What was the first concert you went to?

I forget the first concert I ever saw, but three that stand out were Free at the Lanch. Poly, Mott the Hoople at Warwick Uni, and Edgar Broughton Band at Chesford. Broughton was a double bill with the Hare Krishna Temple. They went down like a lead balloon and had stuff thrown at them, glasses and all kinds, had to run for their lives. When Ed came on stage, his first words were 'Hare Christmas, everybody'. E. Broughton also did a free concert from the back of a dropside truck through Warwick in the late 60's. We all cheered as he and his brother were also ex Warwick school inmates. Brilliant stuff.

My first in Coventry was Coventry Theatre on 25th September 1980 to see Ozzy Osbournes' Blizzard of Ozz. Ozzy was a shambolic drunk on stage, but I saw the unknown guitar genius Randy Rhoads absolutely astound every fan that night. I have seen hundreds of guitarists since, no-one came close to Randy's playing. A much-missed guitarist

I remember that Edgar Broughton concert as well, I also saw them at some of the free concerts they did. Amongst some of the other ones that stick in my mind were, David Bowie at the Cov Theatre on the Ziggy Stardust / Aladdin Sane tour, Al Stewart at the Bear in the High Street and Mike Absolom at the Lanch. It's amazing how many of these acts are still performing considering their age (and lifestyles )

Mike Absalom used to play regularly at the Lanch and Warwick University circa 1974. I saw him several times. He then became a children's party entertainer in Canada. He returned to the UK and actually played at Brinklow Folk Club about 3 years ago. Not surprisingly you wouldn't recognise him these days from his long-haired, top-hatted persona of the 70's.

Absolom's just had a resurge due to The John Peel record collection and is about to do a small tour. He is a painter living in Ireland nowadays and you're correct he's totally unrecognisable now although the hair (and beard) still mark him out. I think it was 1973 when I saw him just after his appearance on the Old Grey Whistle Test.

My musical tastes generally stopped around 1961 and never went for the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. Obviously there are exceptions, enjoy listening to Queen very much. Edgar Broughton and Mike Absalom are names I have never heard of at all. Perhaps it's me as I can be a miserable old scrote at the best of times, but I really don't understand why people pay good money to see bands/performers who are obviously past their sell by date. I'm sure that someone on the forum can explain it to me.

There are exceptions to the rule - "proper" musicians seem to get better with age In recent years, we've seen Joe Brown (mentioned in a previous posting), Bill Wyman (with his Rhythm Kings), Manfred Mann (Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Mike D'Abo, Mike Hugg), for example, who have all been simply excellent

My first was Free at the Lanch in 1970 supported by local outfit Indian Summer. Also at the Lanch around about the same time I saw Elton John, Caravan, Stone The Crows, Curved Air, and ELP. The atmosphere at the Lanch was always very exciting for us geeky schoolboys, surrounded as we were by supercool hippies. Much better than the cavernous Cov Theatre where I saw the Stones and Deep Purple in 1971. I'd also been to the City Arms folk club in Earlsdon which was very cosy and okay for an underage pint. Last night's television (in the UK) reminded me of the concert I always regretted missing which took place exactly 41 years ago today - Led Zeppelin at the Locarno.

We must be about the same age philex31! The Who (my 1st concert) were on at the Lanch a week after Free in November 1970. Due to funds being in short supply, I had to choose which concert to go to! Incidentally, Pete Townshend (The Who) is on record as saying the concert at the Lanch was the worst one the Who had played for over a year. He says they only played for 45 minutes instead of the usual 2 hours plus. They dropped a lot of numbers that they usually played. Audience reaction to the gig was poor. From a personal point of view, with this being my 'debut gig', I thoroughly enjoyed it as I didn't really know what to expect! Rather a shame to read many years later that The Who had held it in such low regard for all these years!

Second gig I went to was Ian Dury & the Blockheads at Cov Theatre, thereafter too many to remember. Mostly punk/New wave stuff. Usually in pubs rather than theatres. Ones that stick out are Ultravox (Jonn Foxx) at Tiffs, Wire (Lanch), Squad(loads of places, inc. the infamous Hearsall Common RaR), early Automatics/Specials (Tiffs/De Montford Hall). Last one I went to was Roy Harper's 70th birthday bash at the RFH along with Vtopian!

Squad in full flow RIP Gus

Beesman, interesting about the Who because I remember Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple saying they didn't like playing Coventry because of the poor audience reaction but he always was an awkward so-and-so

Cannot rember exactly, but one of my first gigs was to see Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band. Also remember seeing Marty Wilde in his twilight years at the old Belfry venue.

Saw Roy Harper a few time as well as Knebworth I saw him at the Burnt Post on the Kenpas Highway, and St Johns Church in Hammersmith, London, Britain's answer to Bob Dylan, do you agree Ghengis Smith?

I've always seen Roy Harper as a contemporary to Dylan Bernie, but I know what you mean. First time I saw Harper playing was at the Burnt Post in the early 80s, I think Rod Felton was on the bill as well. Could be the same gig you were at. I've just got back from seeing RH play in Manchester last Friday. He played a storming set as usual. His new album is well worth a listen to - Man & Myth.