Saw this on Twitter. Figured everyone could use something new to post about/read about. for me it was either the Beastie Boys or Lollapalooza 94. Main Stage: Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, George Clinton & the P. Funk All-Stars, The Breeders, A Tribe Called Quest, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, L7, Boredoms, Green Day Second Stage: The Black Crowes, Blast Off Country Style, The Boo Radleys, Charlie Hunter Trio, Cypress Hill, The Flaming Lips, The Frogs, FU-Schnickens, Girls Against Boys, Guided By Voices, King Kong, The Last Poets, Lambchop, Luscious Jackson, Palace Songs, The Pharcyde, Rollerskate Skinny, Shonen Knife, Shudder To Think, Souls of Mischief, Stereolab, The Verve actually now that I think about it the first artist I saw perform was Cher. Yes Cher, my family used to goto to Atlantic City like once a month for the weekend, my parents didn’t pay for shit, so they would goto shows all the time,and for some reason the one show they make me goto was her.
Kenny Rogers, with Kim Carnes opening. Brendan Byrne arena, 1980. Gallagher was supposed to be the first opener, before Carnes, but he was sick and canceled that night. 7-yo me was so pissed. We were in the nosebleed seats. Kenny did about a 30 minute set, no encore. #lame
It was a long time ago, but I'm pretty sure it was Iron Maiden, World Slavery Tour 1984. I still have the tour programme. I remember they had to simplify their stage show a bit because the venue was too small. According to the web, the support act were called 'Waysted' (formed by the UFO bass guitarist Pete Way). I have absolutely no recollection of them at all ... and ive never heard of them since. Maiden were fucking great
New Kids On The Block with Tiffany opening, in 1987, at some big fair in bumfuck Delaware/Maryland/Jersey.
Devo and X. NYE 1980 Long Beach Arena. They did "Whip it" and "Gates of Steel" and Freedom of Choice hadn't even been released yet. Still one of the most amazing shows I've ever seen in my life.
That must have been SO rad, and seeing them before FOC was released?! My kids and I listen to it tons, as Devo is one of our gospels. One of my earliest memories in life is of watching the video to Whip It on MTV in 84-85ish.
@rattanicus so good! my sister was HEAVY into them in the 80s I wish she wouldve taken me to one of the shows. @612DudeCrew I caught that tour on the FL leg. That was your FIRST show?! Thats a good one MInes not that exciting. Nine Inch Nails in 94
Haha. Mine is also NIN from the Self Destruct tour. I was an angry child. I can’t even count how many times I’ve seen them since although I prefer their ambient stuff more these days
Not exciting?! Dude, I’d have KILLED to see NIN in ‘94! That’s an amazing first concert!!! I saw Nile with Strapping Young Lad, Napalm Death, Berzerker and Dark Tranquility in 2002. That might’ve been my second show, ever. Nile was absolutely incredible, and Napalm Death was psychotic. I also used to work at a venue eight years ago, and I essentially got paid to watch Behemoth and Watain on their tour.
The Monkees 1986. Brendan Byrne Arena NJ. Front row seats. Openers were The Grass Roots, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap and Herman’s Hermits. Bought the tix for face from some guy next to the box office 20 mins before the show.
I remember my parents wanted to go Skiing that same weekend. I hunkered down full on shit-fit to the LIMIT and they ended up letting me go. I bought tickets from this dude that had the most amazing collection of Devo bootlegs and colored vinyl. The show was long and good. They opened as "DOVE" the Band of Love and did folk covers "Takes a Worried Man" Kingston Trio sort stuff. I would have to say the "Hardcore Devo" shows they did a few years back after Bob 2 died were comparable. The original song order and B-sides was like going back in time. The stage was even set up like their basement in Akron when they started. Devo always delivers.