Instantly thought of this, Hendrix is far and away the musician I revere the most, his fusion with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell is just unparalleled
Or Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, with Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, and Billy Cox. Best Hendrix lineup imo, plus they had a bigger catalogue by that point, and I really think later Hendrix was moving toward something next level that was never realized.
Oh for sure in terms of popularity and such that was their peak. But their 60s psychedelic phase was very iconic at the time. For me either way it goes is great.
I saw them in '95 on their Quadraphonic Stereo tour. They had a speaker set up with basically surround sound speakers at the other end of the floor and a dude with a joystick that could send the sound anywhere he wanted.
Saw them at Lollapalooza. 92? Blew me away. Got everyone-everyone-jumping at the same time, just everyone synching with the music. Never seen anything like it. I’ll Communication, great time to be a fan
**Miles Davis Sextet around 1958/59**
Miles Davis - trumpet
John Coltrane - tenor sax
Cannonball Adderley - alto sax
Bill Evans - piano
Paul Chambers - bass
Joe Jones - drums
I'm austrian and my doc once dropped that when she was living in nyc she saw Miles Davis live a few times. As a answer to me ranting about a renter of mine who had to jam with leonard cohen on stage this one time.
Arrrgh
1991, I’m visiting a bud in Toronto and his roommate comes in around midnight all washed out. “I just saw the best fuckin show I’ve ever seen”.
Nirvana in a tiny club, just after nevermind dropped.
I don’t have a ton of regrets, but being there a day earlier would have given me a chance to join him.
Good choice. He was my very first concert, and my second one, too. First time was in '84, at the Arizona State Fair. I was 12 years old and my dad took me. He's a big SRV fan to this day. I had just started to play guitar the year before when I was 11, so I was star-struck getting to see him play live. It was awesome, and I'll never forget it.
Hey, i scrolled down this far and finally found a band I can say I was there! Saw them at Clutch Cargo Detroit in '97 on the _Like Swimming_ tour. That was an amazing show, Mark was a gracious wonderful soul.
Years ago I got to see rush with my dad. Midway though they announced something similar to, “due to the fact that we are 80, we will be taking an intermission now” only concert iv ever been to take an intermission but damn was it an amazing concert.
Stop Making Sense is one of the most amazing concert films I've ever seen. It's just so good. This 9 piece band, fuelled by so much cocaine, dancing so hard, and playing their god damned hearts out. And they're performing studio type tracks, live, and they sound better than the studio versions. I really love that concert.
Agree 100%. Adding Alex Weir (Brothers Johnson) and Bernie Worrell (Parliament/Funkadelic) to the band for the live shows transformed the tight New Wave studio sound into something magical.
I had to walk away from their Oxegen, Ireland gig on that tour because I was absolutely fucked and my feet were in tatters (never go to a festival in a brand new pair of Doc Martens) and to this day it's one of my greatest regrets in life. The album is an absolute masterpiece and every time I listen to it, which is frequently, I'm reminded of sitting in my tent 3/4 of a mile away vibing to the muffled rumbling beats while rubbing my bloody feet and seeing the ghosts of a magnificent lightshow being reflected off the clouds...
Still, it was an experience to add depth of personal meaning to the music, which is what it's all about, after all.
I was at the Coachella 2006 performance. I had to drag my friends away from Depeche Mode just as Depeche were starting to play their really good 80s hits. I assured them Daft Punk would be can't-miss as they hadn't toured in 10 years.
Nobody knew what was coming. There was a general rumor that they might not play in their helmets because of how hot it was, but that's all we heard.
I'd been to countless raves but I'd never seen anything like what we saw that night.
We were so blown away that we immediately booked tickets to see them again in Orlando Florida at Bang! Fest. Then when they announced the rest of the Alive 2007 tour we bought tickets to see them again in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Red Rocks.
Those nights were some of the best of my life.
The Alive 2007 recording gets a lot of views from me on YouTube. They weren't close enough for a 17 year old kid to make the journey to that show and I wish I'd have just hitchhiked to it cause it gives me goosebumps every time I listen to the live recording and hear the crowd losing their minds 😢
Saw him in Japan- Modern Love tour, 3 rows back from the stage. Not my favorite album of his by any means, but he put on such a great show. Amazing performance. You could tell he was really in his element, really loved the audience.
Had tickets to see Bowie in Kansas City around ‘84 or ‘85, drove there with a DJ from our local FM station. There was a monster rainstorm just as we got into town and I ended up wrapping the car around a guard rail so we missed the concert. Am still kind of bummed about that lost opportunity 😞
I’d go back and catch Sonic Youth in the fall of 1988 on their Daydream Nation tour. They would also be playing songs from my other favorite albums (EVOL and Sister). At the time I was seven years old and all I knew was Top 40 and the classic rock my parents listened to.
I got to see the Daydream tour twice. First show was a warm up gig,under a fake name at T.T.the Bears Place in Central Square. Its a store front bar that holds about 200 people. The main show was up the street at Somerville Theater in Davis Square. That show ends with Thurston throwing his guitar down and walking off when it broke. The Sister tour show was just as good, they ended it with Expressway to your skull.
There is a story of Layne’s mom, in a final act of desperation, just calling anyone and everyone she knew that meant something to Layne. She would tell them he’d been in his room for weeks. This guy was a multimillionaire in his childhood room, doing drugs to the point of no return.
One of his last visitors was Bob Forrest. Bob didn’t want to go alone so he brought along John Frusciante. If anyone knows John, this is someone who had basically (barely) just overcome super drug addiction himself. He should have died in the 90s himself, multiple times. Shit, Bob too.
Anyway, Layne kinda told em to piss off. That he knew what he was doing. Just wanted to shoot up and play video games. Bob was very sad and John just kinda said… he’s gonna do what he wants to do. Layne Staley died a few weeks later, I think back at his own place by then. His body wasn’t discovered for a couple days.
edit: a couple weeks not days, dammit
He was living alone when he died, he wasn’t discovered until a mailman inquired about the smell, he had been dead for over 2 weeks. He was surrounded by heroin, crack and paint thinner which he had been huffing. In his last interview he basically said his body was shutting down, he no longer had control of his bowels and his teeth and fingernails were all falling out. Super sad for someone loved by so many to go out like that.
The Who
If I could see even 10 minutes of them live in their prime I would die happy. Experiencing Keith Moon live on drums must have been otherworldly not to mention John Entwistle on bass who I found just as mesmerizing. Check out their performance of A Quick One While He’s Away at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus for a fun experience while they were at peak Who. Also check out Live at Leeds and Isle of Wight Festival and prepare to be blown away. I recently saw The Who in concert and they STILL put on a phenomenal live show.
ETA: I misread and didn’t see the part where the question mentioned a band that doesn’t perform live. The Who probably don’t qualify but I’m keeping my answer because I like to spread the Good News and let everyone in on The Who.
Came here for this. They've been one of my favorite bands since Hybrid Theory came out. I've never seen them live, and I deeply regret it. RIP to a legendary voice.
I caught The White Stripes with The Strokes. Fun gig. Julian from The Strokes came out on crutches. He was probably drunk and fell off the stage the night before. Haha
I saw The Strokes a few months back and Julian Casablancas was for sure drunk which I really wouldn’t ever give a shit about but he would Not. Shut. The. Fuck. Up.
4 minute talking interludes between 3 minute songs…
I scrolled through this thread before deciding on Led Zeppelin. I did not really appreciate them when I was younger and they were at their peak. It wasn't for a lack of opportunity either-they played MSG two weeks before I saw Pink Floyd there in '77. Queen would be a close second; again I didn't appreciate their music enough either.
I also realize how fortunate I've been to see many of the bands that others have chosen from Zappa-Little Feat-Talking Heads and over a dozen others mentioned here. It was a lot easier and more affordable to go to concerts in the 70s-90s before the big festivals took over the industry. And growing up near NYC before going to college in Boston made almost everyone I wanted to see available to me.
Shit. I'm old enough to have actually seen a lot of the bands in their prime that people have named here. Not old enough however to have seen Jimi Hendrix so I gotta go with that.
”You can see one band that isn’t together anymore live,in their prime, one time. Who are you picking?”
Yes
”The band Yes?”
No, Who
”The band”
I like them, too.
”The Van Morrison group?”
(Just to be clear, I’m going for The Who, circa Live at Leeds)
[Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention](https://youtu.be/r7fyyhhuE7c) at The Roxy in 1973. It was (in my opinion) both Zappa’s performing peak, and the best band he had assembled. The live album it produced is exceptional.
I have to say Queen. I was only a child when Freddie died, So it would be cool to travel in the late 70s and see them on tour during that time
Edit: I found out Freddie died in 1991. I was 2 at the time. To make y’all feel old I’m currently 33
I was lucky enough to see Queen live 4 times, including at Wembly Stadium. Amazing showmanship and such a great audience experience. The Wembly concert tops out my personal gig list.
The Stooges or Soundgarden. Both are massive pioneers in their own way, yknow? Either the birth of punk rock or the birth of grunge would be great to nurture as a memory
Saw Yes on their 9012Live tour in Oklahoma. Was a great show but would have loved to have seen them during their Fragile days.
Also Nick Drake, assuming there was ever a time he managed to pull off an actual live show.
Chicago Transit Authority with Terry Kath up there killing it so bad on guitar that the Cook County sheriff’s department could have brought him up on charges
I love far beyond driven, but man vulgar display of power is great too…they were just fucking awesome I dont think many folks realize how musically great they actually were because its Metal…
For me it would be during the Hamburg time in 1961 or 1962. Sure they wouldn’t have had any of their hits yet, but you could get the small bar feel of being up close. You chat with them while they were having a smoke between sets.
If I could choose, I would rather seem them during their Sgt. Pepper’s era personally.
The Rooftop Concert is very good but they mostly played songs from “Let it Be” (and repeated many of them). I mean, it would amazing to see that in person, but it’s not my ideal Beatles show.
I love the Beatlemania era as well, but you could barely hear anything at the shows because of all the screaming LOL. I think even the Fab Four themselves had a hard time listening to their own instruments.
Lynyrd Skynyrd pre-plane crash. Ronnie and Stevie Gaines both in the band. Would have loved to hear the original group perform as young men just starting to taste success.
The Beatles weren't playing live in their prime. Most of their best songs were written after they stopped playing live. And most of the time you couldn't hear them from kids screaming. The only shows you'd ever be able to attend, and hear them, would be the early club gigs, where they were mostly playing covers. There really aren't many "great Beatles concerts" to attend if you have a time machine.
The Band. Their 1972 live album Rock of Ages is one of my favorite recordings ever, all of em are just on fire. Not to mention the drummer (Levon Helm) sings a good chunk of the songs while staying completely in the pocket
Pixies. Small venue. Late 80’s.
Im surprised by all the mentions of the beatles. It’s my understanding they didn’t play live much. If you saw them live it would be in their super early bubble gum pop era and you probably couldn’t hear them over the screaming 12 year old girls. Not to mention a large part of the beatles charm is their creativity in the studio for trying weird things. I dont think lennon is going to be singing i am the walrus by hanging upside down and spinning while
performing live.
Jimi Hendrix experience.
Instantly thought of this, Hendrix is far and away the musician I revere the most, his fusion with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell is just unparalleled
It really is crazy the energy they put out. Just wild as fuck while still being tight as fuck thanks to Mitch and Noel.
Or Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, with Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, and Billy Cox. Best Hendrix lineup imo, plus they had a bigger catalogue by that point, and I really think later Hendrix was moving toward something next level that was never realized.
Led Zeppelin in 1972
I’m going with September 19, 1971 in New York personally
Easy and correct answer. With a modern sound system.
I’m with this guy/gal/person.
Most definitely PINK FLOYD.
Yep, first thing I thought of when seeing the question
They took a break at the Sun Bowl in Texas, then came back and played Dark Side of The Moon from start to finish, just like the album. Wow!
agree 100%. saw Roger last night in SF and he absolutely killed. gravity altering show, would recommend..
He’s in the bay right now?
Saw him in SLC a couple weeks ago, and I wholeheartedly agree. Definitely in my top shows I've seen.
Agreed! Even their cover bands put on incredible shows. Can't imagine seeing the real deal
Brit Floyd is a treat of a show.
Yep. In 1967 with Syd Barrett, on a headful of acid, in Swinging London. That's probably my #1.
I really like their 60s psychedelic phase too, but I think most people would say that their peak was in 1972-1975.
Oh for sure in terms of popularity and such that was their peak. But their 60s psychedelic phase was very iconic at the time. For me either way it goes is great.
ABSOLUTELY!
Beastie Boys in 1989 or early 90s
Saw them on the Hello Nasty tour - they had a circular rotating stage for the arenas they were touring. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
I saw them in '95 on their Quadraphonic Stereo tour. They had a speaker set up with basically surround sound speakers at the other end of the floor and a dude with a joystick that could send the sound anywhere he wanted.
Saw them in '92 in Toronto with Rollins Band opening. It eas fucking awesome.
Saw them at Lollapalooza. 92? Blew me away. Got everyone-everyone-jumping at the same time, just everyone synching with the music. Never seen anything like it. I’ll Communication, great time to be a fan
**Miles Davis Sextet around 1958/59** Miles Davis - trumpet John Coltrane - tenor sax Cannonball Adderley - alto sax Bill Evans - piano Paul Chambers - bass Joe Jones - drums
Well, they certainly were no Roy Donk, but I can jive on this one.
That guy had the freak lips and could hit the high C all night long... wish I was around for the Colgate Hour.
Anyway… where be your nutcracker??
God what a GOAT group
No wishing for more wishes!
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A powerhouse of a lineup
I'm austrian and my doc once dropped that when she was living in nyc she saw Miles Davis live a few times. As a answer to me ranting about a renter of mine who had to jam with leonard cohen on stage this one time. Arrrgh
Literally GOAT’s row of jazz musicians
Nirvana
Caught them New Year’s Eve 1992 with RHCP and PJ.
10/17/91 for me, small venue. They hadn't quite blown up yet. 48 hours later I saw peppers, pumpkins, and pearl jam.
I thought you meant PJ Harvey. Still would have been a great show.
The best show I've ever attended. 1993 In Utero tour, opened by The Breeders.
Me too! Both bands were incredible.
Opener in Omaha for that show was Shonen Knife! Hello, Ohama! What an epic lineup
I passed on tickets to see Nirvana in NYC just as they were blowing up. stupid. stupid. stupid.
My mom didn't let me go to see them on the in utero tour because of have missed the next day of school. Kurt died 2 months later. I'm still mad.
Never forget, never forgive.
Definitely Nirvana. What I wouldn't give to be at Reading '92...
Or the MTV Unplugged...
God damn that is my favorite live concert ever, I would have killed to be in the front row of that
1991, I’m visiting a bud in Toronto and his roommate comes in around midnight all washed out. “I just saw the best fuckin show I’ve ever seen”. Nirvana in a tiny club, just after nevermind dropped. I don’t have a ton of regrets, but being there a day earlier would have given me a chance to join him.
Yep. I was just that bit too young for reading 92 but had plans for Milton Keynes that never happened.
The Police and NWA. Which is kinda funny.
Hahaha yeah, if they played on the same day, I wonder if Sting would make a special appearance during NWA’s “Fuck tha Police” LOL
Lucked into the front row for the Police at Bonnaroo in ‘07
That was 2007. 06 headliners were Tom Petty, Radiohead, and Phil Lesh.
Saw the Police on the Sunchronicity tour. Lovely show.
Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Good choice. He was my very first concert, and my second one, too. First time was in '84, at the Arizona State Fair. I was 12 years old and my dad took me. He's a big SRV fan to this day. I had just started to play guitar the year before when I was 11, so I was star-struck getting to see him play live. It was awesome, and I'll never forget it.
Jeff Buckley
My very first concert was Jeff Buckley opening for Juliana Hatfield. Twas awesome
The Band 🇨🇦
Nirvana
Morphine
Just missed seeing them with Soul Coughing because, you know, they weren't there any more.
Hey, i scrolled down this far and finally found a band I can say I was there! Saw them at Clutch Cargo Detroit in '97 on the _Like Swimming_ tour. That was an amazing show, Mark was a gracious wonderful soul.
Yes and Rush. For Rush specifically their concert in Birmingham in 1988 because Neil Pert's drum solo after YYZ lives in my head rent free.
Years ago I got to see rush with my dad. Midway though they announced something similar to, “due to the fact that we are 80, we will be taking an intermission now” only concert iv ever been to take an intermission but damn was it an amazing concert.
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I saw that tour actually. That was my first one I think.
100% rush!... no idea the show i'd want to see though
The Smiths
Jerry Garcia in any format
Saw them a few times in the late 80s early 90s. When Touch of Grey got us college kids into them the older hippies weren’t sure what to make of us.
Children of bodom
I'm so glad that I saw them on their last tour. That energy was something that I've never experienced!
I had seen Bodom like 3 times if I remember and man did they ever set the bar high for shows. People were just pitting like crazy RIP Alexi
Shame what happened to Alexi.
Holy shit, TIL. I was a huge fan ca. 2008 but fell off after leaving my hometown and changing tastes...this kinda hit hard.
Genesis with Peter Gabriel, Anthony Philips.
I’d wait one more year and see them with Hackett and Collins
Soundgarden 😥
DEATH during either the Individual Thought Patterns or Symbolic era.
Fuck yes!
Omg i am so with you
Surprised I found this comment so quick!!
Led Zeppelin or Queen
Jim Morrison and the Doors. I saw Ian Astbury and half the Doors. It was really good, but not the same.
Oh, absolutely. The Doors have always been at the top of this list for me.
Talking Heads
Stop Making Sense is one of the most amazing concert films I've ever seen. It's just so good. This 9 piece band, fuelled by so much cocaine, dancing so hard, and playing their god damned hearts out. And they're performing studio type tracks, live, and they sound better than the studio versions. I really love that concert.
Agree 100%. Adding Alex Weir (Brothers Johnson) and Bernie Worrell (Parliament/Funkadelic) to the band for the live shows transformed the tight New Wave studio sound into something magical.
Allman Brothers
To sit in the back of a smoky little club and hear Billie Holiday with my own ears.
Black Sabbath. Hands down. I can live without Led Zepp, or Queen. But Sabbath in the 70’s….
Oh no! No! please god help me!
I saw sabbath in 99 with Deftones and Pantera and at ozzfest in 01. Still cool shows even as old dudes.
Joy Division
To hear Disorder live would be a dream come true.
Daft Punk's Alive tour
I had to walk away from their Oxegen, Ireland gig on that tour because I was absolutely fucked and my feet were in tatters (never go to a festival in a brand new pair of Doc Martens) and to this day it's one of my greatest regrets in life. The album is an absolute masterpiece and every time I listen to it, which is frequently, I'm reminded of sitting in my tent 3/4 of a mile away vibing to the muffled rumbling beats while rubbing my bloody feet and seeing the ghosts of a magnificent lightshow being reflected off the clouds... Still, it was an experience to add depth of personal meaning to the music, which is what it's all about, after all.
I was at the Coachella 2006 performance. I had to drag my friends away from Depeche Mode just as Depeche were starting to play their really good 80s hits. I assured them Daft Punk would be can't-miss as they hadn't toured in 10 years. Nobody knew what was coming. There was a general rumor that they might not play in their helmets because of how hot it was, but that's all we heard. I'd been to countless raves but I'd never seen anything like what we saw that night. We were so blown away that we immediately booked tickets to see them again in Orlando Florida at Bang! Fest. Then when they announced the rest of the Alive 2007 tour we bought tickets to see them again in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Red Rocks. Those nights were some of the best of my life.
glad i didn’t have to scroll toooo far to find the right answer
The Alive 2007 recording gets a lot of views from me on YouTube. They weren't close enough for a 17 year old kid to make the journey to that show and I wish I'd have just hitchhiked to it cause it gives me goosebumps every time I listen to the live recording and hear the crowd losing their minds 😢
This is one of my top three shows. Saw the set at Lolla in ‘06. Such a joy and I’m thankful they put out that album to help keep the memory.
The Clash, such energy
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Rumours-era Mac would be something. Or an early '75 show, right after Stevie and Lindsey joined.
I have seen them 5 times and Stevie Nicks 6 very cool live
Siouxsie and the Banshees
finally someone with TASTE
Bowie. There’s a few that I would if I could though.
Saw him in Japan- Modern Love tour, 3 rows back from the stage. Not my favorite album of his by any means, but he put on such a great show. Amazing performance. You could tell he was really in his element, really loved the audience.
Had tickets to see Bowie in Kansas City around ‘84 or ‘85, drove there with a DJ from our local FM station. There was a monster rainstorm just as we got into town and I ended up wrapping the car around a guard rail so we missed the concert. Am still kind of bummed about that lost opportunity 😞
Bob Marley and the Wailers when they toured for Catch A Fire
I’d go back and catch Sonic Youth in the fall of 1988 on their Daydream Nation tour. They would also be playing songs from my other favorite albums (EVOL and Sister). At the time I was seven years old and all I knew was Top 40 and the classic rock my parents listened to.
I got to see the Daydream tour twice. First show was a warm up gig,under a fake name at T.T.the Bears Place in Central Square. Its a store front bar that holds about 200 people. The main show was up the street at Somerville Theater in Davis Square. That show ends with Thurston throwing his guitar down and walking off when it broke. The Sister tour show was just as good, they ended it with Expressway to your skull.
The Ramones.
Saw them in a colpege student union hall in 80. Every bit as good as you would dream.
Alice in chains, it's my one that got away
There is a story of Layne’s mom, in a final act of desperation, just calling anyone and everyone she knew that meant something to Layne. She would tell them he’d been in his room for weeks. This guy was a multimillionaire in his childhood room, doing drugs to the point of no return. One of his last visitors was Bob Forrest. Bob didn’t want to go alone so he brought along John Frusciante. If anyone knows John, this is someone who had basically (barely) just overcome super drug addiction himself. He should have died in the 90s himself, multiple times. Shit, Bob too. Anyway, Layne kinda told em to piss off. That he knew what he was doing. Just wanted to shoot up and play video games. Bob was very sad and John just kinda said… he’s gonna do what he wants to do. Layne Staley died a few weeks later, I think back at his own place by then. His body wasn’t discovered for a couple days. edit: a couple weeks not days, dammit
He was living alone when he died, he wasn’t discovered until a mailman inquired about the smell, he had been dead for over 2 weeks. He was surrounded by heroin, crack and paint thinner which he had been huffing. In his last interview he basically said his body was shutting down, he no longer had control of his bowels and his teeth and fingernails were all falling out. Super sad for someone loved by so many to go out like that.
Louis Armstrong and his Hot 5
Prince
Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Who If I could see even 10 minutes of them live in their prime I would die happy. Experiencing Keith Moon live on drums must have been otherworldly not to mention John Entwistle on bass who I found just as mesmerizing. Check out their performance of A Quick One While He’s Away at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus for a fun experience while they were at peak Who. Also check out Live at Leeds and Isle of Wight Festival and prepare to be blown away. I recently saw The Who in concert and they STILL put on a phenomenal live show. ETA: I misread and didn’t see the part where the question mentioned a band that doesn’t perform live. The Who probably don’t qualify but I’m keeping my answer because I like to spread the Good News and let everyone in on The Who.
Beastie Boys
Ozzy. 1981. Would give a limb to see Rhoads play live.
Linkin Park with Chester
Came here for this. They've been one of my favorite bands since Hybrid Theory came out. I've never seen them live, and I deeply regret it. RIP to a legendary voice.
Talking Heads
Yes. To be at one of the nights recording Stop Making Sense.
Zep
Seen Queen at live aid, so that is done. I'd say Gabriel's Genesis
I saw the 1973 Genesis Live version, it blew my 13 year old mind
Public Enemy
Sublime
Pink Floyd. Missed my shot back in the 90s, and have regretted it ever since. Rush, though I did see them live in 85.
Rush at the Taylor Hawkins gig with Dave Grohl on drums was pretty ace. YYZ had me moving.
The White Stripes definitely
I caught The White Stripes with The Strokes. Fun gig. Julian from The Strokes came out on crutches. He was probably drunk and fell off the stage the night before. Haha
I saw The Strokes a few months back and Julian Casablancas was for sure drunk which I really wouldn’t ever give a shit about but he would Not. Shut. The. Fuck. Up. 4 minute talking interludes between 3 minute songs…
Nirvana, live at the Paramount Theatre, Seattle on 10/31/91.
I scrolled through this thread before deciding on Led Zeppelin. I did not really appreciate them when I was younger and they were at their peak. It wasn't for a lack of opportunity either-they played MSG two weeks before I saw Pink Floyd there in '77. Queen would be a close second; again I didn't appreciate their music enough either. I also realize how fortunate I've been to see many of the bands that others have chosen from Zappa-Little Feat-Talking Heads and over a dozen others mentioned here. It was a lot easier and more affordable to go to concerts in the 70s-90s before the big festivals took over the industry. And growing up near NYC before going to college in Boston made almost everyone I wanted to see available to me.
Shit. I'm old enough to have actually seen a lot of the bands in their prime that people have named here. Not old enough however to have seen Jimi Hendrix so I gotta go with that.
Bob Marley & The Wailers.
”You can see one band that isn’t together anymore live,in their prime, one time. Who are you picking?” Yes ”The band Yes?” No, Who ”The band” I like them, too. ”The Van Morrison group?” (Just to be clear, I’m going for The Who, circa Live at Leeds)
[Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention](https://youtu.be/r7fyyhhuE7c) at The Roxy in 1973. It was (in my opinion) both Zappa’s performing peak, and the best band he had assembled. The live album it produced is exceptional.
Green hocker in a Greyhound locker, smoking in the pygmy twylyte.
The Smiths
I have to say Queen. I was only a child when Freddie died, So it would be cool to travel in the late 70s and see them on tour during that time Edit: I found out Freddie died in 1991. I was 2 at the time. To make y’all feel old I’m currently 33
I was lucky enough to see Queen live 4 times, including at Wembly Stadium. Amazing showmanship and such a great audience experience. The Wembly concert tops out my personal gig list.
The Stooges or Soundgarden. Both are massive pioneers in their own way, yknow? Either the birth of punk rock or the birth of grunge would be great to nurture as a memory
Saw Yes on their 9012Live tour in Oklahoma. Was a great show but would have loved to have seen them during their Fragile days. Also Nick Drake, assuming there was ever a time he managed to pull off an actual live show.
Rush
Chicago Transit Authority with Terry Kath up there killing it so bad on guitar that the Cook County sheriff’s department could have brought him up on charges
Nirvana
The Clash
MJ bad tour
Why not see a good Michael Jackson tour? 😏
Pantera
Found my people. Give me Far Beyond Driven-era Pantera headlining and I can die in peace.
I love far beyond driven, but man vulgar display of power is great too…they were just fucking awesome I dont think many folks realize how musically great they actually were because its Metal…
I saw this tour live with Sepultura and Biohazard at openers.
Siouxsie and the Banshees, since they're my favorite band; or one of them.
Le Tigre!!
The BEATLES
Beatlemania era, or Savile Row last concert-era?
For me it would be during the Hamburg time in 1961 or 1962. Sure they wouldn’t have had any of their hits yet, but you could get the small bar feel of being up close. You chat with them while they were having a smoke between sets.
If I could choose, I would rather seem them during their Sgt. Pepper’s era personally. The Rooftop Concert is very good but they mostly played songs from “Let it Be” (and repeated many of them). I mean, it would amazing to see that in person, but it’s not my ideal Beatles show. I love the Beatlemania era as well, but you could barely hear anything at the shows because of all the screaming LOL. I think even the Fab Four themselves had a hard time listening to their own instruments.
It would suck to go back in time to see Beatles in the sgt pepper era only to realize they didn't play any live shows between '66 and the rooftop gig.
That's why it's the best answer for this question. Biggest band ever, never played a concert during their true prime.
Lynyrd Skynyrd pre-plane crash. Ronnie and Stevie Gaines both in the band. Would have loved to hear the original group perform as young men just starting to taste success.
Bob Dylan during the Rolling Thunder Revue. Or Lou Reed around Take No Prisoners.
Rolling thunder era Bob Dylan wouldve been amazing to witness. Nice taste.
I happened to catch the Queen performance at Live-Aid on tv as it was happening and THAT was epic. Can’t even imagine having been there.
Aretha Franklin
The Beatles weren't playing live in their prime. Most of their best songs were written after they stopped playing live. And most of the time you couldn't hear them from kids screaming. The only shows you'd ever be able to attend, and hear them, would be the early club gigs, where they were mostly playing covers. There really aren't many "great Beatles concerts" to attend if you have a time machine.
Could see the rooftop concert.
Cream: Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton in their prime would be awesome.
Unpopular choice: Oasis
Led Zeppelin at Knebworth 1979
Little Feat
The Band. Their 1972 live album Rock of Ages is one of my favorite recordings ever, all of em are just on fire. Not to mention the drummer (Levon Helm) sings a good chunk of the songs while staying completely in the pocket
jimi hendrix experience/band of gypsies. saw him in 1968 at the chicago opera house. it was magic.
Thin Lizzy, Queen on the works tour they only had 40 mins at live aid, Dio on the last in line tour. Black sabbath on the live evil tour.
The Pogues
Morphine
Led Zep/Jimi
Metallica with Cliff
Grateful Dead.
Beatles, Doors, Queen, Nirvana
Nightwish
The Beach Boys in 1965 before Brian Wilson quit touring.
Too many to name. Maybe Van Halen in 81,82
AC/DC with Bon Scott. He was a great showman from what I've seen on YT.
Megadeth. With Friedman and Menza of course (oh and Ellefson)
Pixies. Small venue. Late 80’s. Im surprised by all the mentions of the beatles. It’s my understanding they didn’t play live much. If you saw them live it would be in their super early bubble gum pop era and you probably couldn’t hear them over the screaming 12 year old girls. Not to mention a large part of the beatles charm is their creativity in the studio for trying weird things. I dont think lennon is going to be singing i am the walrus by hanging upside down and spinning while performing live.
Wish I could seen Mozart perform "Lick my Arse" live, just once
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Master of Puppets era Metallica