At#1 by a whisker is Lynryd Skynyrds' "Free Bird" Oakland Coliseum Stadium 1977. The ending goes on forever. This is a better You Tube version than Knebworth '76 where they opened for The Rolling Stones. The urban myth is that Mick Jagger after hearing the audience's reaction was something along the lines of "Fook me, how do we follow that!!"
#2 The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again (Shepperton Studios / 1978). Pete Townsend at his mercurial best and John Entwistle's bass play.
#3 U2 - Bad (Live Aid 1985). I know everyone raves about Queen's set but this particular song made me sit up and I think put U2 on the world map
Rory Gallagher nearly made it but having only just discovered him he gets an honourable mention. Known as the best guitarist you never heard of.
Please feel free to post your own personal favourites
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
Sorry, but it's 4...
- any Rory gig at the Brighton Dome
- Thin Lizzy Live And Dangerous tour at the Brighton Centre (atmosphere like a Cup Final - no other band has ever equalled it!)
- Jeff Beck and also Frank Zappa both at the Hammersmith Odeon (the hot bed London venue for die-hard fans before Wembley took over with it's 10 metre high video screens...)
Happy days - long gone now but never forgotten!
Chazz14 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:19 pm
Sorry, but it's 4...
- any Rory gig at the Brighton Dome
- Thin Lizzy Live And Dangerous tour at the Brighton Centre (atmosphere like a Cup Final - no other band has ever equalled it!)
- Jeff Beck and also Frank Zappa both at the Hammersmith Odeon (the hot bed London venue for die-hard fans before Wembley took over with it's 10 metre high video screens...)
Happy days - long gone now but never forgotten!
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
Wigan in the early 60's. Jerry Lee Lewis........Fantastic. Little Richard at Belle Vue around the same time.....Almost as good. The last Eddie Cochran concert in Manchester 1 day before he was killed (I still have his autograph)....Really good concert.
HarryVardon wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 6:34 pm
Wigan in the early 60's. Jerry Lee Lewis........Fantastic. Little Richard at Belle Vue around the same time.....Almost as good. The last Eddie Cochran concert in Manchester 1 day before he was killed (I still have his autograph)....Really good concert.
Nope 28 March - 2 April 1960 Manchester Hippodrome The Wildcats
4 - 9 April 1960 Finsbury Park Empire The Wildcats
11 - 14 April 1960 Bristol Hippodrome The Wildcats
16 April 1960 Bristol Hippodrome The Beat Boys
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
Hell, does this go to "Live Performances" you've seen, or simply a "Pick n Mix" of your favourite groups/music that's on Youtube?
I'm limited to the groups/individuals I've seen performing live, missed chances and a few regrets, so MY"Top 3 Best Ever Live Performances" would be limited to teenage years of "Heavy Metal". A huge gap and change in "Taste" followed though I did see some great stuff in Prague whilst working in the Czech Republic several moons ago (but still love AC/DC )
Have enjoyed some of the selections above however...
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
/\ I initially posted with a view of a particular song in a live performance whether seen or not.
The concerts I've personally seen don't come close to my top 3. My top 3 list of live gigs I've been to would be #1 would be Paul McCartney and Wings, Liverpool '79, #2 OMD Manchester Apollo several times. Andy McCluskey's manic dancing to Maid of Orleans(Joan of Arc) a particular highlight.
#3 John Miles (RIP) Manchester '77
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
Chazz14 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:19 pm
Sorry, but it's 4...
- any Rory gig at the Brighton Dome
- Thin Lizzy Live And Dangerous tour at the Brighton Centre (atmosphere like a Cup Final - no other band has ever equalled it!)
- Jeff Beck and also Frank Zappa both at the Hammersmith Odeon (the hot bed London venue for die-hard fans before Wembley took over with it's 10 metre high video screens...)
Happy days - long gone now but never forgotten!
I saw Zappa at the Odeon. My friend and I were in our 20s and we were easily the youngest (and the least stoned) people I could see. He's my guitar master, forget Hendrix, Clapton et al. Robin Trower is above them too, for me.
Because music was as breathing in my youth I've seen hundreds of bands big and small across many genres (from Michael Jackson and acoustic Marc Bolan to Gentle Giant and Brand X, via Dr. Feelgood, Queen and Black Sabbath ).
But the top three performances would ALL have to go to The Who whom I saw several times (best gigs maybe headlining two separate all day concerts at Charlton football ground and then maybe the 1972 gig at The Lyceum in London) . No better live band ever, and I've seen artistic early Genesis in an Odeon cinema and Pink Floyd's surreal 'Animals' set at Wembley Arena (as well as their early 'Set the Controls' stage set which was incredible for its day).
sateeb wrote: ↑Mon Jun 23, 2025 12:41 pm
Rory Gallagher nearly made it but having only just discovered him he gets an honourable mention. Known as the best guitarist you never heard of.
I was listening to him in the 70s, LPs still in my mother-in-law's loft (I'll never get back to the UK to claim my treasured collection). Yes that's been his moniker.
Another 'best guitarist you never heard of" is Robin Trower (maybe he's better known now). Saw him many decades ago in the UK. Possibly as loud as The Who.
Not a concert but a musical play. I went to see the Musical "Buddy" in the Westend {can't remember which theater) many years ago. The last 30-45 minutes Gary Busey went through the complete Buddy Holly song list. The theater was full and during that last phase everybody was standing in the aisles singing and dancing. I've never experienced any like it.
My top 3 live gigs were: 1. Rory Gallagher's last unplugged concert at Cork Regional Technical College in 1993 - very poignant and emotional; 2. Bruce Springsteen at Slane Castle in 1985 - 3 hours of raw Springsteen in beautiful sunshine without any supporting acts; 3. David Bowie also at Slane Castle in 1987 - as much for the venue itself as for the music.
)
).
