I saw them before they were famous

[Fnaar]

The gigs threads prompted me on this one.
Saw U2 at Nene College, Northampton (Avenue Campus) in about October 1980. Was quite good, but not my kind of thing, really. Don't really like them to this day, bar about 5 or 6 songs which I think are brill.

 

[User169]

Saw the Cranberries supporting Throwing Muses just before they really made it.

Also, saw the Sundays supporting Throwing Muses. They subsequently became moderately famous for a while.

 

[Tony B]

Iron Maiden in a pub in Hammersmith, Motorhead at the Tolworth Bowl.

 

[XmisterIS]

When I was a student:

I saw Muse back in '98 before they were massive - they did a gig in our student union!!!

I also saw Ed Byrne in back in '96, long before he got onto prime time TV.

 

[Andy in Sig]

I saw the Police just before Roxanne got into the charts and just remember thinking that the singer had a horribly whingey, whiney voice ... which he has.

 

[Kirstie]

The Stone Roses at a pub in Stockport in 1988, at least I think it was 1988...

I saw Lau in a tiny club in Derby a couple of years ago, a long time before they got really big, if you can be really big in the folk music world...

 

[Chromatic]

Saw Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark supporting Gary Numan at Bristol years ago. Despite what's written in the crap gig thread they were alright then.

 

[Velorum]

Dire Strates at the Hope & Anchor in 1976

Also saw Elvis Costello (same year I think) at the Nashville in Chiswick

 

[yello]

Motorhead at the Tolworth Bowl.

That wins for me! Hands down.

I meekly offer REM supporting Elvis Costello at the Hammersmith Palais. They had released an album at that stage, and had a decent following, but nothing like today.

 

[Crackle]

Afraid of Mice in a club in Liverpool. The Warehouse for those who knew it. They were crap then too.

 

[trustysteed]

Bjorn Again in Sydney about 1990 before it became global.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

They were shoot.

Couldn't ask for a more well thought out and studious summing up than that!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

nirvana at sheff uni, just on the cusp of major stardom (and tragedy)

the courteeners at manchester ritz

 

[AdamBlade]

Travis at Leadmill in Sheffield and at Loughbrough Uni
Oasis at Leadmill - think it was before they released Definitely Maybe
Stereophonics on NME Brat Tour at Sheffield Octegon just as they released their 1st album

 

[graham56]

Saxon at the Newcastle Labour Club, Sunday lunchtime session.