Music Acts I Wish I Could Have Seen in Concert
Submitted by slipkid71 on Tue, 07/22/2003 - 06:09
Tags:
- Miles Davis circa 1965-1968 (during his period with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams), and during his "electric" period, 1969-1974
- Led Zeppelin, 1970 through 1975
- Bob Dylan, anytime up until the "Rolling Thunder" revue
- The Who, when they became the great arena rock band, 1969-1973
- The Velvet Underground
- Bob Marley and the Wailers
- Jimi Hendrix, with the Band of Gypsies, 1970
- Pink Floyd, the "Dark Side of the Moon" tour, 1973
- The Rolling Stones, 1972 and 1975
- Genesis, the "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" tour, 1974
- The Clash, 1977 through 1981
- The Sex Pistols' ill-fated 1978 American Tour
- King Crimson, 1973-1974
- Elvis Presley, before he became too fat and bloated and a sad sight to see.
- James Brown, especially if he was playing the Apollo Theatre
Author Comments:
I was either born too late or much too young to experience these acts live. No regrets, but it's just a fantasy I harbor.
I have this odd desire to see the beach boys, early in there days. Preferably on a california beach.
Other then that you said all I would want to see.
I saw the Who three times in the mid-seventies in London open-air (arena) concerts, and they were truly one of the greatest ever live bands, no question. However, I can imagine they might have been even better in an enclosed and smaller venue (I'm never satisfied).
I saw Led Zeppelin in 1971 (at Wembley Empire Pool) shortly before they released LZ IV, so the songs were then unfamiliar, but Black Dog, Stairway To Heaven and Going To California certainly stood out even so (I did not expect sit-down accoustic songs), as did Jimmy Page playing with a violin bow. However, they were strangely disappointing, almost cold. A few months later I saw Jethro Tull at the same venue and they were fantastic, another great live band.
I saw the Stones and Floyd live, but not until later in the early eighties.
It must have been great to have seen the Underground in their heyday, or Elvis. I almost went to the Isle of Wight festival (Dylan, Hendrix, Doors, Miles Davis, and surely the best live band - Free). Instead we went to a festival closer to where I lived, at Weeley, and saw the Who, Rod Stewart, Status Quo, Ten Years After, and it was the first time I came across Van Der Graaf Generator and the Edgar Broughton Band. Though great it was not quite Dylan or Hendrix or Free. (I was only 14 so a closer venue was more attractive - the world was safer then).
Hendrix was dead just weeks later.
One of the most surprising concerts, somewhat of a shock to the system at the time, was seeing David Bowie on the Ziggy Stardust tour just before the album was released, in a small local venue (Harlow Playhouse). I was expecting Space Oddity - but not Ziggy Stardust (who could have expected that).
The one big omission from your list - The Beatles.
I'm glad you mentioned the Beatles. I thought of including them, but because live footage of the band seems to consist of nothing more than a throng of kids screaming their lungs out, I thought the better of it. However, to be one of the spectators at the rooftop concert, I'd give a major non-functioning organ.
I have a DVD of Jethro Tull live, I thought it was terrible. I like Tull, it was just bad though. It was year later however, and poor, poor cinematography.
I was born in '88, the same year Zappa Band had thier infamous tour that resulted in Zappa refusal to use musicans or tour for the rest of his life. But I would of loved to have seen Zappa live at any point in his career. I've seen the Dub Room special, Does Humor Belong in Music?, and Baby Snakes DVDs and love all three. He was so cool and funny and a genius.
I also would have loved to seen Miles at anypoint in his career except that crap in the 80's.
The biggest regret I ever have is never being able to see Weather Report of Jaco Pastorius live though. I would loved to see Jaco, but nothing would be better than seeing him along side to of the greatest musicians ever; Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter.
I wish I could have seen Duane Allman when he played with the Allman Brothers, certainly one of the more electrifying acts of the early seventies.
Also, it would have been incredible to see Woodstock '69, of course.
I'm totally agreeing with you on Bob Marley, early Dylan, Hendrix, and any 70's Pink Floyd tour!
I regret never having seen Queen live.
I saw Queen live at an open-air (free) concert at Hyde Park (London). Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest frontmen/showmen - up there with Jagger, and Brian May is a vastly underrated axeman. I don't remember when it was - probably early 80's.
Yes, that gig is available on bootleg video. It was 1976.
Hello All,
I've been researching my book about Led Zeppelin's live history for a few years now; it's hard work!!! I see that there a re quite a few people here who witnessed the band in concert.
I wondered, given the level of discussion around Led Zeppelin, if anybody here recorded the band in the late 60's or early 70's? It's incredible how many new recordings I have found in the last few years. They have proved to be an invaluable source of information.
If you can help, please e-mail me off forum at
Many Thanks,
Keith.