I’m starting this thread because I want to know what was your first big concert! Mine was Paul McCartney 2013 at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna. It was an incredible night for me and my parents although we had seats that were far away from the stage. Here’s a video from YouTube that someone made during the show
Depends on how you judge big gig, if we're talking arena's then it would be Radiohead at the Birmingham NEC in 1997. If it's an outdoor show then it would be Reading Festival in 2003.
Rush at the Lakeland Civic Center in beautiful Lakeland, Florida. March 10, 1985. Tommy Shaw opened the show.
Beach Boys, 1965, Circle Star Theater, San Carlos, CA. But no Brian Wilson. I was a little clueless about what was going on with B.W. at the time and hugely bummed!
EAGLES and Jimmy Buffett Honolulu's Aloha Stadium Sept.30, 1979 the week The Long Run was released and "Heartache Tonight" was all over the radio. Eagles were coming from Japan so this was the first US show of the tour. I was 14, flew interisland with a friend and was met there by his dad who chaperoned us. I have this poster. that $10 would be about $40 now. Six months later I flew again for my first indoor arena show, Fleetwood Mac on the Tusk tour at Honolulu's Blaisdell Arena.
I just turned 17. One month into my first year of college. Out of the sticks and into civilization for the first time in years I was. When I heard the Stones were coming, no way I was missing out. Folsom Field, Boulder Colorado. Early autumn 1981. I joined my 60,000 newest best friends for: Opener: George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers Second act: Heart Headliner; The Rolling Stones Thorogood was great. Heart was having a very off day. The Stones rocked. What a great way to start my concertgoing.
I was at local concerts in my small town quite often when I was a kid. Size related that's nothing compared to what was just to come years later: I went to a Depeche Mode concert with a friend on June 9th, 2013, Olympic Stadium, Berlin. A capacity of 66,388 people (source: Wiki). The gig was sold out. The pics here are not from me, by the way (copyright Telekom Electronic Beats). Unfortunately we were not anywhere near the stage. Rather sitting/standing under one of the stadium's roofed parts, right side, but could see the show very good from there. It was quite rainy during the gig but luckily, thanks to the roof, we didn't get much water from the sky.^^ We also had tickets for another DM gig a few years later in Leipzig. My pal and I went to the city's zoo on the gig's day but earlier, around noon time or so. Unfortunately, as it was very hot and dry that summer day, he collapsed when we just went in, had to get him back to our hotel to recover and so, sadly, we missed out the whole concert that night... Just imagine, if all went well I would've been at two Depeche Mode concerts. Never could've afforded the tickets myself, both were birthday presents from my friend. Nonetheless, I have great memories of the one in Berlin. Glad we were there at least.
Bryan Adams, Summer of ‘69 tour, 1984 in Bozeman MT. Think that was the same year I also saw Toto and also Hüsker Dü.
Black Sabbath - Dec 1976 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center. Opening act was Ted Nugent. I was 14, trying real hard to look cool in my jean jacket.
J. Geils Band. I was Visiting my older cousin for sibs weekend at Ohio University the fall of 1973. They performed in the convocation center. The ultimate party band!
The Jacksons - Victory Tour Orange Bowl - Miami November 2, 1984 My first show. I was 9. That show, my whole family went. The first show where I specifically asked to go, was a few years later in 1988: Starship, with opening act Cutting Crew. Then in March 1990, I saw Billy Joel. A month later, I saw Paul McCartney, and I've basically been going to shows regularly ever since. Probably a different concert every month or so since March 1990, with only 2020's lockdown ruining my streak.
May 22, 1973 @ the Paramount Theatre in Portland Oregon. Procol Harum with Leo Kottke opening. I was 16 years old. Unforgettable experience. I went with my older brother who was responsible for most of my musical education when I was young.
This was one of my first. I seem to recall others around that time but this could have been it. One of the headliners was little richard when hendrix was in the band. My brother wrote the article. I also saw the Dave Clark 5 later that year, 1965. April 16, 1965: Soupy Sales, Hollies and…Hendrix? | Best Classic Bands
