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Original poster

Before they were famous

103 replies

JackJarvisEsq · 20/12/2024 21:38

Did you know, meet or see anyone perform before they were famous?

Another Level performed at my school before they made it and I remember Roxy from Eastenders being part of the support act for a Steps concert c2000

OP posts:
ForPearlViper · 20/12/2024 21:44

When I was at university we went to see Hazel O'Connor at the students' union - she was very big that year. This rather lacklustre group came on in dungarees as the support band. They said this is our new single 'Planet Earth'. We exchanged looks, gave it a minute, decided it was rubbish and went to the bar until Hazel came on.

Yep, it was Duran Duran. They were in the charts shortly after.

Middlemarch123 · 20/12/2024 21:47

Ed Sheeran, busking.

tarheelbaby · 20/12/2024 21:48

My husband's youngest cousin went on a Raleigh International expedition to South America. He came back with frostbite on his toes. My MiL, his auntie made him pull off his sock and show her. It was a bit awkward.

Guess who was on his Raleigh International expedition ... (hint: 'She was lovely')

ThisThreadCouldOutMe · 20/12/2024 21:49

We had a boyband play at my school too. More than one I think. I think it may have been Another Level. Maybe we went to the same school!

Nevervisible · 20/12/2024 22:01

A life time ago, when I was a young teenager, my pal and I used to go to a youth club at the local Secondary Modern School - if anyone is old enough to remember them. They used to have local bands on and we saw Paul Rodgers of Free, Bad Company and more recently , Queen fronting one of them. He was absolutely amazing. He must have been for me to still remember after all these years!

LER83 · 20/12/2024 22:02

I used to go to an under 18's night at a local club and remember seeing Atomic Kitten, 911, Another Level and a few others. Also remember seeing Caprice the model when she tried having a music career 😂 I've still got all their flyers somewhere! Queued ages to get the 911 one signed by Ben!

Fireworknight · 20/12/2024 22:02

Saw Brothers Beyond before they were famous at my university.

Maximusdecimus · 20/12/2024 22:10

Jimmy Carr at a comedy club he was decimated by hecklers.

TianasBayou · 20/12/2024 22:19

The Housemartins (Paul Heaton, Fat Boy Slim) in a small town hall. I had a car so my friends begged me to drive them there. They were selling homemade badges signed by the band members. By the time I got home the ink had rubbed off!

MondayTueWed · 20/12/2024 22:26

I saw the Housemartins too!

Also met Alison Hammond when she was a holiday rep. Don't know why I remembered her, but she was fun and larger than life!

Pedallleur · 20/12/2024 22:26

Dire Straits as a support act approx 1978. Much heckling/comedy about Diarrhea Straits and then they came onstage and started playing. They played their first album and no one heckled. By the time they got to Sultans of Swing jaws were on the floor.
Bon Jovi opening for Kiss on a UK tour. Bon Jovi had the first album out and Jon/Ritchie were hot and looked the part. Came back as headliners on the 2nd album and the third album sealed the deal.
Lots of other acts as support eg Def Leopard. Spent a lot of time seeing bands. Texas on their first tour playing clubs. Nice to see acts that make it. I left school in 1979 and a friend at college in London told me about this new band he had seen called U2.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 20/12/2024 22:30

I saw the Manic Street Preachers in a working men's club in 1989.

Scutterbug · 20/12/2024 22:32

I saw Boyzone at The Rose of Tralee festival. They were on the back of a trailer and were shocking. We thought they were called Boyz One.

ChristmasEveNotChristmasSteve · 20/12/2024 22:35

LER83 · 20/12/2024 22:02

I used to go to an under 18's night at a local club and remember seeing Atomic Kitten, 911, Another Level and a few others. Also remember seeing Caprice the model when she tried having a music career 😂 I've still got all their flyers somewhere! Queued ages to get the 911 one signed by Ben!

Who's Ben?

jay55 · 20/12/2024 22:49

Saw Cynthia Erivo in a show at Stratford east when she was straight out of rada, and then loads of cabarets and concerts.

Keeping the wicked theme saw Jonathan Bailey in company when he was on his way to being famous.

Mikki77 · 20/12/2024 22:55

tarheelbaby · 20/12/2024 21:48

My husband's youngest cousin went on a Raleigh International expedition to South America. He came back with frostbite on his toes. My MiL, his auntie made him pull off his sock and show her. It was a bit awkward.

Guess who was on his Raleigh International expedition ... (hint: 'She was lovely')

Who?

MabelMora · 20/12/2024 22:59

Kate Middleton (as was)?

billycat321 · 20/12/2024 23:04

Paul Simon and Tom Paxton played at our folk club in Swindon in late 60s

TabloidFootprints · 20/12/2024 23:10

I saw Johnny Lee Miller in a play in 1991, he was "baseball player". I wouldn't have realised but I still have the programme which I got signed by Robert Sean Leonard who was also in it.
Also saw David Mitchell in a play when he was at university.

Deadringer · 20/12/2024 23:20

Not very famous, but at a work christmas party years ago B*Witched were part of the entertainment. They were just starting out and a bit rubbish.

Manchesterbythesea · 20/12/2024 23:23

Scutterbug · 20/12/2024 22:32

I saw Boyzone at The Rose of Tralee festival. They were on the back of a trailer and were shocking. We thought they were called Boyz One.

What year? I’m also in Ireland and I saw them in our local community centre in 1994!

augustusglupe · 20/12/2024 23:23

My sister saw Black Sabbath at a small club next to the River Trent in Nottingham, late 60s. Also Led Zepp.

Sophiasmummy24210 · 20/12/2024 23:44

Robbie Williams in Hanley before he was really famous - coked up twat

Kylie Minogue in Plymouth when she was doing the SAW tour - not great

George Best - embarrassing - walked past him in Surbiton high street so said hiya, you ok thinking he was someone I knew from our local pub and realised who he was about half an hour later.....

Talipesmum · 20/12/2024 23:45

I saw Ross Noble at an end of year university event in about 1998/99, it was just a smallish hall. He was so funny - later that year we were at the Edinburgh fringe and I dragged everyone to see him, and I think he started winning awards around then or soon after.

HeadNorth · 20/12/2024 23:49

Alan Rickman in a Ninagawa play at the Edinburgh festival around 1990 - pre Die Hard and him becoming a huge movie star. He was gorgeous and commanded the stage.