I was a college social sec, then a festival worker, then a tour manager, then in TV production for music programmes - I've seen a lot of bands and have more regrets about some of those I did see than those I didn't. I did see The Band, but only after Robbie Robertson had left and I'd have liked to see the full original line up. For some reason, I never got to see Mott The Hoople and that's a big regret. Always a big fan. Interestingly, I've never seen Dylan live - but, by all accounts, he's such a hit and miss performer that it may be a blessing. I'd have liked to have seen Marvin Gaye, around the time of "What's Going On".
@paul-villers It's a bit of a lottery however these days apparently.
Mine would probably be more specific performances/tours I wish I’d seen- Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged, Fleetwood Mac at Warner Bros Studios in 97 (in particular to witness that Silver Springs performance), Pink Floyd around Dark Side of the Moon and, a bit of a cliché one, but would love to have been at Queen at Wembley in 86 (sorry Mark I know how you feel about them!)
Gram Parsons, Jefferson Airplane, Laura Nyro. First two I would have had to be a bit older and richer to see. Ms Nyro though played Union Chapel in Islington in 1994 but I didn't hear of it till afterwards.
There isn't many to be fair and a lot of bands/artists I haven't seen yet I'm still holding out hope that I might one day!
I guess The Beatles, Hendrix or Elvis just to experience that ... and lots of early punk bands that weren't around by the time I got old enough.. but I'm going on the premise that I might have at least had the chance to see them... so
Fountains of Wayne
Love Battery
Oh and The Sadies for sure, I know they still exist but I wish I'd got to see them before Dallas died.
Great choices Simon, I saw the Sadies and FOW a few times, both many years ago. I saw the latter last at the Sky Full of Holes tour which is just about my favourite album of all time but hadn't realised how unhappy they were during that period. Have not even heard of Love Battery so off to have a listen.
Soph - I would have paid good money to *not* see Queen 🤣
@markamericana Love Battery were one of the more interesting bands Seattle bands during the 'grunge' years. Named after the Buzzcocks song.
After they split Jason Finn was in 'Presidents of the United States of America' and the Bass player was in Green River before Love Battery (with members of Mudhoney and Pearl Jam) So they were well embedded in the scene at the time but never really got anywhere.
They had a cool sound, hints of psychedelia, shoegaze and more general 'Alt-Rock' .. they didn't put out much but I really liked them, a lot more varied and interesting than most of their contemporaries.... but I don't think they ever even played the UK.
This was the closest thing they ever had to a 'hit' the single off their most well known album.
...also sooooo jealous you've seen The Sadies!!!
Thanks Simon, a good sound although maybe not melodic enough for my delicate ears, I always preferred FOW's later stuff where the guitars were cleaner.
R.E.M. Still don’t know how I contrived to miss seeing them live. Sometimes I have to work quite hard to be this stupid.
I only got to see them once (Isle of Wight festival 2005) I can't believe it was that long ago now... they were great though, made me far more of a fan than I was.
