Who did you see live in the 80s? How good were they?

[BettyUnderswoob]

Just reminiscing and getting a bit nostalgic today! I was a teenager in the 80s, and had the best time. Was recalling some of the gigs I went to. Who did you see, and were they good live?

I saw, amongst others:

Bruce Springsteen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6 out of 5! wasn't even a fan before!)
U2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Cure ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Ramones ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Smiths ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Alice Cooper ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Siouxsie and the Banshees ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Iggy Pop ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tom Waits ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Iggy Pop ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tom Waits ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Simply Red ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Didn't like them, went to keep friend company... good show!)
The Pogues ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Mission⭐⭐⭐
The Cult ⭐⭐

There must be others I've forgotten!

What were your good (or bad) gigs?

Wow @WestendVBroadway how did you find time to see all of those!!?? So lucky
This comment reminded me that my head of sixth form called me in to re-do my UCCA (remember them) form, as putting I had been to 103 live gigs in the past year pointed to me not doing much studying of my A-levels.I saw many of the bands already mentioned but the most memorable was The Teardrop Explodes final gig.

Stevie Wonder
Diana Ross
The Commodores
Edwin Star
The Four Tops
The Tempations
The Stylistics
Alexander O’Neal
Whitney Houston
Marvin Gaye

Plus some more, but can’t remember.

Are you me?

He appeared in Gilmore girls a few years ago - I tried to explain to my daughters his appeal when I was 17. I used to wonder why no one at my college looked like that!

David Bowie in Wembley
Michael Jackson in Cardiff
Madonna in Manchester
and many many more

I went to an almighty video shoot for one of their songs - devils toy maybe? I was gutted because I turned up early and there was no one else there yet so wandered off for a bit and the next couple of people who arrived got to be in a bit of the video they filmed in a pub next door. You can just about see the me at the front of the crowd in the video - it was like a 5 hour gig. They would do a run through of the song for the video then do something else and. So on. Great Day.

Oh and I saw two of Bros at some promotional type tour thing at Surbiton Town Hall (think that's what it was called) cannot remember who the missing one was.

U2
Carter USM
Inspiral Carpets
INXS

All very, very good.

i also saw The Police when they were the biggest latest thing but just googled and it was 1979!

Simple Minds - 3 times
Eurythmics
Undertones
Pretenders
David Bowie
Thompson Twins
Simply Red
Go Wset
Joan Armatrading
Big Country

There’s a couple of others but I cannot remember their names. I love live music

I saw many of the most famous bands, groups and solo artists back in the 80s but the stand out concerts included Gary Glitter at the Cliffs Pavilion in 1989.

Before we all knew what a monster he was, he couldn't be beaten for his performance and rapport with the audience. He was a superb showman and entertainer.

Marc Almond at the Hammersmith Palais circa 1985 was a surprise and a delight. What a voice for a live concert. At the time I had been bought a ticket for a date and wasn't expecting much but he was superb. A very underrated vocalist in my opinion.

Hard to remember now, but off the top of my head

Status Quo
Van Morrison
Gary Glitter
David Essex
Alison Moyet
Depeche Mode
Level 42
The Jam (many times)
The beat
ABC
Whitney Houston
Duran Duran
and best of all The Clash

Bucks Fizz!
1983 with my Mum, I was 10. The venue in Crawley was PACKED so I can't be the only one with fond memories!

Madness
Bad manners
The jam
Absolute mayhem the top two.

U2 twice ❤️
Duran Duran
Haircut 100 surprisingly good, loved fantastic day
Elton John
Human league
INXS
Japan
Vision
Depeche mode
Big country
Simple minds

Forgot about Edwin starr
JJ Barnes
Eddie Holman
Saw all of the above at Nsoul niters.met Edwin a few times... lovely guy.

Big Country, my first gig in 1986. Still love them now and still sad Stuart no longer with us.

Duran Duran
Echo and the Bunnymen
The Fall
House of Love
Tackhead
Front 242
Cardiacs
REM
Gary Numan (many times!)
Depeche Mode
Japan
And many more!

The Cult
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
The Communards
The Charlatans
Depeche Mode
Erasure

Bon Jovi
Vixen
Skid Row
Europe
Motley Crue
White lion
Love Hate

Some awesome experiences there! There was such good music and artistes then. I'm envious of so many mentioned above; particularly Prince and The Rolling Stones.

@Pebbles16 your list is like the back cover of a "Now That's What I Call Music" LP!

Tina Turner, amazing, right near the front at Wembley.

Level 42 .. brilliant. Still got the t-shirt … not that it would fit 😳🤣

Bloody hell, saw them too! I'm from Dunfermline (as were Stuart and Bruce) so they were big locally.

First live gig 1984. Nik Kershaw at Ipswich Gaumont. My middle sister took me. 6/10.
Second gig 1985. Frankie Goes To Hollywood. At Hammersmith Odeon. My eldest sister took me and my best friend. We missed the train at Ipswich and she drove like a demon to Colchester and we got on the train there. 10/10...Absolutely brilliant!!

I'm from Dunfermline too 😂. I'm going to see them in December.