One way to fill in time, which of course would have passed anyway, is to make lists. We all do it, whether it be shopping lists, friends lists, to do lists and things not to do perhaps. In one of my many idle moments, I was exposed unwittingly to Britain has got talent, and was appalled as to how unbelievably bad some of the music that emerges from youth culture today. I know that there are good musicians about but it seems that the get famous quickly culture is in the driving seat. Being unable to find any endearing features in what I was witnessing, my mind wandered into the past. At my age there is a great deal more of that than there is ahead, and I was reminiscing, making a mental list of the bands that I grew up with and have seen.
My first real live band was The Beatles. I saw them on stage in Weston Super Mare, where they topped the bill. Gerry and the Pacemakers were there too, and they were very impressive. The Beatles were about to become massive and whatever they played was pretty irrelevant; they could not be heard above the hysterical screams of teenage girls. It is said, though I can't say that I was aware of it, that cinemas hosting their tour had to be deep cleaned afterwards, due to the quantities of urine expelled on the seats and puddling on the floors.
Living in the back of beyond, it was difficult to get to any gigs, until I left home and went to college. There we had frequent social events and hosted a number of bands for very little money. I think we paid £40 for Status Quo to play for an evening and tickets must have been as much as 25p each. In those days, equipment was trundled about in Bedford dormobiles and the band were their own roadies.
Trips home were as rare as possible but the Winter Gardens in Malvern were a wonderful venue for music. There I got to see Cream. That was a memorable evening and already the tensions in the band were becoming obvious. Eric Clapton broke his top E string in one of the solos and carried on as if nothing had happened. Winter garden events were dances and of course people could stand close to the stage. There was no stupid behaviour, no heavies guarding the band, they just played and we enjoyed. It was at the winter gardens that I saw the late great Sandy Denny with Fairport Convention. She and they were amazing.
Most college functions have faded into the darkness; there were many bands some very good, others less so and all I can say is that I made the most of the opportunities available. Memorable evenings included Jethro Tull, Free, Rory Galagher, Joe Cocker, Spooky Tooth, Julie Felix and Family.
The majority of bands that I have seen were post college and post children. Only then were away trips a realistic possibility. I am proud to have seen great performances by Pink Floyd, Queen, King Crimson, Pentangle, Maddy Prior, June Tabor, Moody Blues, Oyster band, Loreena McKennitt, Robert Plant, Genesis, Bruce Springsteen, Canned Heat, Fleetwood mac and many others. There are so many more that I would love to have seen, The Stones, The Who, Santana, The Kinks, The Doors, Led Zepplin and Tom Petty. Now either they or I or both are too old, and so they belong on my list of regrets.
My first real live band was The Beatles. I saw them on stage in Weston Super Mare, where they topped the bill. Gerry and the Pacemakers were there too, and they were very impressive. The Beatles were about to become massive and whatever they played was pretty irrelevant; they could not be heard above the hysterical screams of teenage girls. It is said, though I can't say that I was aware of it, that cinemas hosting their tour had to be deep cleaned afterwards, due to the quantities of urine expelled on the seats and puddling on the floors.
Living in the back of beyond, it was difficult to get to any gigs, until I left home and went to college. There we had frequent social events and hosted a number of bands for very little money. I think we paid £40 for Status Quo to play for an evening and tickets must have been as much as 25p each. In those days, equipment was trundled about in Bedford dormobiles and the band were their own roadies.
Trips home were as rare as possible but the Winter Gardens in Malvern were a wonderful venue for music. There I got to see Cream. That was a memorable evening and already the tensions in the band were becoming obvious. Eric Clapton broke his top E string in one of the solos and carried on as if nothing had happened. Winter garden events were dances and of course people could stand close to the stage. There was no stupid behaviour, no heavies guarding the band, they just played and we enjoyed. It was at the winter gardens that I saw the late great Sandy Denny with Fairport Convention. She and they were amazing.
Most college functions have faded into the darkness; there were many bands some very good, others less so and all I can say is that I made the most of the opportunities available. Memorable evenings included Jethro Tull, Free, Rory Galagher, Joe Cocker, Spooky Tooth, Julie Felix and Family.
The majority of bands that I have seen were post college and post children. Only then were away trips a realistic possibility. I am proud to have seen great performances by Pink Floyd, Queen, King Crimson, Pentangle, Maddy Prior, June Tabor, Moody Blues, Oyster band, Loreena McKennitt, Robert Plant, Genesis, Bruce Springsteen, Canned Heat, Fleetwood mac and many others. There are so many more that I would love to have seen, The Stones, The Who, Santana, The Kinks, The Doors, Led Zepplin and Tom Petty. Now either they or I or both are too old, and so they belong on my list of regrets.
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