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Jules's avatar

Fantastic article. Really does illustrate the importance of live music. That bit where you went to the concert with your son absolutely nails it- how music binds us together. 💛

I am glad to see Chas n' Dave getting a mention. They featured in one of my posts and it received more likes than any other, so I have a special affection for them 😆

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Lovely comment Jules - I agree. And you cant beat a bit of Chas & Dave!

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Margaret Bennett's avatar

Fab Sharon. I’m a gig goer too and love the thrill of seeing live music. I enjoyed your tales very much.

I missed seeing Prince and I’m always sad about that as he was also my birthday twin. I’d love to have seen INXS too.

It’s special taking loved ones along and I’m glad your family got to experience Kasabian together.

My best is still David Bowie. My worst is Smashing Pumpkins (I really don’t like them, humouring husband). Other noteables Jesus And Mary Chain, The Cramps, Grace Jones, Nick Cave, Dirty Three, and The Avalanches in Melbourne. So many good times though. X

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Love it Margaret. You know I was never a big fan of Bowie, but am pals with people who are. I would’ve enjoyed several of those gigs you went to.

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Terrific. So FUN to remember how we used to be able to experience live music. I remember keeping all of my tickets stubs. I have no idea idea when I decided to let them go.

I loved going down memory lane with you. I have to go back and read about the cyclone. I miss that one, but you have a great opening line.

🤔

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Ahh thanks Prajna. I hope you enjoy cyclone too x

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Faith Liversedge's avatar

Love this Sharon - and that you kept all those tickets! What a time for live music - is it the same now I wonder? I also loved Shed Seven! And Level 42, although I had no idea about the thumb insurance 😂 I would have loved to have seen Prince and INXS but was glad to cover the Britpop era.

I also sympathise with the near misses - not a gig, but once a I was getting ready with a group of friends to go out to the Punch Bowl pub which Madonna and Guy Ritchie owned at the time and missed them being there because we spent so much time taking pics of ourselves 😂

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Funny enough Faith, I am friends with a lady here who managed the pub during that era. She has lots of stories to tell!

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Faith Liversedge's avatar

OMG I can imagine!!

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Tracy Haynes's avatar

You are on FIRE at the moment, bashing these great pieces out one after the after. I have to say, I was SO lucky to have seen the best of Prince more than once, I am very grateful for that. I am slightly surprised not to see George Michael at Earls Court.......if you know, you know x

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Thanks lady. Glad you enjoyed. I only didn’t include that gig because Andrew Ridgeley didn’t show, even though I got it into my head that he would! Apparently there were lots of pretty girls there that night. And us 😀

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Sara's avatar

Omg what a ride! Love this Sharon. I got my live music education in London between 2004-2014, which I fear based on your run down was probably too late, but better than I would have got in Perth! I saw Kasabian at Glastonbury and loved it - I didn’t even know they’re touring again! I went to a bunch of crazy festivals all over Europe and saw some incredible acts - Muse, Bjork, Pearl jam, a few I can remember 🫣 Sadly Oasis has eluded me twice - once when we bought counterfeit tickets to a Wembley show and once when we showed up late to a festival in Spain and missed their set. I’m gutted I never saw Fleetwood Mac live but I did see Crowded House in Perth last year which is showing my age 🤣

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Thanks Sara! Sounds like you too were guilty of enjoying the old ‘pre-fun’ too much…It’s easy to miss a gig!

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Sara's avatar

Guilty as charged 😆

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Francis F's avatar

Great post Sharon, impressive list of gigs. I also love a good gig ! One of my recent ones was the Killers at the O2 , absolutely incredible! Out of this word ! Also saw Keane and Crowded house 😄

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Thanks Francis. Did Andy Bell from Erasure join The Killers on stage that night? I saw a clip online and was gutted not to have been there for that.

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Francis F's avatar

He did !!! Omg we went wild , my friend went a different night and he didn’t join on stage ! That night I fell in love with Brandon Flowers , the charisma oozed out of him 😃

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Oh Francis, I am WELL JEL! Love Erasure. Do want to see The Killers. Brandon has a fabulous voice.

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Lewis Holmes's avatar

This is awesome Sharon. I don't get to nearly as many gigs these days as I used to, back in the 90s my mates and I would often get two or three into a single week.

I saw Oasis at Earl's Court in '95 but I cannot remember if it was the 4th or the 5th. It whichever one registered on the Richter Scale. It was a phenomenal show, I'd go so far as to say they never hit those highs again, not even at Knebworth.

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Agreed. I have stuck to my word re. Oasis. Definitely didn’t clamber to buy a ticket this time round…

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Petra Khashoggi's avatar

Great post! You took me back! My best shows were Bowie (3 times!) James Brown and Michael Jackson. Prince was amazing - shame you didn’t see him on a good night. Loved Muse and Suede. Oasis were so-so (it was the year they broke up - you definitely saw them at their best!) I regret never seeing INXS or George Michael. Didn’t see any live music for years and then my friend from London invited me to see Squeeze and Boy George in Central Park not that long ago - absolutely brilliant!!

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Thanks Petra, I am envious of you seeing Michael Jackson live. What a performer. I like your musical styles. Squeeze are brilliant too.

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Mark Kureishy's avatar

So many irreplaceable venues lost all over the country. And in their place? Unaffordable housing and unattainable retail outlets? Electric Circus or Greggs; twist or stick, the choice is yours. Cultural vandalism on a tragic scale.

Bowie (‘78); Buzzcocks (any and all); Pistols and Iggy (Finsbury Park, ‘96); Roxy Music (‘79); U2, Kraftwerk, Public Enemy, Big Audio Dynamite…all on the same bill for a Greenpeace gig in Manchester! (‘92); and Prince (both times, Lovesexy in ‘88 and Hit and Run, ‘10), which I’m certain you’d have loved both)…

And I’m also sad I missed Wham!, especially as I had a chance to go see them…oh, well…can’t see everyone, can you?

Thanks, Sharon, and now I at least know one Shed Seven fan…ha-ha!

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Now you’re just showing off Mark….And I’m choosing to ignore your slight re. Shed Seven 😋

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Mark Kureishy's avatar

Ha-ha…yes, I am!

If you love the Sheds, then that’s between you and your maker…ha-ha!

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Maria McCarthy's avatar

Great stuff. It's such a shame about the loss of venues. Oh for the days when you could walk 500 yards down the road and see live music.

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

I agree. It’s a travesty.

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Wendy Varley's avatar

What brilliant gig memories – and impressive ticket collection, Sharon! I've seen many of the same bands, but not at the same time.

One of the first gigs I went to as a teen was AC/DC at Sheffield City Hall, 1970s when Bon Scott was still with them (RIP). My ears are still ringing!

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

I’m sure there was a cross-over Wendy, and I hope you enjoyed revisiting SE London in this piece too :)

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Wendy Varley's avatar

Yes! I saw some good gigs at The Venue. And I’m sure popped into that bakery in Greenwich!

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Jennifer Gilbert's avatar

So sad that proper tickets aren’t a thing anymore- I miss sticking them on the fridge door.

I need to check my ticket stash for the date but I definitely went to see INXS with you at Brixton Academy. Was that the one where we saw that group of boys who we then kept spotting at The Venue? We nicknamed them The INXS boys. We never spoke to them but always gave a nod of recognition.

The best concert was The Cure at Earl’s Court. I think we were a bit tipsy but we had great seats and they did about 4 encores. Must have been something to do Earl’s Court that we always had to have a good pre drinks session. How we managed to make that Oasis concert and how they actually let us in was a miracle, especially after all those gin and tonics. Who knew that gin would go on to become such a trendy drink.

I also vaguely remember seeing an emerging band with you and buying their single- “My name is Keith.” I can’t remember the band’s name but we really liked them but sadly they never rose to greatness.

Great memories and I am eternally thankful for having a friend whose super power was the ability to get concert tickets. I was always in awe at how you always managed to get tickets. I still find it a struggle but now have a husband and daughter who have the same super power.

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Jen! That band were called Snug - they sang My Name is Keith. They were great. I think one of them went on to join Busted.

Great times we had eh? Xx

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COLIN JONES's avatar

I love live music too! I haven't been to as many gigs as you but I loved reading your experiences, both good and bad. This piece is excellent, very readable, as usual. However, for me, the star of the show, is the photo of your tickets! How amazing that you've kept them all! A proper treasure trove. Thank you, Sharon, for sharing. This is you, on your stage, performing for your adoring fans. I'm holding up my phone torch to you xx

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

What a fabulous comment. Thanks so much Col! X

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Lowri Williams's avatar

Your memory for gigs is still much better than mine! I saw George Michael, no real recollection though. Was it with you??? Prince at the O2 was epic, as was Elbow in Manchester.

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Sharon Joslyn's avatar

Jeez Low, I can’t remember! Bloody peri-menopause brain!

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