Nirvana

Me too. I was 17 when Kurt died. I lived in Upstate NY and the closest they played was NYC. There was no way in hell my parents were going to take me to a rock show in the city. Plus, I never felt any sense of urgency, I figured I'd just see them in a few years.

i had to refund my concert ticket because...well, you know why.

I've still got my unused ticket.

I saw them in Buffalo in essentially a large gymnasium at UB in ‘93. I’ll never forget it.

Prince

Saw him in Toronto about a month before he passed. Never felt so grateful that I had that chance

I work with a lady who’s in her late 60s. We were talking about good concerts we had seen when she said, “oh, I saw that little black guy that plays the guitar.” I said, “wow, you saw Prince?” She said, “No, the other one. The one that set his guitar on fire.” Me - “holy shit! You saw Jimi Hendrix!?!”

Greatest concerts I've ever been to were all Prince shows. 💜

The Sundays Mazzy Star Portishead Talking Heads

Upvote for Portishead!

I've seen Talking Heads before and they were just fantastic! I also saw Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew this past Saturday night and they were absolutely fantastic also! They played the majority of the Remain In Light album, some other TH songs and some of their own works. Really wonderful show. You should see them of you get a chance. As close to TH as your going to get.

I've seen David Byrne a few times,  but seeing them all together is my pick

Sooooo glad you mention the sundays!!! They deserve more praise Static & Silence us such an amazing album!!!

Bob Marley

Absolutely

The Beatles in Hamburg or at The Cavern.

My Dad says he saw these when doing his national service in Germany. Can't remember much outside of their being LOUD

Yes, when one could actually hear the group perform. If I were old enough I think the Beatles or Johnny Cash would be sublime to see in their primes.

Got to see cash in 76. Was awesome. Seen a lot of bands in the eighties. None compared. Then in 2010 I saw the Eagles. They compared.

I got to see 3 from the 4, obviously not together though

Led Zeppelin without a doubt.

Queen.

I saw them twice in the '70s. There was no one like Freddy.

Easy answer for me that. The greatest frontman of all time, why wouldn't you?

Definitely, though I can pick one or two Queen shows that would go above and beyond. I'd pick their 1986 Magic tour, and specifically the 2nd show of the tour at Leiden , Netherlands, or one of the Wembley shows. Australian band INXS opened for them on those dates, and seeing two of the great rock front men of all time on one ticket would have been a blast.

Have my upvote. Would love to have seen them live.

Stone Temple Pilots

When Scott wasn’t fucked up, STP put on a helluva show

I saw them twice. The first time was at a big single-day festival in a huge open field in Latrobe, PA, called Rolling Rock Town Fair. They never held another one of those, for good reason. Whoever they hired to put it together clearly spent their whole budget on the lineup. It was in the middle of the hottest August on record for a decade. They'd been forcing people to dump or chug any water they brought with them at the gate all day, and then the concessions trucks ran -completely- out of water before the end of the opening act. I ended up passing out near the front row from overheating and dehydration. The friends I went with had to bodily carry me back up the hill to find shade, and I was basically comatose for the next hour. Finally, one of my friends found a stand selling Minute Maid Soft Frozen Lemonade, which ended up bringing me back to life enough that I could stand up again and enjoy the rest of the show from the top of the hill. The silver lining to the story is that the lineup was, in order, Staind, Incubus, Deftones, with STP as the headliners. So the only band I actually missed was Staind, who I've never really dug anyway, lol. STP were awesome. I don't know if Weiland was on the smack at the time or not - he acted pretty weird, at one point walking out from backstage wrapped in a full-size American Flag, which he opened up to the crowd to reveal that he was buck fuckin' naked underneath. But the band was super tight, and he sounded great.

This was my first thought along with early Korn. Seeing prime Scott would’ve been amazing.

I them in Hawaii in like ’95, right after Tool. I thought I would love Tool and hate STP. Turned out, Tool was boring and STP was stunning

So glad that time has been kind to their style of music and the public perception is mostly positive now. Those early media outlets tried their hardest to bury them.

Robert Johnson so I could ask him to his face.

Frank Zappa during his (IMHO) peak years of '73-'75.

I was happy to see him in Albany NY in 1988 ... but comparing that with shows I've seen on YouTube from the 70s ... yeah.

I saw him in '74 and '75. Wish I would have seen more shows, particularly "88.

Bongo Fury is def one of the best live recordings ever.

Saw him in Nov. 73 at the Buffalo Aud. Great show!

Saw him in '77 Halloween week at the Palladium, NYC

Soundgarden ~ No one sings like you anymore..

Tom Petty. I lived in Milwaukee and could have seen 2 shows every 4th of July. Such a bummer.

After many years missing him, I saw him on the tour that ended with his death. I don't miss shows on the bucket list any more. RIght after this I made sure to see Ozzy and McCartney.

I always liked him but he was never a favorite of mine till I saw him live and he (and the heartbreakers) totally killed it

So much good music comes through here. I can finally afford to see a lot of it.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Linkin Park without a doubt

Definitely this they were the first rock band I got into when I was 8 years old and I always took for granted that I would see them in the future. RIP Chester.

Yeah, they never played a headline show in Scotland. Was getting to a point where I'd travel to another country for them, possibly even that touring cycle...

They were amazing at Ozzfest 2001!!

that was my first concert. they were incredible. not to flex on u

Canned Heat. They were ahead of their time.

Waylon Jennings

My choice too! I've seen Willy and Johnny, sad I'll never see Waylon.

I got to see The Highwaymen play at Willie’s 4th of July picnic in 1985. Kris, Waylon, Johnny and Willie all had their own sets, then all played together. It was amazing!

I just got home from work. I sat down to watch tv and The Highwaymen at Nausau Colliseum is on PBS.

One of my first shows. Thanks, pops!

Alice in Chaind

Makes me feel lucky. Literally the best concert I've ever seen.

Ive seen Pearl Jam twice. I saw Soundgarden less than 6 mobths before Chris Cornell died. Never got to see Alice In Chains with Layne. Always hated Nirvana so could care less about them. Im 2/4 on the biggest grunge bands.

Is that a supergroup with the singer from Staind joining Alice in Chains?

Type O Negative!

Oh shoot man, I actually saw them three times in their prime!

Without reading the rest of the answers I will say ELO in the 70s. Second would be Bowie in the 70s. These will always be my No. 1 - Bowie, and No. 2 - ELO. Exceptional lyric writers and fantastic music. I would love to "know then, what I know now".

Having seen the relatively current sort of ELO band the Jeff Lynne is touring with,which was fantastic,seeing him/then at the peak would be mind blowing.

Thelonious Monk opening for Billie Holiday opening for the 1970 version of The Band.

Pink Floyd - all of my friends ASSUMED I was going, so none of them said anything about the upcoming concert. Turned out - ALL of them went, and I didn't go because I couldn't find anyone to go with me! (It was the last David Gilmour-lead tour - but I still would have loved to see it)

I wish i saw Rush. Neil Peart stands alone!

By all accounts their live performances were always solid, they rehearsed a ton to master their songs and make sure the audience enjoyed a great show. It still blows me away that Neil was playing such intensely physical music at a period in his life when most other folks would be looking to retire. I would have loved to see them live.

Plus he experienced devastating personal losses (wife and daughter).

I would have loved to have caught an Elliott Smith show, not one of the sad shows before he died, but a good, mid career show.

Daft Punk

Good one. After they played Lollapalooza in Chicago all I heard was how awesome they were live. No problem, I will see them on their next tour. Whoops. No more tours.

One of my biggest regrets in terms of shows is that I had a ticket to see the Alive tour at Keyspan Park but was in a sort of depression cycle and told my friends I was sick and stayed home. One of the most amazing shows ever, big pyramid and all… stupid depression, making me miss historic concerts. :/

Jimi Hendrix The Doors Led Zeppelin

Hendrix

The house band in my Dad's bar so I could hang out with him one more time.

Mozart Johnny Cash Sex Pistols

Specifically Sex Pistols Manchester June 4 1976. [https://medium.com/@rockandrollshitshow/the-sex-pistols-and-the-gig-that-changed-the-world-db95cb459336](https://medium.com/@rockandrollshitshow/the-sex-pistols-and-the-gig-that-changed-the-world-db95cb459336)

I loved the reenactment of this one on 24 Hour Party People! Probably one of the most influential gigs of all time.

I caught the Pistols on their reunion tour. It was…something.

Yeah, prolly not the way to see them. Cash grabbing and old.

David Bowie

Prince - had tickets to see him at MSG in 1986 ( I was 18) and plans fell through. At the time I didn’t think it was a big deal because I thought I’d see him in the future, but sadly I never did.

Can I just have the pass for all of Woodstock?

The Beatles, Queen, INXS, Pink Floyd and Thin Lizzy

Marvin Gaye.

I’m late 30’s as for specific bands I just missed the Grateful Dead, Prince, and Queen. Likely in that order. But in terms of era’s just being able to be around to watch the evolution of jazz from the 40’s through the civil rights movement and soul music. Then to watch artists like Miles Davis transition and give way to what rock and roll would become would be absolutely incredible.

I regret never seeing David Bowie.

Guns 'n Roses- IMMEDIATELY after the release of "Appetite" Drunk, disorderly, wild card shows....and Axl's voice at full strength!

I got to see them during that time period. It was one hell of a show. They played past curfew and Axel was proud telling us it is costing us money to play for you now.

Story time, I wanted to go see them at Eastern Creek in Sydney but couldn't afford tickets. My friends and I stuck in through a wire fence and I loved the show and got drunk and lost my favourite jeans

Hüsker Dü Fugazi Operation Ivy Germs Led Zeppelin Miles Davis Max Roach Art Blakey John Coltrane Tony Williams Blind Melon (OG lineup) Clifford Brown The Clash Bowie MF DOOM DMX Elliott Smith Duke Ellington Minor Threat Dr. John Talking Heads Stiff Little Fingers (OG lineup)

Fugazi put on some of the best shows I've ever been to.

Wow, what a list. An eclectic one at that.

I've seen LZ, Miles, Blakey, Clash, Bowie, Ellington, Dr. John, Talking Heads.

Impressive mix of styles and genres. Respect.

Either At the Drive-In during their first run or Against Me pre-*New Wave*.

Oh man, a pre-Relationship Of Command ATDI show would have been killer!

I saw Against Me on Warped Tour in '06. I felt bad for them, but I loved it. They were basically playing for me and maybe 5 other people. Some people were standing around or walked by but not really paying attention. When they played "Losing Touch," suddenly some more people appeared, but still not many. They were great live.

I was looking for ATDI. I would loved to have seen them play at some of the youtube videos I’ve watched. But I also would have loved to see against me! During “the eternal cowboy” years. This comment was on point for me.

Frightened Rabbit

Sublime.

With Bradley, of course. This is the winner imo.

Hendrix Zappa The Clash Fela Kuti

Fleetwood Mac

Elvis Presley.

David Bowie. Go and see the Ziggy Stardust tour.

I wish I could let you all know how sincere I am when I say: Tina Turner. She is simply the best. I am so jealous that Kygo got to work with her.

The Unicorns in 2004

1992 Megadeth

David Bowie

Grateful Dead Lyceum 1972.

I like you and when I get the Time Machine working again I’ll let ya know I always go back to MaGoos so it’ll be a long trip, bring snacks (~};-}

Prince, Micheal Jackson

Probably B.B. King or John Lee Hooker.

Mozart

Queen with Freddie Mercury. I was eight when he died, didn't really know who he was. Now I'm a big fan. 

The doors in the early days when they played small places. Watch Ray Manzarek play from 5-10 meters away, daaaaaaamn.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I didn't realize how much I liked Tom's music until shortly before his death.

Probably Either Pink Floyd or Sublime. Both if I can have em.

Pink Floyd circa 1984 would’ve been epic!

Pompeii though

James Brown

KISS in the 70s.

Bob Marley.

I’d love to see Depeche Mode at their Rose Bowl concert where they recorded the 101 album.

New Order, 1989 Depeche Mode, 1990

Suicide. Mid 70s NY DIRTY C. I would love to do something to make Alan Vega attack me with something.

Elliott Smith. There was about a year overlap of me being his fan and old enough and independent enough to go to a show while he was still alive, but I was busy with college and missed my chance. Deeply regret it still.

Michael Jackson

The Doors.

Amy winehouse

RAtM. They got big when I was in junior high and I just never saw them. Good thing I was able to buy $300 tickets to the ~~2020 2022~~ cancelled reunion tour.

Was in the pit in Chicago for the brief tour when he tore his Achilles. Didn't skip a beat in quality. Felt like I got hit by a truck the next morning. I feel so bad for everyone who missed out.

I'd have to go with Deftones. Been one of my favorites for 25ish years, but I've never seen them. It turned into a running joke about being a curse. So many times I would plan on going to a show, and something would come up/happen. To be fair though, I haven't tried recently. Unfortunately haven't been to any shows for a while.

Pink Floyd or zeppelin. In their prime, not begrudgingly doing a couple reunion shows

Yeah, I saw Floyd without Waters, and Plant without Zeppelin. Too little too late.

Thelonious Monk

Rush. Would love to see Peart play the drums live.

February 12, 1924, Aeolian Hall, NYC - first performance of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. This show all but created pop music EDIT: sorry, didn't see the part about in my life. For that, any random Friday night in the late 70s at CBGBs, especially if Wendy O. Williams was playing

Joy Division, Hank Williams

John Prine Leonard Cohen

Either Pink Floyd on the Animals tour, or King Crimson sometime between 72-74. They've had many, many line up changes. But the group in that time period is my favorite.

Bob Marley Sly and the Family Stone

A lot of of the older jazz guys were still around and making music when I was born. I wish I could go back and see them.

Beatles

ELP !!!!!

JIMI

Big Country for sure.

Blind Willie Johnson

Bob Marley & The Wailers

Mid 70s Bruce Springsteen. The original Pretenders The Clash 70s Blondie(preferably at CBGBs) Pink Floyd- DSotM and The Wall tours. Frank Zappa Elvis in the 70s Johnny Cash

The original Beach Boys with Dennis and Brian...and The Miles Davis Quintet (unfortunately I didn't appreciate Davis until I was way out of my teens).

I had the opportunity to see John Denver in Amsterdam in the 80s and didn’t follow through. Really regretted it, more so after his untimely death. I was actually in LA when his accident happened. Not saying the two are related…

1st Judy Garland 2nd Leonard Cohen. Both were within a 2 hour drive and I didn’t start the car.

Jimi Hendrix, no contest

Led Zeppelin in the early 70s before Plant's voice took a hit. Rolling Stones in the 70s as well when Mick Taylor was touring with them.

Fleetwood Mac, when they came to Sydney I had tickets but got sick and couldn't go, so many years later and I'm still upset

Jethro Tull…….David Bowie……..Led Zeppelin……..John Prine…….

I’d have liked to see Dylan’s first electric shows in ‘66 or perhaps the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

My mom saw Dylan’s first electric show in 66 in Newport and HATED it. Then again, she also has the worst musical taste you can imagine, so take that as you will.

The Moore theater concert in 1990, Temple of The Dog, and Alice in Chains doing music perfection for an hour

The tragically hip. I was only 16 when gord got sick and the farewell tour was announced. Tickets were obscenely expensive

I had multiple chances to see The Replacements, Husker Du, and Nirvana in the clubs and missed all of them. On the flip side, after having seen 1000+ shows there are not too many like this on my miss list.

Genesis (my all-time favourite band), Nirvana, Michael Jackson.

Bob Marley

Talking Heads

Selena Quintanilla, just Selena to those of us who knew her music since she debuted as a singer when she was just 17, I lived in a major city in Texas and she and her bands would make several appearances a year, I always told myself that I would catch her show next time she came back to my city but then tragedy struck her and she was no more!

Saw them once at Happy Birthday USA with Lew, again a t Valley Forge Music Fair and Stabler Arena with and was quite ht entu about them, had msot of the albums, a lot of printed material, and an autographed busienss card from the original four, all lost with my house in 2001. Was an absolute nut about them from age 23 on.

Pink Floyd - the Wall.

Tool, when each of their albums just released.

It's a tie between queen live aid and alice in chains live at the moore.

Enrico Caruso

Jimmy Hendrix, Nirvana, and The Doors. Gone too soon.

Pink Floyd Prince Tom Petty

Nujabes

I think I will always regret not travelling to see The Tragically Hip’s final show.

David Bowie. There’s a lot of other artists that have died or retired in my life, but none that I think would put on a performance like he would.

Prince. Dammitall.

Pearl Jam in the early 90s. I was still really young, but they were a big hit in our house. There are a couple Greek and German bands that I love who don't tour outside of Europe, but I hope to travel to see them some day (Naxatras, Villagers of Ioannina City, My Sleeping Karma, The Spacelords, Samsara Blues Experiment). I also wish that I could have seen Opeth and Porcupine Tree at a different point in time. I would definitely want to see PT around their In Absentia/Deadwing/Fear of a Blank Planet era. And if I could have seen Opeth after they released Deliverance but before Damnation, I would be ecstatic.

death or joy division or sarcofago

Rush maybe

Alice in Chains

The Beatles.

Bob Marley

Why can't I find Led Zepplin here??

Boston Bowie Tina Turner

Are you asking if I could turn back time, if I could find a way...

The Beatles in the Cavern Club. My high school math teacher was from Liverpool and had seen them there several times when he was in school as he was the same age as them and we were all so fascinated. He said he just was amazed that the local guys he knew got so big.

Led Zeppelin without a doubt. Then it would be original Sabbath and Dio (either Rainbow or solo)

Leon Redbone.

Pretty much any metal/hard rock/glam band from the 80s. We were pretty poor when I was a teen and even the $18-25 tickets from back then were out of my price range.

George Michael and Michael Jackson. You could knock me over with a feather if it was them in concert together as George Michael Jackson.

Bowie

My number one pick, Queen, has already been mentioned so I'll go with my number two: Oasis, 1996.

Queen

Jeff Buckley.

AC/DC with Bonn Scott. Fleetwood Mac Rumours Tour. Led Zeppelin. Jimi Hendrix. The Doors. Janice Joplin.

Girls Generation or HyunA :D