If time travel was invented what gig would you travel back in time to see

[red marley]

Pah!  I've read enough science fiction to know that if you travel through time to see your favourite band before they were famous, you're likely to end up creating them.  And nobody deserves that.

That's my theory as to how earworms are created. There you are having set your Tardis to San Francisco c. 1984, walking past a bunch of mulleted musos while absentmindedly humming We Built This City and before you know it, you've created a monster. I mean, no-one would create these things on purpose would they?

[Jaded]

I'd like to go back to a gig when Van Morrison wasn't grumpy. So no chance.

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

Pah!  I've read enough science fiction to know that if you travel through time to see your favourite band before they were famous, you're likely to end up creating them.  And nobody deserves that.

That would certainly explain the success of some bands I could name.

[Mr Larrington]

Pah!  I've read enough science fiction to know that if you travel through time to see your favourite band before they were famous, you're likely to end up creating them.  And nobody deserves that.

That's my theory as to how earworms are created. There you are having set your Tardis to San Francisco c. 1984, walking past a bunch of mulleted musos while absentmindedly humming We Built This City and before you know it, you've created a monster. I mean, no-one would create these things on purpose would they?

Now you've got me wondering whether Messrs Taupin, Page, Lambert and Wolf have ever heard Half Man Half Biscuit's We Built This Villiage On A Trad. Arr. Tune...

[Cudzoziemiec]

I'd like to go back to a gig when Van Morrison wasn't grumpy. So no chance.

[Exit Stage Left]

Probably the John Martyn concert where Dave Gilmour guested, fortunately there's a DVD. I saw Martyn more times than any other artist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmdKT4SShDY

[Basil]

I'd like to go back to the Manchester Free Trade Hall.  17th May 1966.
This time, I wouldn't shout "Judas".   

 

[Zipperhead]

I'd like to go back to a gig when Van Morrison wasn't grumpy. So no chance.

On the occasions when I've seen him, I can think of 3 times when he wasn't grumpy.

[Eccentrica Gallumbits]

Ike & Tina Turner. Sam Cooke. Al Green. Otis Redding. Elvis. Queen. The Rolling Stones. The Beatles. The Kinks. Aretha Franklin. Wham! The Faces.

[Basil]

I'd like to go back to a gig when Van Morrison wasn't grumpy. So no chance.

On the occasions when I've seen him, I can think of 3 times when he wasn't grumpy.

Fuck me!  That suggests that you've paid actual money to see that dull fucker >3 times.  Are you mad?   Do you ever learn?

I'll go back to his first solo gig and shoot the whining boring shit.

[Jaded]

   

[matthew]

AKUS at Birmingham symphony hall 2005, I had tickets for the gig but came off my bike the day before and spent the night in Selly Oak hospital recovering from surgery. 

[Mr Larrington]

I'd like to go back to the Manchester Free Trade Hall.  17th May 1966.
This time, I wouldn't shout "Judas".

I don't believe you.  You're a liar.

 

[Basil]

I'd like to go back to the Manchester Free Trade Hall.  17th May 1966.
This time, I wouldn't shout "Judas".

I don't believe you.  You're a liar.

 

    

[IanDG]

Where shall I start. Every band that I said to my friends 'sorry I'm racing the next day'.

I passed on Led Zep Knebworth tickets because it clashed with the national track champs - fortunately a second date was added and I made it

[CAMRAMan]

Well, I've already seen the pinnacle of rock 'n' roll when Dean Friedman appeared on stage with Half Man Half Biscuit at the Robin2 in Bilston in 9/2010. Not only did he sing a reply to the song he's famous for, but he also played guitar and sang on The Bastard Son of Dean Friedman. A great sport.

Coming a distant second would be one of Paul Simon's Zimbabwe gigs after the release of Graceland. Apartheid was still rampant in South Africa, but many people travelled from there to see him. Watching Simon sing Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika with Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Ladysmith Black Mambazo was a stunning way to say 'Fuck You!' to Joanna.

On another note I was in the second row for ABBA's first ever UK gig in Brum. I swear Agnetha blew me a kiss.

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

Probably the John Martyn concert where Dave Gilmour guested, fortunately there's a DVD. I saw Martyn more times than any other artist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmdKT4SShDY

I did see Dave Gilmour guesting at a Sam Brown gig.   So was able to see him from 10 feet rather than 1 mile. 

The Richie Blackmore e-tickets have arrived, fortunately they don't clash with the Tan Hill 600 or Andy Corless would have had an early cancellation. 

On reflection I'd also like to have been a fly on the wall when Edvard Grieg met Franz Liszt in Rome.  According to Grieg's account not only was Liszt able to play the piano part by sight from the rough manuscript he also added in some of the orchestral parts too.  But any of Liszt's private performances in the 1850s would also have done.

Or also Birgit Nilsson as Brunnhilde.

[Mr Larrington]

Or also Birgit Nilsson as Brunnhilde.

Hands up who else had to use Google to check that CET wasn't referring to the former Mrs Stallone?

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

 

Or also Birgit Nilsson as Brunnhilde.

Hands up who else had to use Google to check that CET wasn't referring to the former Mrs Stallone?

 

[PaulF]

I'd like to go back to the Manchester Free Trade Hall.  17th May 1966.
This time, I wouldn't shout "Judas".   

 

Beat me to it. Apart from the shouting bit.

[Torslanda]

I'd like to go back to a gig when Van Morrison wasn't grumpy. So no chance.

On the occasions when I've seen him, I can think of 3 times when he wasn't grumpy.

Fuck me!  That suggests that you've paid actual money to see that dull fucker >3 times.  Are you mad?   Do you ever learn?

I'll go back to his first solo gig and shoot the whining boring shit.

Don't wrap it up, Basil. Speak your mind . . . 

Meanwhile in other news . . .

Genesis, Roundhay Park, 1987. Only this time I'd take the car because, along with about 25,000 other people, I got to Leeds station concourse around 1 am to discover the next train to Manchester left around 6. I got a taxi. 

Peter OTP when he was recording. We saw his trio last year inna Rochdale pub, where they were competing with live pugilism or sportsball. Absolutely loved it.

[Wowbagger]

The first performance of Beethoven's 9th. I'd continue to travel back from Vienna 1824 to Dublin 1742, where I would be invited to leave my sword by the door before listening to the first performance of Handel's "Messiah".

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

The first performance of Beethoven's 9th. I'd continue to travel back from Vienna 1824 to Dublin 1742, where I would be invited to leave my sword by the door before listening to the first performance of Handel's "Messiah".

You could have stopped off on the way to take in Stravinsky's Riot of Spring!

[Wascally Weasel]

I would like to go to New York on December 8th 1980 and say "For fuck's sake Mark, at least spare one round for Yoko."

[rafletcher]

David Bowie in the Ziggy era, Earls Court 1973 (I was 16)

Nirvana anywhere.

Rainbow as OP.