Seeing bands before they got famous

[option click]

As mentioned in another thread, which bands did you see before they made it really big?

For me:

Smashing Pumpkins on the Gish tour 1992, triple headlining at the Astoria with The Verve and Catherine Wheel.

Foo Fighters' first UK gig at the Phoenix Fstival, 1996

Carter USM - very low down the bill at the 1991 Great British Music Weekend supporting the likes of Jesus Jones, Ride, The Wedding Present and The Cure. Not sure they ever became *that* famous, although it didn't stop me seeing them 30+ times more.

Coldplay at the Tunbridge Wells forum, 1999. Fortunately I was there to photograph them so wasn't paying too much attention to the music

Edited by option click on Thursday 27th June 20:54

[mrmaggit]

I saw Terraplane supporting Foreigner at the NEC. Mentioned to the girl I went to see the gig with that the support band "were almost really good".

They became Thunder, and I've seen them live more times than any other band, I think I must be into the teens of times now, if not more.

[MonkeyBusiness]

mrmaggit said:

I saw Terraplane supporting Foreigner at the NEC. Mentioned to the girl I went to see the gig with that the support band "were almost really good".

They became Thunder, and I've seen them live more times than any other band, I think I must be into the teens of times now, if not more.

Saw them (Terraplane)supporting Meatloaf at Harrogate.

[Slyjoe]

I saw Frank Turner at the Northampton Roadmender. A year later he played to several million people at the opening of the Olympices.

[jains15]

Muse supporting Skunk Anansie (!) at Nottingham Rock City sometime in 1997 I think. Remember being blown away by Muscle Museum...

Was quite a gig that

[davepoth]

Coldplay on the NME tour, playing to an empty room because the bouncers opened up late. Aside from that I've been decidedly behind the curve.

[LeoSayer]

Blur at the Town and Country Club in 1992, just after their first album was released. I think Suede supported them.

[Ultuous]

Highlights for me (showing my age!) were probably:

Placebo - Nottingham Rock City 'Rig' October 95, supporting Whale (if anyone remembers them?).. First proper gig I went to!

Ocean Colour Scene - Loughborough, October 95 (Ok, already had an early album under their belt but they were relatively unknown at the time)

Travis, Loughborough sometime in 97 (in front of 15 people - I counted as I had a promo copy of 'U16' and knew they'd be big!)

Kenickie - Princess Charlotte, Leics in front of a handful of folk

The Longpigs (the Charlotte again) - bought the tickets, then "On and On" was released and charted before the gig came around - fantastic atmosphere that I'll never forget!

[WhereamI]

Dire Straights in 1979, just as Sultans of Swing was rereleased.

[Condi]

Calvin Harris back about 2 weeks before releasing his first single. Back then he was very much a producer and played instruments on stage. Now he is just a DJ, and live shows are nowhere near as good.

[Steffan]

Saw and enjoyed Stones, Beatles, Canned Heat, Procul Harem, Davy Graham, John Renbourne, Paul Simon (in London in Greek street) Bert Jansh, The Move, ELO, Cream, Yardbirds, Clapton in many guises starting with John Mayall, Peter Green and 10CC. Steeleye Span. Andy Fairweather Low and Amen Corner, Hot Chocolate The Kinks Manfred Man the list rolls on lost count really.

I was lucky enough to be 14 in 1960 saw lots in my teens went to University College London became Secretary of SU organised the Uni gigs (with the Nurses collages Oh yes!!!) for three years then trained in Accountancy in London and spent another three years touring the London clubs when I could afford it. It was a very hard life but I did my best to enjoy every minute!

[M888SXY]

Voice of the Beehive - not that they were ever that famous.

I remember seeing, on the telly, in the late 70's, U2 supporting Stiff Little Fingers.

[Asterix]

Steffan said:

Saw and enjoyed Stones, Beatles, Canned Heat, Procul Harem, Davy Graham, John Renbourne, Paul Simon (in London in Greek street) Bert Jansh, The Move, ELO, Cream, Yardbirds, Clapton in many guises starting with John Mayall, Peter Green and 10CC. Steeleye Span. Andy Fairweather Low and Amen Corner, Hot Chocolate The Kinks Manfred Man the list rolls on lost count really.

I was lucky enough to be 14 in 1960 saw lots in my teens went to University College London became Secretary of SU organised the Uni gigs (with the Nurses collages Oh yes!!!) for three years then trained in Accountancy in London and spent another three years touring the London clubs when I could afford it. It was a very hard life but I did my best to enjoy every minute!

I rarely get jealous as it's a self-destroying emotion - but I'll make an exception here.

You lucky git.

[Le TVR]

Steffan said:

Saw and enjoyed Stones, Beatles, Canned Heat, Procul Harem, Davy Graham, John Renbourne, Paul Simon (in London in Greek street) Bert Jansh, The Move, ELO, Cream, Yardbirds, Clapton in many guises starting with John Mayall, Peter Green and 10CC. Steeleye Span. Andy Fairweather Low and Amen Corner, Hot Chocolate The Kinks Manfred Man the list rolls on lost count really.

Most of those too.

Odd ones were: Paul Simon in a folk club in Epsom (upstairs room in a pub). David Bowie was scheduled but Space oddity was released and a much bigger venue was needed! Cream in a pub in Tolworth but I was too young so I sat outside at the window. Dire Straits at a pub in Kensington, late seventies. Pink Floyd Crystal Palace garden party, King Crimson Hyde Park '69.

Some amazing moments

[Justin Cyder]

Happy Mondays twice. Once at the Zap in Brighton for 50p & again the week Hallelujah came out for a quid in Newcastle.

KT Tunstall for £2 a couple of days after she'd been on Jools Holland for the first time.

Oasis for a quid in some dive in Bognor. Got chatting with Noel as they were loading their gear into a Transit after & asked him why the singer was staring at us all through the set. 'Oh that's just our kid, take no notice!!'

Vintage Trouble who may or may not get big but probably have the momentum to do so.

Few more I can't remember right now, but those are probably the highlights.

[was8v]

Feeder supporting Reef at Manchester Academy......

Loads of good bands on little stages before they got really big at festivals...

[was8v]

Steffan said:

Saw and enjoyed Stones, Beatles, Canned Heat, Procul Harem, Davy Graham, John Renbourne, Paul Simon (in London in Greek street) Bert Jansh, The Move, ELO, Cream, Yardbirds, Clapton in many guises starting with John Mayall, Peter Green and 10CC. Steeleye Span. Andy Fairweather Low and Amen Corner, Hot Chocolate The Kinks Manfred Man the list rolls on lost count really.

I was lucky enough to be 14 in 1960 saw lots in my teens went to University College London became Secretary of SU organised the Uni gigs (with the Nurses collages Oh yes!!!) for three years then trained in Accountancy in London and spent another three years touring the London clubs when I could afford it. It was a very hard life but I did my best to enjoy every minute!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

[HorneyMX5]

The Killers before they released anything at the Fez club in Reading.

[S47]

Tragic love company several times B4 they became -> Stereophonics
Muse before they signed suppoting Feeder in cardiff, they were awesome, very glad I recorded the gig, Feeder were awesome too, I'd seen them a few years earlier supporting Terrorvision in Newport - Blew Terrorvision away, checkout the vid
Also saw Dave Edmund's - 'Love sculpture' late 60's just B4 they released 'Sabre Dance' which went to no1. he got me into great guitar players.

Edited by S47 on Friday 28th June 10:42

Edited by S47 on Friday 28th June 10:50

[Justin Cyder]

Now you mention it, I saw the Stereophonics before they made it at the T&C in Kentish town, which would have been about 200 people at a guess on the night. They were clearly tired & emotional, full of bum notes, out of time & knew about half the words.

These are going nowhere I thought.