I apologise for introducing a line outlining my shock and sorrow at the sad and untimely death of Prince in Stan's 4 Nations thread, which has subsequently been derailed as a result.

Lucky to have seen Prince live on 2 occasions. First time at the NEC in Birmingham in August 1988 on my birthday and second time in Leeds at The First Direct Arena on my daughter's birthday in May 2014. Outstanding and memorable live performer, but not the best.

Best Live performance - Earth, Wind and Fire in Birmingham in 1982 (runner up Rolling Stones at Leeds University 1970)
Worst Live performance - Desmond Dekker in Leicester in 1972 (runner up New Kids on the Block in Birmingham 1991)

Care to share yours?

Went to see the pogues in 89 or 90 got there to find out Shane Magowan had left the band and I was gutted but joe strummer took his place and was excellent and it was great to see one of my hero's when I least expected it on the subject of Prince never really saw the appeal in the same way I never thought much of Michael Jackson

This is gonna be hard Picky, so many choices in both categories. I have been asked this so many times and to be honest I don't have a definitive answer, if pushed my 2 favourite performances would be Pixies at Reading in 1990 or Nirvana at Bradford Uni in 1991.

I seriously doubt I have seen a worse live performance than the one Ray Quim put on at Craven Park earlier this season.

I was never a fan of Prince but recognise his talent, his peak coincided with my student years and so he triggers great memories. Incidentally, watching the news tonight reminded me that I saw Paul Weller at 1st Avenue Minneapolis in 1997. Iconic venue.

I also saw Paul Weller at an iconic venue Hull Ice Arena

James at City Hall in 91 excellent and there at the same venue this year so will be going again 25 years on

Manic street preachers at ice arena 1996.

I can only do the opposite.

I am the ultimate of bad predictions.

I saw Radiohead do a warm up gig in 1991 prior to the release of "Creep" and told everyone they were awful, and saw The Verve support Ride in 1992 and told everyone they were terrible.

Don't feel too bad. The Verve were dreadful.

Well with my age I can say i have seen the Beatles Great and the rolling stones and Manfred man and loads of good groups I thing that is why I have to were deaf aids

The best was Bobby Memphis at Wawne Ferry in 1992. He had the audience in the palm of his hand. The place was rocking.

We had a night out with Bobby Memphis. Highlight was him in full Vegas regalia stood on a table in the lamp doing Burning Love hips arms and gut everywhere. That was a long night.

Best live acts...too many.
Pavement at the Adelphi. P Funk All Stars at some festival or other, pogues and New Order at reading 1989, Bill Hicks at Hull Uni around 1990, Gil Scot-Heron at Manchester on his last tour, Pavement at the Astoria 1991.
Some Big Audio Dynamite gigs, Pulp, The Bays at the big chill in Naxos and many many I've forgot.

Worst the Butthole Surfers....pah.

Best no frills gig was prodigy at brid spa, about 4 years ago, high energy from minute one. Worst was ugly kid joe circa 1993, they were supporting Def Leppard at Sheffield and were just awful!

Seeing the stone roses at Heaton park was very special especially as I never thought I'd get the chance to see them after they broke up , the nerves and excitement of finally getting through and booking the tickets , the journey down there with a coach full of lads I've grown up with down victor street and the Holderness road area , the actual performance is pretty much a blur if I'm honest as I think I was in a bit awe haha !!!!

Kings of Leon were very good live .
I went more for my wife and friends but so glad I did as Iron Maiden were unbelievable live in Sheffield s few years back , such an outstanding performance and experience !!

Hard to pick a worse one but I'd have to say the who at the Kc , not so much the band ( as I'm a massive fan) but the sound and set up just didn't do it for me tbh . Such a shame really

Red hot chilli peppers, Hyde park 2004, great performance all around from Kiedis making the whole set current and personal rather than just going through the tracks. The reference to the fathers for justice guy climbing Buckingham palace walls dressed as Batman by announcing "I've figured out a way to break in to Buckingham palace, I don't want to get anybody in to trouble but I kinda figured it out". Funny, at the time.

Followed closely by Oasis at Knebworth, 2006.


Worst? Take that at Wembley, 2011 I think? Pet shop boys were the warm up, they were great.

Officially very jealous.

That must have been their Circus tour. Took the wife to see them at Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Good atmosphere but more a West End Stage Show Tbh than a concert. The Saturdays were their support act for this gig. Nice lookers, but total cackamallabab.

I've seen some support artists or bands on an unplanned basis who went on to be famous. I saw Yes in a marquee at Bilton Carnival in 1969 as 2nd support to The Gun and Ainsley Dunbar's Retaliation. Saw Taste and Rory Gallagher at farewell Cream gig in London in 1969. Saw Vinegar Joe (Robert Palmer and Elkie Brooks) supporting Free at Hull City Hall in 1971, Rihanna supporting John Legend in 2006 in Birmingham and One Republic supporting James Morrison in Cardiff in 2009.

One Republic were particularly good. Lead singer is Ryan Tedder and he has written and produced for loads of top artists in the last decade.

Also Robin Thicke was supporting John Legend at Birmingham too.

Best gigs...Def Leppard (Sheffield, in the round) The Who (Leeds Uni) Great White (Newcastle) AC/DC (Manchester)

Best live vocailists...Steve Overland (FM) Danny Bowes (Thunder) Anne Wilson (Heart) Bryan Adams

Worst gigs...Jean Michel Jarre (London Docklands, went on forever & I got bored) The Frank & Walters (somewhere in London, was very ill that night) Bon Jovi (KC, only did half a show) ...& several at Hull City Hall ruined by the terrible sound

Wasn't expecting much & genuinely surprised...Roxette

Some crackers there, Waldo. I'm jealous about The Who in Leeds. Missed out on tickets for that one. Did get to see Led Zeppelin, the Stones and John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers at Leeds Uni though all in the space of a fortnight.

Saw Roxette at the NEC in Birmingham sometime during the 90's. Up there with the best.

Daughter saw Bon Jovi at the Olympic Stadium in Munich in 2003. She said the concert lasted over 3 hours. She also saw Maroon 5 in Nottingham in 2004 before they got famous in a venue holding just 200.

Pixies and Nirvana, Stan. Very eclectic bordering on substance induced esotericism.



Loved Paul Weller in his Jam and Style Council years. Never saw him live though. Must say, he's got away from me a bit in his solo years.

Best simply red at KC. Worst and most disappointed in REM

Best for showmanship - Meatloaf @ Sheffield
Best ever - Bruce Springsteen @ Roundhay Park Tom Petty supporting
Surprisingly good- Brian May @ Bradford- Cosy Powell on drums

Worst by a long way _ Van Morrison @ Hull City Hall

Oh I forgot I even went to see Bon jovi, that overtakes my previous worst concert experience, they were awful and it chucked it down

Not the original I'm afraid, the 2006 version. Still a fantastic gig. Took my Dad. The Who were his favourite band & he'd never seen them live...& it was Father's Day weekend. Being only a few feet from Roger Daltrey & Pete Townsend in such a small venue was amazing...for 2+ hours that night my Dad was 19 again.

...& they didn't play My Generation!!

Favourites are Oasis, U2 and the Stones, all brilliant shows, but I've also enjoyed some smaller gigs including Kasabian at Brid. Worst has to be when I had to take my daughter to see 1 direction - bl00dy awful