Absolute Radio presenters recall their first gigs
Including Cypress Hill, Oasis and Green Day
Last updated 27th Nov 2019
Along with the very first record you bought, every music fan has their first gig firmly burned into their memory.
Often a life changing experience, seeing your musical idols in concert for the first time as a fresh-faced youngster is an all-consuming onslaught on the senses that leaves you wide-eyed with wonder.
From the electric atmosphere, to the band tearing through your favourite tunes, the sticky floor, the booming bass-heavy speakers, the mesmerising stage production, the mass crowd singalongs, the plastic pint glass missiles showering the crowd, and the sweaty throngs of your fellow gig goers, everything about the experience is truly unforgettable.
As Tom Walker recently said on Absolute Radio’s Time To Listen, seeing AC/DC when he was nine years old “kicked everything off for me musically”. He told us: “I fell in love with the guitar. I fell in love with the concert, with the crowd, with the atmosphere.”
Now, Absolute Radio’s Dave Berry, Danielle Perry, Leona Graham, Chris Martin and Jay Lawrence have all cast their minds back and have kindly recalled the stories of their first ever gig. Check them out below!
First gig: Cypress Hill at London Brixton Academy, 23rd February 1994
“On a cold night in February 1994 myself, my best friend from school, Toby and our two mates, ‘The Twins’, made our way to Brixton Academy to stand upon the most famous sloping floor in all of South London and enjoy the live Latino American stoner musical stylings of the mighty Cypress Hill.
“I LOVED Cypress Hill. Well, I loved wearing the band T-Shirt at least. Let’s just say I would not have fared too well on ‘Mastermind’ with them as my specialist subject. But who cares because here I was at my FIRST EVER gig!
“Once inside the venue and satisfied that we were stood safely in the section of the crowd we were least likely to get beaten up in, I was relieved I recognised at least one in every four songs they performed.
“Then the whole thing was made even sweeter when Toby returned from the bar with a couple of plastic pint glasses sloshing around with Red Stripe. This was mirific as at the time, Michael (our only mate who could grow sideburns and therefore get served), had been unable to attend due to a ‘Hero Quest’ board game marathon he was hosting that evening.
“Beer in one hand and with my other arm slung around my friend’s neck, Cypress Hill brought proceedings to a close, still bursting with energy.
“With our ear drums also bursting the now sweaty crowd filed out, the majority of whom I imagine knitted themselves effortlessly into the fabric of the chilly London air to find further adventure. We, however, got a lift home in a Vauxhall Astra kindly driven by the twins’ Mum. Insane in the brain for sure."
Foot note:
"Just last year Toby, from school, was one of the best men at my wedding and his magnificent band (@Trinity250Band) played at our party. I messaged him to ask what his memories of our first live gig experience were and within a heartbeat he had sent me the photograph of his gig ticket. He pointed out that the ticket price of £12.50 wouldn’t even cover the cost of the beers he bought nowadays. I feel old!"
First gig: Michael Jackson at London Wembley Stadium, August 1992
“My first gig was Michael Jackson in 1992. I’d fallen in love with the ‘Off The Wall’ album he did with Quincy Jones and was fascinated by the showmanship and the production of the show. My mum took me and a couple of pals. It was a pretty overwhelming experience – not only going to Wembley Stadium for the first time but witnessing some of the biggest pop songs in history being performed on that level was quite incredible.
“He took off after ‘Man In The Mirror’ with a jet pack and flew out over the audience then up and over the stage to the back of the stadium. Of course, I thought it was him – my mum was quick to point out that absolutely no insurance company would cover him to do that and I had been victim to a sly piece of choreography MJ changeover.
“The next one, which was not far after, was Massive Attack in Bournemouth. That was the first time I heard sub. Oh my days. Instantly hooked to live music and to this day I still get that feeling when the house lights go down ready for the show.”
First gig: Whitesnake at London Wembley Arena, 31st December 1987
“What a combination - New Year's Eve and Whitesnake in concert!
“It was a cold, crisp New Year's Eve at Wembley Arena for Whitesnake's last gig of 1987. We got there early after having a few cans on the train on the way in, remember back then pubs couldn't open all day!
“We had fourth row seats, thanks to Andy queuing up at Wembley box office on release date a few months before - no internet back then!
“MSG were support – the McAuley Schenker Group - I can't remember too much of this apart for Michael Schenker and his flying V guitar, they played some good stuff but ended with UFO's classic 'Rock Bottom'.
“Whitesnake came on to rapturous applause and kicked off with 'Bad Boys' / 'Children of the Night'. They rolled out the classics from 1987 and effortlessly ripping through 'Slide It In', 'Slow an' Easy', 'Here I Go Again', 'Guilty of Love', 'Is This Love', 'Love Ain't No Stranger', 'Crying in the Rain', 'Still of the Night', 'Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City' and 'Give Me All Your Love'. The encore was an altogether heavier version of the ZZ Top's ‘Tush’ pulled off with style and ease.
“David Coverdale's voice was as strong as ever and hit every note with consummate ease. And those famous words ” ’Ere's a song for ya!" didn't disappoint.
“Halfway through we got a great guitar solo from Viv Campbell which was amazing, although Tommy Aldridge's drum solo was seen as a good opportunity to run to the bar for a quick pint.
“As expected, the gig finished at 10pm, meaning it was a sprint to Wembley Park tube to get back to the Iron Horse pub in Amersham, in time to join in with all the New Year's Eve celebrations with all the other rockers and outcasts in true rock 'n' roll style.”
First gig: Oasis at London Wembley Arena, December 1997
“Live music has been everything to me, until my hearing started going. One might say those two things are linked! At one point I was going to about three gigs a week.
“Live music for me began, l imagine like many of us, with a Radio 1 Roadshow at Clacton On Sea. I remember seeing Menswear and the Divine Comedy at the seaside, but that's not really a proper gig.
“My first real gig experience was December '97, Wembley Arena for Oasis on the Be Here Now Tour. I'd spent years watching my parents go to see every big Britpop band and not being able to go myself, so the excitement of going to such an esteemed venue to see a band I worshipped was unreal.
“Support for the night were Supergrass, who were as weird, and fun and furious as I wanted them to be and I'm so glad they're back on the road in 2020.
“Oasis had the stage littered with props from the Be Here Now album cover, the massive clock, the front end of a white Rolls Royce. The songs were - much like the album - drawn out and could have done with whittling down a little, but what was undeniable was the swagger of the Gallaghers. After three years of owning the UK music scene, it was well earnt, and I'm not sure I've seen anyone match their levels of self-belief to this day.”
First gig: Green Day at Milton Keynes National Bowl, June 2005
“Milton Keynes plays host to one of the most influential punk bands of the last few decades. And it was glorious. Performing less than a year after ’American Idiot’ made the East Bay trio one of the hottest bands on the planet, Billie Joe and co. rifled through massive hit after massive hit. There were singalongs like ‘Good Riddance’, mosh-pit bangers like Basket Case and rock operas like Jesus of Suburbia. Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday and Hard-Fi were the support (AKA pop-punk legends and future radio mainstays). Thoughts should go out to the boy in the audience who went up on stage and got gifted Billie Joe’s guitar, which was then promptly nicked (or at least that was the rumour).
“But the biggest memory I have of the gig? Taking a bite out of a burger and ketchup going over my brand spanking new England shirt!”