Concerts from the 80s and Beyond
Photo: Christian Holmér
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Reviewing my teens and twenties
I was obsessed with music in my teens - as kids often are - and as I got a bit older I spent a good part of my youth going to concerts. As I stand still and look back it seems like a great moment to take a trip down memory lane, and as I reflect on this part of my life I can feel the excitement of those days start to build up again. The thing is, I went to so many concerts in a relatively short space of time I don't know which to cover. The Cure, Tears for Fears, The Wonder Stuff, David Sylvian, Big Country, Joan Armatrading, Clannad, Erasure, The Blues Band and (more recently) Madness? I'm sure there must be more... |
Teen in the Eighties
Photo: Florbela
I was born in the seventies, which means I was an eighties teen. Oh, the eighties! What a fantastic time for music and in-your-face style. I didn't really do the big hair or big fashions, but oh, I loved the music...
It's now the music of my youth, just as the late fifties and sixties were for my parents. And of course eighties music has gone on to be labelled 'retro' or even 'classic', which makes me feel exceedingly old, but I was there the first time around - and boy did I enjoy it!
I've always enjoyed music. I was brought up on ABBA, The Police and folk-rock, and by the time I became a teenager I was hooked and during the following three or four years, I was completely addicted. This was the start of the New Romatics and electro-pop eras, which meant bands like Duran Duran, OMD and Spandau Ballet.
As I developed through my teens my tastes broadened, as the range of music of that period did too. I started to listen to guitar-based music such as Big Country, The Alarm, Simple Minds and U2. I also wanted to hear things that were different like The Cure, The Wonder Stuff and Japan. But good songs, interesting lyrics and great tunes were usually at the heart of what I loved.
It's now the music of my youth, just as the late fifties and sixties were for my parents. And of course eighties music has gone on to be labelled 'retro' or even 'classic', which makes me feel exceedingly old, but I was there the first time around - and boy did I enjoy it!
I've always enjoyed music. I was brought up on ABBA, The Police and folk-rock, and by the time I became a teenager I was hooked and during the following three or four years, I was completely addicted. This was the start of the New Romatics and electro-pop eras, which meant bands like Duran Duran, OMD and Spandau Ballet.
As I developed through my teens my tastes broadened, as the range of music of that period did too. I started to listen to guitar-based music such as Big Country, The Alarm, Simple Minds and U2. I also wanted to hear things that were different like The Cure, The Wonder Stuff and Japan. But good songs, interesting lyrics and great tunes were usually at the heart of what I loved.
Music Fan
Photo: Nicholas Zalud
As I reached my late teens, heading towards my twenties, my friends and I started to want to see our favourite bands in the flesh. The idea of going to a proper pop concert was hugely exciting and I guess the beginning of our independence.
For us the easiest way of achieving this was to sign up with a coach tour. This meant that not only did you book your concert ticket, but you also got your transport to the venue provided in with the cost. All you had to do was turn up on time at the collection point, climb aboard the coach or bus and you were off!
We loved this. You'd get delivered to the venue, queue up with your ticket in hand and then once the doors were opened go check it all out. You had to make sure you got a concert programme and then you'd go enjoy the music.
As we were music fans, we'd always see the supporting act as well as the main one we'd booked to see. I discovered quite a few artists I'd never come across this way and this opened up my tastes even more. I wanted to know and love bands before they were famous now! How cool was I if I knew their songs before they hit the charts?!
For us the easiest way of achieving this was to sign up with a coach tour. This meant that not only did you book your concert ticket, but you also got your transport to the venue provided in with the cost. All you had to do was turn up on time at the collection point, climb aboard the coach or bus and you were off!
We loved this. You'd get delivered to the venue, queue up with your ticket in hand and then once the doors were opened go check it all out. You had to make sure you got a concert programme and then you'd go enjoy the music.
As we were music fans, we'd always see the supporting act as well as the main one we'd booked to see. I discovered quite a few artists I'd never come across this way and this opened up my tastes even more. I wanted to know and love bands before they were famous now! How cool was I if I knew their songs before they hit the charts?!
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Oh, my lost youth! - A slightly acoustic version but the crowd participation brings memories flooding back.
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Classic Cure song at the legendary live music event.
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So Who Did I Actually Go and See?
Photo: Andrew Hurley
And who was the best?
Well, that's difficult. Firstly I saw so many I'm not sure I remember them all and second, there was such a range of musical styles that looking back now, it seems unfair to pick out just one.
Perhaps I should try to choose some highlights? I'm ashamed to say I can't remember which was the first concert I attended, but the artists that stand out in my mind were Big Country - who I saw twice. They must have been good as we never saw anyone twice - The Cure at Birmingham NEC, Tears for Fears, The Wonder Stuff and Erasure at Whitley Bay Ice Rink, and all for different reasons.
I saw Big Country twice because they were the ultimate live band. Stuart Adamson (RIP), though naturally reserved, managed to wind the crowd around his little finger. They played classic tracks that the audience knew every word to, like Come back to me, Chance and Thirteen Valleys, and we all sung at the top of our voices. Such a fantastic atmosphere.
I nearly didn't get to see The Cure. A friend of mine had got tickets for herself and another pal, but for a reason I don't remember, they couldn't go. So she offered the chance to me. Who was I to turn down a Cure ticket? I have to say it was brilliant too. Lots of well-known tracks and new ones from a recent album release and I was in my own happy world; spinning and whirling with the brilliant music.
The Wonder Stuff was different again. Such energy from both the band and the crowd. I don't think I've ever jumped up and down so much in my life! You didn't have a choice you just had to go with the rest of the audience, but it was fantastic for me and my little sister.
The Erasure gig was such a show. Costumes, amazing stage set and lights galore. Plus being on a covered ice rink your feet were so cold all night you just had to keep dancing to avoid frostbite! (Not really but my feet were chilly!)
Finally, Tears for Fears... What can I say. It was the concert tour associated with The Seeds of Love album. I loved that CD so much, I knew every word. I just had to see them. This time the tickets we got were in the balacony, but what a brilliant place to be. We saw everything from there and everyone's voices were amazing. It was an outstanding concert. If memory serves, I came back hoarse from that one...
All in all I've had fantastic times at music gigs and these were just a few. I can heartily recommend it. In fact looking back like this makes me want to see more. But while there are other priorities in my life at the moment I have the programmes, vinyl records and CDs that can transport me back to my lost youth. Happy days...
Well, that's difficult. Firstly I saw so many I'm not sure I remember them all and second, there was such a range of musical styles that looking back now, it seems unfair to pick out just one.
Perhaps I should try to choose some highlights? I'm ashamed to say I can't remember which was the first concert I attended, but the artists that stand out in my mind were Big Country - who I saw twice. They must have been good as we never saw anyone twice - The Cure at Birmingham NEC, Tears for Fears, The Wonder Stuff and Erasure at Whitley Bay Ice Rink, and all for different reasons.
I saw Big Country twice because they were the ultimate live band. Stuart Adamson (RIP), though naturally reserved, managed to wind the crowd around his little finger. They played classic tracks that the audience knew every word to, like Come back to me, Chance and Thirteen Valleys, and we all sung at the top of our voices. Such a fantastic atmosphere.
I nearly didn't get to see The Cure. A friend of mine had got tickets for herself and another pal, but for a reason I don't remember, they couldn't go. So she offered the chance to me. Who was I to turn down a Cure ticket? I have to say it was brilliant too. Lots of well-known tracks and new ones from a recent album release and I was in my own happy world; spinning and whirling with the brilliant music.
The Wonder Stuff was different again. Such energy from both the band and the crowd. I don't think I've ever jumped up and down so much in my life! You didn't have a choice you just had to go with the rest of the audience, but it was fantastic for me and my little sister.
The Erasure gig was such a show. Costumes, amazing stage set and lights galore. Plus being on a covered ice rink your feet were so cold all night you just had to keep dancing to avoid frostbite! (Not really but my feet were chilly!)
Finally, Tears for Fears... What can I say. It was the concert tour associated with The Seeds of Love album. I loved that CD so much, I knew every word. I just had to see them. This time the tickets we got were in the balacony, but what a brilliant place to be. We saw everything from there and everyone's voices were amazing. It was an outstanding concert. If memory serves, I came back hoarse from that one...
All in all I've had fantastic times at music gigs and these were just a few. I can heartily recommend it. In fact looking back like this makes me want to see more. But while there are other priorities in my life at the moment I have the programmes, vinyl records and CDs that can transport me back to my lost youth. Happy days...
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One of my all-time favourite songs live!
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The lights, the costumes, the showman that is Andy Bell, but oh, what a voice!
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A more contemporary concert but it still brings it back...
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