Here's my list:

1.) The Beatles at The Cavern, any show. Just to see the Fab Four before they were Fab.

2.) The Who - circa 1965. While they still playing in clubs. Sure I'd miss out on hearing some of their greatest songs, but just to be able to get close to the stage; to witness and feel the raw energy of Pete, Keith, Roger and John, that's a trade-off I'd be willing to take.

3.) The Jimi Hendrix Experience/The Monkees tour, 1967. Doesn't matter which show. Just the idea of these two diametrical opposed bands is enough to make me wish I'd've been to a concert. Besides, both acts are two of my favorites.

4.) The Doors, The Miami concert. You know the one; where Morrison allegedly revealed "the Lizard King"? I wanna know if he did or didn't.

5.) Altamont. I pick this over Woodstock, because in some ways I think it's more important. It signalled the end of the Sixties and the end of Rock's innocence.

6.) The Sex Pistols at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, Texas. The quintessential punk band performing in a country-western bar. That I'd wanna see.

7.) Electric Light Orchestra - 1978, The Out of the Blue at the Fort Worth Coliseum. Well, I know they played Ft. Worth on that tour, but I'm not sure of the exact venue. Ft. Worth because I lived nearby (in Weatherford, Texas to be exact) that year.

8.) Pink Floyd - The Wall 1980. London would be as good as any city. This was the Floyd's most limited tour. They performed The Wall only a few times in a few cities. Wish I could've been at one of the shows.

9.) Stevie Ray Vaughan - August 25, 1990, Alpine Valley, East Troy, wisconsin - Stevie's final show. I'd especially would've loved to have seen SRV on stage with his brother, Jimmie, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray and Buddy Guy performing "Sweet Home Chicago". I miss Stevie Ray.

So, what are your choices? It doesn't matter what genre, what year or anything else. I'm just wondering what performances you would have liked to have seen

n.p. - Listen to the Band - The Monkees (Happy Birthday to Davy Jones and Michael Nesmith.)

I was just now talking to Snickerdoodle on AIM about Altamont. Snick brought up the fact that Meredith Hunter was killed by the Hell's Angel while the Stones played "Sympathy For the Devil". Except that isn't a fact. It's an urban legend. The truth is, the Stones were in the midst of performing "Under My Thumb" when Meredith Hunter was murdered. See http://lcweb.loc.gov/film/goldstein.html

Or see the film Gimme Shelter, an excellent rockumentary of the tour that culminated in Altamont. You can see for yourself the murder take place. (It was filmed as it happened.)

n.p. - Join Together - The Who

This year alone I couldn't afford or was scheduled to work on the days of the following shows;

Paul McCartney (whakcs self in head)
The Who (whacks self again)
Tori Amos (punches self)
Paul Oakenfold
Space Team Electra
Jurassic 5
No Doubt & Garbage (I actually saw Garbage once, back when Version 2.0 came out, so it's not too horrible that I missed this one)
Ghostlight (my friend Tom's band)

There are probably three shows last year I'd've liked to have attended, but the lack of money prevented me from doing so. However, two of these acts are ones I have seen before and thus I have no real regrets over missing them.

1.) The Monkees at Billy Bob's in Ft. Worth - I've seen the Pre-Fab Four three times already. A fourth show would have been nice. Except, it would have been just Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones (which is the line up I had seen in 2001). And frankly, well, while Micky and Davy sang the majority of the songs, they were the group's actor. Without either of the musicians (Mike and Peter) in the band, it just wouldn't be right.

2.) The Who at the American Airline Center - However, the absence of the Ox, the late, great John Entwistle, would have ruined the show for me. Even more than the Monkees, The Who are incomplete when reduced to a two member unit. This is meant as no disrespect towards Roger Daltrey or Pete Townshend, but Ol' Thunderfingers Entwistle was too essential to the Who. His absence would've made me feel like I was watching a Who cover band.

3.) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at the American Airline Center - This probably wouldn't have been as good a show as the Boss put on in '84, but I like Springsteen's music and would one day like to see him in concert. This is just one more lost opportunity.

n.p. - Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries/Overture to Lohengrin

Benn, what are the "n.p." things?

"Now Playing". It's what album I'm listening to at the time of my posts on these Music boards.

n.p. - The Great Works of Franz Schubert

The only concert I really regret missing was Clapton's last performance at the Oakland Coliseum, about a year ago.

n.p. - Boston, "More Than A Feeling"

If I could, I'd want to see any Pink Floyd concert before Syd Barrett fliped out. I've also missed out on chances to see The Monkees (before Peter was kicked out) and CSN&Y.

n.p. - "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" (a holiday episode of M*A*S*H is on)

Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey anywhere in the early 40's. Back when Frank's voice was just another "instrument" in the band.

Up on the roof with The Beatles during the filming of the Let It Be performance.

In the studio with the Beatles during recording of Abbey Road. Does this count?

The Band, November 26, 1976 The Winterland

The Velvet Underground anywhere in 1969.

Tom Waits, during the recording of Nighthawks at the Diner.

Mid-70's-Al Dimeola-era Return to Forever.

Bob Dylan, July 25, 1965 at Newport Folk Festival.

Queen in 1974, before they had become huge stars.

Artists I would have liked to have seen anytime, anywhere:
Jimi Hendrix
Townes Van Zandt
Stevie Ray
Lynyrd Skynyrd (pre-crash)
John Coltrane
Miles Davis
Buddy Holly
Billie Holiday

n.p. - George Harrison, "Never Get Over You"

"The Velvet Underground anywhere in 1969." - Cazbob

Interesting choice. May I ask why you pick this time frame instead of an earlier one? The reason I ask is that by this point, John Cale had left the band and had been replaced by Doug Yule. Personally, I would have preferred seeing an earlier version of VU. I'd even consider a show where Nico was still a member of the group.

"Bob Dylan, July 25, 1965 at Newport Folk Festival." - Cazbob

This is when Dylan "went electric", isn't it? Good choice. I agree. Especially knowing that Mr. Zimmerman had even greater songs on the way. And that this was paving the way for the Byrds, the Eagles and other folk/rock, country/rock acts.

"Artists I would have liked to have seen anytime, anywhere:

"Stevie Ray..."

I'm pleased to say I've had the privilege of seeing SRV five times. Twice on stage with his brother in the Fabulous Thunderbirds. As a matter of fact, the second time was a free concert hosted by one-time Dallas radio station Q102. At a Sound Warehouse in Irving, Texas, Q102 was holding a combination autograph session/ticket giveaway. When I got to Jimmy Vaughan, I asked how his brother was. (Stevie had just gotten off the drugs and alcohol). Jimmy grinned a huge Texas-sized smile and said, "He's doing great." Later that night, Stevie joined the Thunderbirds on stage.

The second time I saw Stevie was at the "Coors Lite Biggest Party in Texas History" on September 3rd, 1989. It was an all day affair. Part of it was held near the Courthouse in downtown Dallas. It would finish up later that night at the Cotton Bowl as the Thunderbirds and SRV opened for the Who. (A performance I also attended.)

Both the T-birds and SRV put on free shows at the courthouse that day. I got to see both shows. For Stevie's set, I managed to make my way up to the stage. I wish I could say I walked away with one of Stevie's pics. What happened instead, Stevie was in the midst of a killer guitar solo, black hat, black jacket. It's possible he was playing "Number One" (his first guitar). But, I swear, during that solo he and made eye contact. I know it doesn't sound like much, but for me it's one of my fondest concert memories.

I really, really miss Stevie Ray. He died much too young.

"Lynyrd Skynyrd (pre-crash)..."

I've seen 'em post-crash, but yeah, before the crash would've been better. To hear Ronnie Van Zandt sing "Sweet Home Alabama", "Workin' for MCA" and "Tuesday's Gone"; to see Allen Collins jump ten feet in the air while he's playing that guitar outro on "Free Bird".... Sigh. God what I've missed out on.

"John Coltrane
Miles Davis
Buddy Holly
Billie Holiday"

No comment beyond, "Amen". I became a fan of Miles much too late to have the opportunity to see him. Billie and Buddy were dead before I was born. Trane died before I was truly aware of jazz. May they all four rest in peace.

np - Too Stuffed to Jump - The Amazing Rhythm Aces

Benn,

I guess I chose the later date for VU because they had more and better material at this point. I love all of their stuff, but I am more partial to the Velvet Underground and Loaded albums.

I was 14 when the Skynyrd plane crashed and had yet to go to my first concert (Kiss at Madison Square Garden, 12/15/77). I had tickets to see the Rossington/Collins Band twice, but they cancelled both times. I guess it wasn't meant to be.

n.p. Dan Bern - Black Tornado

I kinda figured that was your reasoning, Caz, but I wanted to be sure. I dunno, though. I still like the first album, The Velvet Underground and Nico best of all.

Sigh. My first concert was in February of 83; Nightranger and Sammy Hagar at the Beaumont Civic Center. A good friend of mine took me as a birthday present. Unfortunately, I wasn't the fan of the Red Rocker that Robert was. But I've since grown to like Sammy Hagar's stuff.

Worse, for a long time I couldn't hear Nightranger "You Can Still Rock In America without thinking it was Sammy Hagar playing it. Took me awhile to get it straight who did it.

n.p. - Stars On 45 - Stars On ("The Beatles Medley") (No, seriously. I have it on CD.)

My Sammy Hagar story: I went to see Boston in Princeton in 1979. I had no idea if there would even be an opening act, but then they introduced "The Red Rocker!" At that point, I had never heard of Hagar, but he came out and played loud and fast and really blew me away. There was an excellent section in his set where he sat on the edge of the stage with a sitar in his lap and jammed. After Sammy, Boston was somewhat of a letdown.

Maybe there's another discussion topic in here: Concerts that you've been to where the opening act blew away the headliner. I would vote for Sammy Hagar over Boston (Princeton, NJ) and Golden Earring over Aerosmith (MSG), both in 1979.

n.p. - Weezer - Hash Pipe

Personally it would have been interesting to see the Manic Street Preachers play in one of their more recent concerts - maybe the Manics Millennium concert at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales), on New Year's Eve 1999. I'd have also liked to have seen them play at their concert in Havana, Cuba (2001).

I also regret missing the Rolling Stones playing Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium (I'm a fool! I really am!), on their Bridges To Babylon tour in 1999 (delayed from 1998).

Concerts where the opening act blew away the headliner--that would have to be Guns & Roses opening for Alice Cooper, Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL, circa 1985 or '86. No one in Chicago had any idea who they were ("Sweet Child" would not be a hit for another several months and "Jungle" wasn't getting airplay yet either) so when my brother and I saw the ad "Alice Cooper with Guns and Roses" we thought that was his backing band or something. Alice's set was okay (it was not one of his better tours) but Guns & Roses were ASTOUNDING. Definitely a band at their peak, before all the drugs and infighting took their toll. Steven Adler had injured his hand so the band had the drummer from Drivin' and Cryin' on tour with them...they were just ferocious. Mind you, Axl's high screechy voice gave out after about three songs and he sang the rest of the set in the low "Mr. Brownstone" voice, but we didn't know any better. And to see a hard rock guitarist playing a Les Paul again was beautiful (this was in the middle of the Van Halen strat-style-guitar-with-silly-paint-job era). I remember Axl's band introduction (which he used throughout the tour, no doubt): "I don't know what that thing over there on the side of the stage is, but it's mean and it's p!ssed off and it calls itself Slash."

Oh yeah, and Ted Nugent blew away Aerosmith on their "Done With Mirrors" tour, but I think pretty much anyone could have blown away Aerosmith on the "Done With Mirrors" tour.

np: Afghan Whigs, "1965."

Last year, in September, Blue Oyster Cult opened for Grand Funk Railroad in downtown Ft. Worth. Even though B.O.C. did half a set (8 songs), they still blew Grand Funk away.

I saw Aerosmith on their "Back In the Saddle" Tour. They had two support acts. The first was Stone Fury. This was the band Q102 was heavily promoting. You'd've thought Stone Fury was going to be the next big thing in metal. AFAIK they only released one album. Personally, I wasn't too impressed with them.

The other opening act on the other hand was Black N' Blue. They were great! I went out the next day and bought a copy of their first album on tape. Everyone who heard that tape in those days fell in love with it, too. I still have a copy of it to this day. I just wish it were available on disc. I won't say they blew Aerosmith away (they did blow Stone Fury away, however), but I was impressed by Black N' Blue.

Another band that impressed me but did not necessarily outshine the headlining act was Coal Chamber. I saw them open for Type O Negative in 2000, I think. Coal Chamber played so loud I almost got a nosebleed. I went and bought their first two CDs soon afterwards.

Then I saw Sting at Reunion Arena on his "Soul Cages" tour. He, too, had two opening acts. The first was Concrete Blonde. They put on as good a show as I expected. I think I'd already seen them headline a show at Deep Ellum Live before that.

After Concrete Blonde was another act. I'd never heard of him and figured he'd ••••. Sting personally introduced him. Sting told a story of seeing this guy perform in a club. After the show, Sting went backstage to meet him. He introduced himself and asked the musician his name. He said, "Vinx." "Just the one name?" Sting asked.

Vinx went on to put on a stunning percussion basd show. No guitars or any other instruments. Just Vinx and various percussion instruments. If you can find it, I heartily recommend his debut CD, Rooms In My Fatha's House.

np - Blonde On Blonde - Bob Dylan

Oasis on that fateful night in King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, 1993. According to legend, after the concert finished, one of the audience members approached them and offered them a recording contract - it was Alan McGee from Creation Records, whose previous bands included Primal Scream.

I would have loved to have seen Kiss in the late 70's or Deep Purple in early 70's. Both bands had an absolute magnetism at that point. Purple are still an excellent band (even though Gillan's voice is nowhere near what it used to be) and it's hard to follow Kiss because the line-up changes all the time. Tommy Thayer?? Tommy who?? Having said that I will say that I WAS at the Kiss Symphony earlier this year and that seriously kicked butt.
Would have loved to have seen Chris De Burgh perform with his band (he never comes to Australia).

Some other artists I would have liked to have seen live anytime, anywhere:
Hendrix (well maybe not at Madison Square Garden with the Band Of Gypsys)
Queen
ELO
Abba

These aren't historic concerts but...

Marillion played Loughborough University. A friend tried to persuade me to go. Now I'm not a great concert goer, and as a student, the £10 ticket price was price was not cheap.

I'd never heard of Marillion, but my friend told me Marillion were in the charts with their single 'He Knows You Know'. I listened to Radio 1 all week, hoping to find what this band sounded like. Radio 1 didn't play it all week.

On the Saturday, I missed the concert. On the Sunday, Radio 1 finally played 'He Knows You Know'. I became a Marillion fan the day after I missed their concert. I've never forgiven Radio 1 for not giving that single airtime.
---
Not long ago I passed up the chance to see Rockbitch in concert. Last week I met an exuberant woman who met and became friends with the group at that concert. I've just watched a Channel 5 documentary about Rockbitch.

Do I wish I'd gone to the concert? Hmm, they're a bit raucous for my tastes, and their lifestyle isn't mine, although I respect it. But as I see they've stopped touring because of the bigoted response to their sexual antics, maybe I should have seen them when I had the chance, just for the experience.

This isn't exactly historic either, but I SEVERELY wanted to see The White Stripes last month, but had to be up as six the morning after the concert, so it was not to be....

np - 39 Minutes of Bliss - The Caesars

I could have seen Blue Oyster Cult back in 2003, but I didn't want to go alone. Oh well!

Also, Def Leppard was in Maine back in 2002, and I didn't know beforehand. Drat!