Mastermix Label Manager Richard Lee reflects back on his first experience at a live gig!
I started buying records on a regular basis in 1980. I was approaching my 10th birthday and realised that music meant more to me than anything else so that’s what I spent my pocket money on. I was, and still am, a massive Madness fan and would buy everything they released or appeared in…Smash Hits, Look In, Number One etc.
A few years later, 1984, and I felt I was old enough to attend my first live gig! It made sense that it would be Madness but at that time they weren’t touring as much as they were in their early 80s hay day so I had to look elsewhere.
It so happened that I become a fan of another group who had burst onto the scene in 1983. They achieved 3 consecutive UK number ones and became an over-night phenomenon! Their name…Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
I bought all the singles, including several versions of ‘Two Tribes’ on 12”, plus the debut album and even kept newspaper cuttings to follow their progress.
In 1985 the front page of the local newspaper featured a headline that two of the biggest acts around were to appear at the City Hall in Sheffield. One was Paul Young, who was huge at the time having scored numerous hits, and Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
I had been saving my hard-earned pocket money for this occasion and now it was time to purchase tickets for my first live gig!
I remember being apprehensive about attending my first live event as any 16 year old would be. Not only was this my first live concert but I was also showing off my new threads that I had bought especially for the gig…this included a black Harrington jacket, imitation Rayban sunglasses and a Frankie Goes to Hollywood flat cap that I had purchased outside the venue…basically I was trying to look like Holly Johnson but please don’t tell anyone!
I was on the upper circle back row! The lights went out, the band appeared on stage and we were off…this is it…my first live gig!
The band performed all their greatest hits including:
Relax
Two Tribes
The Power Of Love
War
Born To Run
Welcome To The Pleasuredome
As I left the venue I remember 2 girls commenting that I looked a bit like the lead singer as he wore a similar get up to what I was parading around in!
“Thanks a lot”
If I only knew then what I know now!!!
What are your first gig experiences? Let us know on our Facebook Page or our Twitter account!
