I wish I could have been around for some of the classic shows that people have been reporting on, but here is my list and I am including solo performances because some of them were the best shows I ever saw by far and will not eliminate based on someone's criteria. A rock show is a rock show
1) Roger Waters - Radio Kaos Tour
This shows was perfect in all areas, it was an absolutely brilliant realization of this concept album and throwing in the video of arnold layne was great.
2) Jethro Tull - although circa 1992 it was an absolutely fabulous show in a 2,000 seat auditorium with wonderful accoustics and old dirty Ian was at his filthy best. and the inclusion of "my god" was great.
3) Elton John - around 1981, this show was a last minute invite and it was phenominal. Elton still rocked back then, even if I had to listen to that insipid song "empty garden". He was reunited with his old band mates and ftom "funeral to a friend" until the last encore.
4)David Bowie - Lets Dance tour
Although no SRV and that insipidly paced version of "lets dance" this show was a killer. And since I was not old enough to see him in his at his productive best, he brought out the classics, including "Station to Station" among others and I was overwelmed.
5) Stevie Wonder - In the early 1980's he did a number of gigs at a 2000 seat auditorium in Detroit and did a retrospective of his career to that point. This event was later put on Showtime cable I believe.He even did fingertips, and did an impression of himself at that age. Me and my friends were some of the youngest members in the audience and the music that man made that night, and what I hear all those nights was breathtaking. It was a nostagila party for most but for us it was just great evening of wonderful music played by a genius who still mattered.
Now for the worst show I ever saw was a tie:
Rolling Stones 1981 - massive football statium show in which the sound was horrible the band played like crap. If it were anybody else they would have been booed from the stage. Santana was the opening act and even in that tomb of a place performed an awsome set that rocked the house and even sounded good.
U2 - It was a small tune up 8 city tour for their "unforgettable fire" release. And I could not wait. in a 2000 seat auditorium I was expecting greatness after having seen the performance at red rocks, although on tape, I thought this best was fantastic. But it just seems they went through the motions and then only played for 85 mins. What a let down. The only good that came out of it was The Waterboys were the supporting act and they rocked I went out the next week and bought "this is the sea"
1) Roger Waters - Radio Kaos Tour
This shows was perfect in all areas, it was an absolutely brilliant realization of this concept album and throwing in the video of arnold layne was great.
2) Jethro Tull - although circa 1992 it was an absolutely fabulous show in a 2,000 seat auditorium with wonderful accoustics and old dirty Ian was at his filthy best. and the inclusion of "my god" was great.
3) Elton John - around 1981, this show was a last minute invite and it was phenominal. Elton still rocked back then, even if I had to listen to that insipid song "empty garden". He was reunited with his old band mates and ftom "funeral to a friend" until the last encore.
4)David Bowie - Lets Dance tour
Although no SRV and that insipidly paced version of "lets dance" this show was a killer. And since I was not old enough to see him in his at his productive best, he brought out the classics, including "Station to Station" among others and I was overwelmed.
5) Stevie Wonder - In the early 1980's he did a number of gigs at a 2000 seat auditorium in Detroit and did a retrospective of his career to that point. This event was later put on Showtime cable I believe.He even did fingertips, and did an impression of himself at that age. Me and my friends were some of the youngest members in the audience and the music that man made that night, and what I hear all those nights was breathtaking. It was a nostagila party for most but for us it was just great evening of wonderful music played by a genius who still mattered.
Now for the worst show I ever saw was a tie:
Rolling Stones 1981 - massive football statium show in which the sound was horrible the band played like crap. If it were anybody else they would have been booed from the stage. Santana was the opening act and even in that tomb of a place performed an awsome set that rocked the house and even sounded good.
U2 - It was a small tune up 8 city tour for their "unforgettable fire" release. And I could not wait. in a 2000 seat auditorium I was expecting greatness after having seen the performance at red rocks, although on tape, I thought this best was fantastic. But it just seems they went through the motions and then only played for 85 mins. What a let down. The only good that came out of it was The Waterboys were the supporting act and they rocked I went out the next week and bought "this is the sea"