You can see any band/musician in history - who and why?

Like the thread title says - you can see any band/musician live - regardless of current status and let’s assume in their prime - who would it be and why?

- For me, Hendrix. Solely because of the simple number of great musicians who saw him and raved. I mean this was the guy that people went out of their way to go see. The fact people still talk today how he was the best they ever witnessed without hesitation says something to me.

Beatles - to me live it would be a tough act…great early, but that was more the show around you than the 4 on stage…later - they were the definition of a great group in concept and on vinyl.

Blind Faith might actually be one worth seeing - just based on the sheer amount of star power and short run they had. Cream kinda the same thing.

Only other I can think of at the moment - Hank Williams Sr - but again, it’s a crapshoot (like with most country singers it seems) - is the guy gonna be brilliant or stumbling drunk on any particular night?!? Cash was a lot like that too I guess…again - to me it’s more “mystique” than actual desire to see…died young and became a legend afterwords ala Jim Morrison.

 

Tom Petty, hands down. Grew up listening to him. Tons of memories. Love his music. Only got to see him twice in concert, but grateful for those 2 times. Sucks he died.

 

SRV. Nothing else to say, if you are a fan you get it.

 

Nirvana

 

Thin Lizzy... Huge Gary Moore and Phil Lynott fan..
Pink Floyd, saw them once way back at Anaheim Stadium, during the Animals tour.. Epic!!

 

Robert Nesta Marley. The music, and the message. Oh and the ambiance.

 

I have seen so many bands in the last 30 years, but some I passed on and regret is BB King and Grateful Dead. Mainly for the pure talent of BB and the overall concert experience that was famous for the Dead.
SRV, Hendrix, passed long before I started going to concerts but definitely on the wishlist.

 

Probably Duane Allman and the brothers and friends ongoing and timeless band if I could pick only one!

Listen to his cover with Boz Scaggs of the Fenton Robinson tune "Brother Loan me a Dime" if you want to know why.

They are not too shabby to this day at all but.......

 

Meatloaf is my all time fav. Van Halen is awful close though. Sux to have to choose with so much talent across the board.

 

RUSH. Had many opportunities to see them and never did. Kicking myself for never going.

 

One of the best shows ever for me!
I saw them in 1980 at the Hartford Colosseum and part of the audience stampeded for some reason and people got crushed!? Luckily not me! It was awesome!

 

Saw them three times. Twice at Red Rocks.

 

Beethoven would have been kuul and threw big parties......

 

They're my #2. Maybe even #1 since I never got to see them - he died when I was in high school. Freaking incredible breakthrough what they did in the 90s. That was an amazing time. Nirvana, STP, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden. The music of the past 20 years hasn't even come close imo

 

I’d see Elvis play the Singer Special… the peak of his sobriety and best physical shape, with songs I know;

I’d love to see Prince play at home in Minneapolis, one of his surprise appearance concerts— but all the early and famous songs, not one in which he tries out new material;

I’m bummed I missed attending a Jethro Tull concert, sounded like good crowd dynamics and I always enjoyed the music.

I’ll always see Mary Chaplin Carpenter and Natalie Merchant when they come around. I know all the songs, love the writing and musicianship, always feels like a homecoming.

 

I was a concert going college nut when I got to see all of those bands more than once! STP about 6 times.
PJ was a notch above them and LOUD. Soundgarden had a very different crowd but rocked. Nirvana is by far the most memorable, unlike anything I ever experienced.... Ever again.

My choices would be (no order)
Elvis, Hendrix, The Doors, BoB Marley, Queen, Rush, and Zeppelin

 

SRV I get

A lot of it is just pure laziness on my part - Tom Petty and John Prine are 2 I regret not going to see despite having multiple chances.

Another part of it is “in their prime” vs simply seeing them live - I’d say Pink Floyd in the early 70s even would have been cool - ditto Zeppelin. Seeing them now wouldn’t be the same - saw the Stones in ‘94 I think it was - should have stopped before then - 2021 I can’t imagine has been kinder to them especially with the loss of Charlie.

Another thing I guess is ability to see quality video of certain acts live now - versus some older acts.

Petty is one that comes to mind - always liked him and really liked the Wildflowers era stuff - but it was the concert post 9/11 that convinced me I needed to see him live. Sadly had a chance the summer/fall before he passed and said no - I’ll get to it next time. Always something I’ll regret.

 

Thinking about it too - Dead in their prime with Jerry.

Not for the band - just the show anywhere they went

 

Saw John Prine several years ago just after his first battle with cancer. Saw him back in 79 too. He was a bit younger then. Great folk artist. Great..

 

Would have loved to see Alice In Chains (original) back when you used to be able to go to concerts!! Just plain would have liked to see them play.

 

I was fortunate and was able to catch them a handful of times and my sister is still following them today,literally Today but I just don't really get it anymore.

Now if Lowell George was still alive?

I ysed to run a store and we gad a Ticketron outlet in it and I got insane tickets for Floyd, The Stones ,Rush and really everyone touring thru the early 1980s those were the days.

 

They were on my bucket list and did get one opp to see them on the R40 tour. Best concert I’ve ever seen, even on the tail end of their career.

 

The Blue Monkeys

 

Wildflowers is ridiculous. Perfect album beginning to end.

 

That would have been nuts seeing them in their prime. The lizard king…

 

Rammstein. Even if you don’t care for the music, the live performances are insane. I happen to love the music though.

Managed to get tickets to their Philly show at the end of 2019, then Covid happened. It got postponed to 2021, then to 2022. I’m getting worried because these dudes aren’t getting any younger and I think they’d rather stop performing than tone down their show if they have trouble keeping up.

 

70’s Grateful Dead. I’ve seen Bobby and Phil, plus some of the cover bands that are around. But I’m too young to have seen Jerry.

Pink Floyd is my other one. I’ve never even seen Gilmour or Waters solo shows.

The Band. The greatest collection of musicians to ever play together, hands down. I was lucky enough to see Levon Helm a few times before he passed, but to have been able to see The Band pre Last Waltz would’ve been epic.

Rush. I was never a big Rush fan growing up, but something clicked with me recently and I wished I had seen them before Neil passed.

Last but not least…Blind Faith. Because they’re awesome.

 

Zepplin, Styx, Doors, Foreigner, Original Van Halen, The Who, AC/DC, Journey, Beatles, Ramones, Clash, Triumph, Pink Floyd,...

Thats all I can think of at the moment.

 

You forgot to mention Boston!! Can't be doin that!!