair in a 50's era hotel complex,..The Continental Inn,...here in Lexington, KY.
It was like a giant bar.
There were tables and chairs set up for everybody,..waitresses wandering through the crowd taking orders,...sometimes they even brought you what you had requested.
Hank Jr. is actually a very talented, very musically schooled guy.
He played with his band, and he did quite a bit of solo stuff while playing a piano.
Everybody was very appreciative and it seemed like Hank Jr liked the atmosphere of the place.
He worked very hard that night,....stayed out on stage for a good 2,...maybe 2.5 hours.
I got there very early with my date,..a skinny lil' blonde mountain girl that I was seeing at the time. We had a table right in front of the stage.
The door out of the place was in the back and it took us a while to get out after the concert was over.
A bunch of people was standing up congregated in front of the stage,..waiting to work our way to the exits after the concert had ended and the roadies were out taking down the equipment,...and one of them started hitting on my date there in front of the stage.
Kinda pissed me off,...but it was evident that the girl was flattered.
But you know,...I knew she was a hoe when I invited her to go to the concert with me,...That's why I did it,...*shrugg*,..so I really couldn't get too worked up about the situation.
Still,...I wasn't gonna let the roadie screw my date *that* night.
He was gonna have to stay in town and do it tomorrow.
The most memorable was Crosby, Still, Nash and Young in Milwaukee around 1974. They played in the old Brewers Stadium. They came out and played for a couple hours, then left the stage and came back out to do solos and all kinds of combos with one another. Then they came back and played for another hour or so and did 3 encores. About 5 hours long.
I've also seen The Grateful Dead and Yes, several times each, the Allman Bros, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Nuge a few times, Chicago, Boston, ELP, Grand Funk Railroad, KISS and the Pope the same day, and a whole lot more I can't recall just now.
I still go to concerts but these days they are all Christian artists.
Holy crap! I can't possibly remember 'em all. But, a couple stand out. Lynard Skynard opening for The Who in '72. WOW!! Hank Jr. at Monterey Fairgrounds in '85, Eagles in 2011 and Roger Waters in 2012 with whoever that was on lead guitar. Amazing player! Too many others to recall. Now, I just play my own guitar for the hell of it. Love Fender guitars.
In the 90's (can't remember which year) I took my mom to see Ray Charles. He was backed up by the Sacramento Symphony conduced by David Ogden Stiers (Maj. Charles Winchester). That was a HELL of a show, and Ray Charles was quite predictably brilliant.
Late '90's I saw The Steve Miller Band at Arco Arena in Sacramento on a New Years Eve. 3.5 hour show and Norton Buffalo was with them; they played everything.
Also in the '90's saw Styx, Bad Company, and Billy Squier all at one concert; got my money's worth at that show.
RUSH - 2012 Clockwork Angels tour, in Dallas. This was the concert they made the video at; hell of a show. Neil Peart did not one, but 3 drum solo's, each were different, and each were mind blowing.
1982 - The opening concert of Journey's "Escape" tour, with Loverboy.
Early 90's saw Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I was never much of a fan, but I'd go to another Tom Petty concert in a New York Minute. That guy knows how to put on a show.
And just this past Cinco-de-Mayo, caught Sammy Hagar in Lake Tahoe. 67 years old and that guy didn't pull or miss a single note; great show, I'd recommend it to anyone.
Norton Buffalo was bad azz. Saw him a number of times. Wet Willie and Elvin Bishop also put on great shows.
1) Probably Faith no more opening for Metallica and GNR.
Ozfest 98. Coal chamber, Sevendust, Tool, Motorhead. I'd seen Ozzie on the retirmennt sucks tour. Megadeath was there too, but Mustain was never the same once he cleaned up. The Van's warped tour was there as well. All in all, there were about 40 bands on multiple stages. The only band I'd ever heard of from the warped tour was Rancid.
Grateful Dead Barton Hall Cornell in 1977, Bruce Springsteen Giant's Stadium 2009, Crosby Stills Nash and Young Bethel Woods 2006, Peter Frampton Plattsburgh State University 1975, Jessie Winchester at Morrison Mansion Middletown NY 2006, John Fogerty Bethel Woods 2014, The Talking Heads SPAC 1983, Levon Helm Midnight Ramble at his barn 2008, and Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue Burlington VT 1975.
Been to a few good ones but nothing will ever beat White Zombie and Pantera in San Jose Ca.. Both were monsters on top of their game and each put on a show that was pure brutal metal.... Nothing like being on the floor at a show like that.
Hadn't been to very many big concerts, mostly local talent and Texas Music around central Texas, but we just went to see the Eagles on their "History of the Eagles" tour. Concert was in San Antonio. The show was great, they played for 3.5 hours. Bernie Leadon joined them for a number of songs at the start and toward the end. We were on the floor 7th row. Had a good time. 40+ years of making good music. You don't see many bands where all the members sing lead vocals on different songs.
Garth Brooks really put on a good show back in the day.
Also saw Shania Twain who was good, but she had a bunch of kids on stage with her out of the audience who were really enjoying themselves and will remember that forever. Cool beans.
Back in about 93/94 we went to see The Smithereens at a small club in Houston called The Blue Door. It was fantastic. It was loud...but those guys could play the crap out of their instruments. And their vocals were equally good.
1971-2-ish Michael Nesmith, the Byrds, and Linda Ronstadt on the same show at Blackham Coliseum, LAfayette, LA. Ronstadt and the Byrds were great. I am pretty sure I saw at least 1 future Eagle in Linda ronstadt's band. Also, it was free with my college ID.
2. 2009 Eagles " East of Eden" in New Orleans, LA - about 3 hours of nothing but Eagles music.
Early 1970's ZZ Top at Kickapoo Cantego in Wichita Falls Texas. Early 1980's Hank Williams Jr. Casper Wyoming 2nd night. The first night was canceled due to storms. We had the center section 1st two rows and he played acoustical for about an hour before the band came out. Sometime in the 1971 (haha) Allman Brothers in Austin Texas. Lastly in 1979 Stevie Ray Vaughn in Soap Creek Saloon outside of Austin.
August 1969 stationed in Norfolk Va. just back from the Nam. One of the navy types i knew asked if I wanted to go along to a concert some place in New York. I took a pass one of the decisions I will always regret.
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