11 TIMES
BARENAKED LADIES
Comedic Canadian funsters still on great form. Plus ex-member Steve Page as a solo artist.
SQUEEZE/GLENN TILBROOK
Eleven gigs overall. See below for Squeeze encounters going back to 1978.
10 TIMES
HUE AND CRY
Talented, soulful, and still going. Particularly good acoustically.
SCOTT GORHAM
7 with Lizzy, 3 with Black Star Riders.
UFO
Long-lasting rockers. Technically retired after 50 years but strangely still gigging. RIP Paul Raymond and Pete Way – both gone to the great gig in the sky.
7 TIMES
DEF LEPPARD
Full throttle rock experience. Worth every penny. 9 times if you include Joe Elliott’s Down n Outz and Phil Collen’s ManRaze.
DR. FEELGOOD
From Wilko to the current line-up, classic pub rock. First seen in 1979.
KING KING
Big bloke in a kilt playing brilliant blues rock with his slightly smaller brother.
MOSE ALLISON
Hilarious observational jazz/blues pianist. Brilliant. Sadly died in 2016.
RIVAL SONS
Still Californian. Still shouty. Rising from the Borderline to packing out Brixton, The Roundhouse and the Kentish Town Forum. Top stuff.
THIN LIZZY
Obviously the 1976 twin guitar line-up was the classic. You had to be there.
THUNDER
Classic UK rock powered by the Flying V touting Luke Morley.
WISHBONE ASH
Historic early pioneers of the twin guitar approach, and inspiration for my purchase of a Flying V in the first place. Incarnations of the band are now split between Andy Powell’s version, which he maintains is “the authentic one”, with a lawsuit childishly insisting that Martin Turner’s version be billed as Martin Turner (Ex-Wishbone Ash). They are both excellent and we are eminently capable of working out who is who whilst still enjoying the music.
6 TIMES
BAND OF FRIENDS
Rory Gallagher tribute band run by the ever-cheerful bassist Gerry McAvoy. Now featuring the excellent Jim Kirkpatrick of FM. RIP Ted McKenna.
BON JOVI
Guaranteed good time and masters of big venues.
BRYAN ADAMS
Still pumping out the hits. He can rock hard, despite the cheesy ballads.
DEL AMITRI/JUSTIN CURRIE
Bittersweet Scottish crooner, sometimes with his mates.
FRANCIS DUNNERY/IT BITES
It Bites man still noodling after 30 years.
GIRL
Glam rock – long since gone.
HALL AND OATES
A bit soft soap, but with good soulful moments. Daryl can’t hit the high notes any more.
MARCUS BONFANTI
Many incarnations here – as a solo artist, in Jawbone, Saint Jude, fronting Ten Years After, and playing for Johnny Hates Jazz. Truly eclectic.
NINE BELOW ZERO
Good time London blues band. Always a laugh. Dennis Greaves used my mate Dave’s crutch as a bottleneck at the 100 Club.
STRAY
Rediscovered in 2010 and still gigging after 50 years. First saw them support Rush at the Hammersmith Apollo for £2.00 in 1977.
THE 45s
Clapham/Brentford pub band I followed insanely in the 80s.
5 TIMES
THE BLACK CROWES
First seen in 1995. Somewhat variable. In the early days they could noodle incessantly in extended jams. The 2022 rendition of Shake Your Money Maker was a welcome straight rock outing.
CHAS N DAVE
Twice supporting Clapton, another supporting the Quo, and two office parties, courtesy of working on Courage Best.
CROWDED HOUSE
Neil Finn on his own, with his brother Tim, in Crowded House, or even Fleetwood Mac.
EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS
Numerous iterations, but you can’t not have fun at their gigs. Front man Barry Masters was held together by chewing gum and ale. I once had a conversation with him at the stand-ups in a bizarre venue in Torrington. Sadly died October 2 2019.
ERIC CLAPTON
Boring old bastard who barely speaks to the audience (see Paul Weller). Including guest appearances with Sheryl Crow and Buddy Guy, one of whom he slep with.
GLENN TILBROOK
The Squeeze man is humorous and highly talented. It’s like he’s playing in your kitchen. Add in Squeeze performances and I’ve seen him 9 times.
GIRLSCHOOL
Still going. Female rock – a down and dirty experience.
ROACHFORD
Alone with a keyboard, with his own band, or fronting Mike + The Mechanics.
SQUEEZE
All the way back to 1978 – a 40-year run.
TAJ MAHAL
Lived-in blues supremo complete with gravelly voice.
4 TIMES
AEROSMITH
King rockers from Boston.
BLACKBERRY SMOKE
Brilliant Southern-fried rock. Have now taken on the mantle of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
BUDDY GUY
Charismatic blues veteran. Still belting them out, usually dressed in polka dots.
ERIC BIBB
Likeable blues guy. Tells long stories.
JOOLS HOLLAND
A bit of a corporate gig these days, but he’s a hell of a talent, especially when jamming with others.
NO DICE
Little-known and now defunct rock band we followed in the late seventies.
RONNIE WOOD
With The Stones, Rod Stewart and on his own. Still rocking.
THE DARKNESS
Always good for a laugh, especially when Hawkins sails onto the stage astride a pair of giant comedy breasts. 4 times if you include his strange hiatus project – the bizarrely titled Hot Leg.
THE SKIDS
First seen nearly 40 years ago. Still going.
THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
Hairy, shouty rock, with seemingly ever-changing personnel.
T’PAU
Voice still cranking out. Classic AOR.
TRAIN
American rockers now sadly gone disco.
WILKO JOHNSON
First seen 40 years ago when he had plenty of pep. Sadly his last gig was excruciating. RIP.
3 TIMES
BILLY JOEL
Tons of hits. High quality. Top professional.
BLACK STAR RIDERS
Scott Gorham, Ricky Warwick and other revolving personnel. Increasing tendency to play too fast and too loud – a trait that detracts from the tuneful songs.
BLUE OYSTER CULT
Slightly odd US cult rock including perverse themes of dominance and submission.
DAVID LEE ROTH/VAN HALEN
Various combinations – always good. Eddie was one of the best, and Steve Vai’s double neck heart guitar had to be seen to be believed.
DEBBIE HARRY/BLONDIE
Everything from jazz to pop – still going.
DIRTY HONEY
Fast rising Californian Aerosmith-a-like heavy rockers.
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS
Ragged Alabama boys who are angry about almost everything.
FLYING COLORS
Consummate supergroup who can play anything.
FM
Consummate AOR rockers.
GUN
Rough-arsed Scottish rockers, still going.
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR
Excellent blues guitarist with a raspy tone and a great set of pipes.
KEB MO
Smooth blues player. Good guitarist.
PAUL WELLER
Boring old bastard who barely speaks to the audience (see Eric Clapton).
RUSH
Hairy, high-voiced Canadian prog rockers, now retired or dead.
THE RUTS
Full throttle Hounslow punk. RIP singer Malcolm Owen, who I met.
SAXON
The original NWOBHM biker rockers. Biff’s voice is so loud he doesn’t need the PA system.
STATUS QUO
Down down deeper and down, whatever that means.
THE BEAT
Once at Oxford Poly, once at Milton Keynes supporting Bowie, and once at The Jazz Cafe. Strange combination…
THE PRETENDERS
Various guises. Chrissie Hynde always good value.
THE STRANGLERS
Supported them in the early eighties. Down In The Sewer was the classic.
THE SWEET
Ball-breakingly high harmonies, and Andy Scott’s white wig has to be seen to be believed.
WALTER TROUT
Liver collapse survival merchant who completely relearned to play – fluid as ever.
WHITESNAKE
Farewell tour as Coverdale hits 70. They had much more feel back in the 80s with Marsden and Moody – now it’s just full throttle bludgeoning all the way.
ZZ TOP
And/or Billy F Gibbons.
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