If you could go back in time and watch a live performance, which would you choose ?

I can think of at least 4.

1. James Brown - Boston 68

2. Jimi Hendrix - Woodstock 69

3. The Who - Woodstock 69

4. The Doors - Isle of Wight 70

Otis Redding - Monterey Pop Festival 1967

The Who - Leeds 1970

Pink Floyd - Earls Court (either of the 1980 or 1981 shows)

The Smiths - Kilburn National Ballroom 1986

Bob Dylan - Newport Folk Festival, 1965

Sex Pistols - whenever, wherever

Well since I'm a bit too young to really have experienced the old stuff then I wouldn't mind seing some stuff from Woodstock and perhaps catch the Beatles and CCR, though I have no idea what performances by those groups I'd prefer. The best of each I expect.

And Woodstock should count as one performance ;)

The Who - Leeds 1970

A friend of mine was at that gig! He was studying in Leeds Uni at the time.

This makes me think of an alternative thread:

Has anyone been present at the recording of a live album? My closest was being at Bramall Lane in 1988 to watch Bruce Springsteen and the E-St Band, on the Tunnel of Love Tour. A little while later I was browsing in my local HMV and came across a 12" single of theirs. One the tracks on the B-side was a live recording from the Bramall Lane gig.

I was at a Simple Minds concert which was released as a convert video. We didn't actually know at the time it was going to be however we did think something was up when the band came out as all of them were dressed far better than they normally would have been.

And Woodstock should count as one performance ;)

Did you know The Who performed 25 tracks back to back at Woodstock, they didnt come on stage until 4am, it took nearly 3 hours.

1967 Monterey Pop Festival, with Otis Redding and Janis Joplin among others.

1972 David Bowie, last ever Ziggy Stardust gig

Jimi Hendrix - anywhere!

Bob Marley & The Wailers - London Lyceum 1975

Peter Tosh - anywhere!

Sensational Alex Harvey Band - anywhere, circa 1973

Stone The Crows - ditto

Kate Bush - Hammersmith 1979

AC/DC with Bon Scott - anywhere! (I've seen the band 4 or 5 times, but that was after his death)

Any of The Clash gigs at Bonds Casino in 1981 (surley the most famous rock n roll recidency ever?!)

Nirvana - Reading Festival Aug 1991

Joy Division - April 8th 1980 - Derby Hall , Bury

The Stone Roses - August 12th 1989 Empire Ballroom, Blackpool

The Smiths - July 7th 1983 - Hacienda, Manchester

Any of the Guns N Roses London Marquee gigs in 1987

The Clash , April 1978- Love Music Hate Racism Festival, Victoria Park London

The Allman Brothers - The Fillmore East NYC 1971

Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison, California 1968

Deep Purple - Tokyo Japan 1972 (Made in Japan LP)

Bob Marley and The Wailers - Lyceum 1975

Ray Charles - At Newport Rhode Island Jazz Fest 1958

Showaddywaddy - Baileys in Watford 1984. Mrs Geezer knows why

Showaddywaddy - Baileys in Watford 1984. Mrs Geezer knows why

Reminds me of having the dubious pleasure of seeing Chicory Tip at the Purley Orchid :unsure:

1. The Who - The Valley, Charlton - 1976

2. A Band Called O (O Band) - Elizabeth Castle, Jersey - 1975

3. Jeff Beck - Ronnies Scotts, London - 2007

4. Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Hammersmith Odeon - 1975

5. Lee Ritnour - Studio live recording of Overtime - 2004

6. Led Zeppelin - Southamton University - 1973

7. James Hendrix jamming with Cream - Central London Polytechnic - 1966

8. Frank Zappa - The Fall Tour - US - 1980

9. Larry Carlton - The Baked Potato, LA - Anytime

10. Wes Montgomery - Half Note Club, New York - 1965

Reminds me of having the dubious pleasure of seeing Chicory Tip at the Purley Orchid

Think I can top that - Amen Corner at the Streatham Ice Rink

I get the impression that all live performances ever have been legendary

I get the impression that all live performances ever have been legendary

Absolutely.

Actually out of my choices the ones that would pass for that status would be

James Hendrix jamming with Cream - Central London Polytechnic - 1966 ..... imagine EC, Bruce and Ginger with Hendrix!

Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Hammersmith Odeon - 1975 ..... the live recording tracked for vinyl release

Wes Montgomery - Half Note Club, New York - 1965 ..... same as SAHB at an iconic club

Later, the Ronnie sessions Jeffrey did will reach that status.

And for me personally, and any local who witnessed the O Band gig at the castle would hold that in the same status.

Imagine an band just short of big time (punk saw to that) playing a night gig in a Elizabethian castle perched on a rocky out crop, in the middle of a hot summer 1 mile from the shore with the tide down. Walking out to it and seeing a siblime performance and rushing back with the tide coming in fast...and in Jersey that is fast. Just marvellous stuff. Just what legends are made out of.