What's the greatest gig you have been to?

[stallyon]

erm..i'd have to say Iron Maiden 5th July 2008 at Twickenham

[Indestructable]

I've done so many and for entertainment value I would go for Kid Creole & the Coconuts as they used to put on a real show. I would also go for some of the bands that i went to see before they were famous like UB40/Specials/Dexys/Madness etc. Best thing was that most of these were in small venues so you were close to the bands, rather than being a football pitch away.

But if I had to pick one I would go for Bad Manners at Jenkinsons Cabaret bar in Brighton in 1979. Up on the stage with Buster, superb.
 

[Josedinho]

Best - Kasabian

Worst - Razorlight

[Acidmouse]

Saw The Smiths when i was like 12, my dad took me to see them. Totally blew me away. Jeez my Dad was cool to let me go

[AndrewT]

I've done so many and for entertainment value I would go for Kid Creole & the Coconuts as they used to put on a real show. I would also go for some of the bands that i went to see before they were famous like UB40/Specials/Dexys/Madness etc. Best thing was that most of these were in small venues so you were close to the bands, rather than being a football pitch away.

Yeah, reading through this thread I've been struck at how many people have said the best gigs they've been to have been in fields or football stadiums.

Really?

Places where the sound mix is rubbish, where the wind swirls the sounds of the instruments around your head - one minute you can only hear drums, the next you can only hear guitars. Where the performers are tiny little things that can't be seen and you watch the whole thing on a TV where the sound is out of synch with pictures.

Surely gigs where you can see and hear the band properly are going to be much better?

[kinboshi]

I've done so many and for entertainment value I would go for Kid Creole & the Coconuts as they used to put on a real show. I would also go for some of the bands that i went to see before they were famous like UB40/Specials/Dexys/Madness etc. Best thing was that most of these were in small venues so you were close to the bands, rather than being a football pitch away.

But if I had to pick one I would go for Bad Manners at Jenkinsons Cabaret bar in Brighton in 1979. Up on the stage with Buster, superb.
 

I'm guessing the gig was televised?

[kinboshi]

I've done so many and for entertainment value I would go for Kid Creole & the Coconuts as they used to put on a real show. I would also go for some of the bands that i went to see before they were famous like UB40/Specials/Dexys/Madness etc. Best thing was that most of these were in small venues so you were close to the bands, rather than being a football pitch away.

Yeah, reading through this thread I've been struck at how many people have said the best gigs they've been to have been in fields or football stadiums.

Really?

Places where the sound mix is rubbish, where the wind swirls the sounds of the instruments around your head - one minute you can only hear drums, the next you can only hear guitars. Where the performers are tiny little things that can't be seen and you watch the whole thing on a TV where the sound is out of synch with pictures.

Surely gigs where you can see and hear the band properly are going to be much better?

I agree. 

My favourite gigs have been at venues that only hold 300-500 people. 

I find that even 'big' bands struggle to make a stadium gig truly brilliant.  When I saw U2 @ Wembley in '93 it was a brilliant show - and for a stadium gig it needs to be exactly that.

[AndrewT]

I think stadium concerts are full of people who don't go to many gigs and so don't have the better experience of the smaller venues.

Any gig where a guy standing at the back couldn't hit the lead singer by throwing a bottle has too many people at it.

[Rod Paradise]

I think stadium concerts are full of people who don't go to many gigs and so don't have the better experience of the smaller venues.

Any gig where a guy standing at the back couldn't hit the lead singer by throwing a bottle has too many people at it.

I get your poiint, and Kinboshi's about stadium/outdoor gigs.

I've been to a few of them & I tend to feel they need to be either a) a great show, or b) a great crowd.

I've seen Springsteen, U2, Simple Minds & Runrig as headliners at Stadium/outdoor gigs. Loved each one for different reasons.

Springsteen - fantastic concerts lasting about 4 hours, sound quality excellent (as you'd expect from a stadium veteran). No special effects/support acts - just the Boss, the E-Street Band & the music. Although Edwin Starr blew him off the stage singing WAR at Bramhall Lane.
U2 - Spectacular show, sound quality poor (Murrayfield has great accoustics for a crowd - too much echo for a gig) - was near the speakers though so didn't suffer the echo effects too much. U2 are great showmen. Support couldn't hadle the venue though.
Simple Minds - at Ibrox - huge 'homecoming gig' - crowd were mental, then the band started with Waterfront & the night went ballistic. I thought the sound was good, and people who listened to it from outside said it was as well, but the atmosphere made it for me.
Runrig - live at Loch Lomond. Another gig where the sound seemed OK, but as the whole crowd were singing along & having fun I don't think it mattered.

I've been to small venues, I love getting up close to the bands for the concerts, but sometimes the sheer spectacular effect of the outdoors gig has a quality all of its own.

[AdamM]

in no particular order

best outdoor gigs
AC/DC, Offspring, Megadeth, Queens of the stonage (who sucked) @ Milton Keynes June 2001
Iron Maiden Donnington'88 with Kiss, Dave Lee Roth, Megadeth, GnR & Helloween
Metallica Big Day Out July 1999 Milton Keynes
Iron Maiden Download festival 2003 with other highlights Marilyn Manson, Reel Big Fish, Disturbed, Less Than Jake, The Darkness,
Freddie Mercury tribute, (esp Metallica & Extreme sets) 1992

Indoor arenas
Metallica Sheffield Load Tour 1996
Metallica NEC Justice Tour 1990

Smaller indoor
Joe Satriani Albert Hall Edible Flesh Giants Tour
Joe Satriani / Steve Vai / Adrian Legg Nottingham Concert Hall G3 tour

Club Gigs
Sum 41 / Reel Big Fish Rock City
Gary Moore Rock City
Bowling For Soup / Simple Plan Rock City

Uni Gigs
Nuclear Assault Trent Polytechnic 1990ish

[EvilPie]

Not been to many but Marilyn Manson at the NEC was an incredible show.

The man has an unbelievable stage presence.

Levellers at Rock City is always good as well. Although they're getting a bit old looking now 

[kinboshi]

Levellers, New Model Army, Neds Atomic Dustbin - proper bands, proper gigs! 

[relaedgc]

The Eagles Farewell Tour at Twickenham. I love that band.

[AdamM]

I agree about Manson. never paid directly to see him, but he's supported Metallica and Iron Maiden and both times he was very good.

[rossfourfive]

Rage Against the Machine on Saturday at T in the Park was by far the best gig i have ever seen. Amaaaaazing.