21 May 1976 Earls Court Arena
It was 44 years ago this week that I saw The Rolling Stones for the first time.
I went to four of the six shows and get down the front twice to get a bit wet when Mick threw a bucket of water over the crowd.
Anyone else have memories of it?
I still see The Stones at least once on every tour since.
I lived in Shepherds Bush, West London so got to many great shows.
This was the two weeks of gigs I saw around the time of The Stones gigs.


Elton John Earls Court Arena, London 13.05.1976
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 15.05.1976 first uk tour for this great live band
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 16.05.1976 tonight I had front row centre seats
Patti Smith,Stranglers Roundhouse, London 17.05.1976 the first ever London show by Patti Smith.
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 21.05.1976 my first Rolling Stones show
AC/DC Fulham Greyhound Pub, London 23.05.1976 played to about 100 people .
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 25.05.1976 I got down the front for 2 of the shows
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 26.05.1976
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 27.05.1976 my 17th birthday
Who,Alex Harvey Band,Little Feat Charlton F.C. , London 31.05.1976

Quote
Ronnierocks
21 May 1976 Earls Court Arena
It was 44 years ago this week that I saw The Rolling Stones for the first time.
I went to four of the six shows and get down the front twice to get a bit wet when Mick threw a bucket of water over the crowd.
Anyone else have memories of it?
I still see The Stones at least once on every tour since.
I lived in Shepherds Bush, West London so got to many great shows.
This was the two weeks of gigs I saw around the time of The Stones gigs.


Elton John Earls Court Arena, London 13.05.1976
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 15.05.1976 first uk tour for this great live band
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 16.05.1976 tonight I had front row centre seats
Patti Smith,Stranglers Roundhouse, London 17.05.1976 the first ever London show by Patti Smith.
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 21.05.1976 my first Rolling Stones show
AC/DC Fulham Greyhound Pub, London 23.05.1976 played to about 100 people .
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 25.05.1976 I got down the front for 2 of the shows
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 26.05.1976
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 27.05.1976 my 17th birthday
Who,Alex Harvey Band,Little Feat Charlton F.C. , London 31.05.1976

Snap.................I remember me and my sister were about half way back, on the floor. Just to the right of the central aisle. I remember there was this guy who insisted on telling us the names of every song - he was ok - and a young woman dancing with her father in the aisle - I remember having never seen so much denim in my life. I remember having to leave during Sympathy to get the last tube to Victoria for the train to Croydon.

I remember this guy trying to sell us a poster on the way out - "Do you want a big one of Mick Jagger?" - My sister "No thanks, I've just seen Mick Jagger's big one..................slut .........

I remember dreaming the whole show again in technicolour and on the coach trip back to Wales the next day my young nephew seeing a ladybird for the first time - at the Severn Bridge services .....sweet................

I bought 3 tickets for Earl's Court but couldn't get the 3 for the 21st - my brother-in-law came up from Wales for the show on 25th.

The next Stones show was Knebworth with my younger brother - I was 16, he was 14.

Lastly, re. The Who's '76 tour - I saw them at the Vetch field in Swansea on 12.6.1976 with Alex Harvey Band, Little Feat etc..............I used to sell programs for the football club - which meant free entry to the ground on match days - On that day it was free for 6 or 7 of us...........The guy on the turnstile was casual..............ex..........



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020-05-21 03:51 by EddieByword.

Quote
Ronnierocks
21 May 1976 Earls Court Arena
It was 44 years ago this week that I saw The Rolling Stones for the first time.
I went to four of the six shows and get down the front twice to get a bit wet when Mick threw a bucket of water over the crowd.
Anyone else have memories of it?
I still see The Stones at least once on every tour since.
I lived in Shepherds Bush, West London so got to many great shows.
This was the two weeks of gigs I saw around the time of The Stones gigs.



Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 21.05.1976 my first Rolling Stones show
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 25.05.1976 I got down the front for 2 of the shows
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 26.05.1976
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 27.05.1976 my 17th birthday

(Checks ticket and writes....) We were there on 26th May 1976. Block 84, seat G20. As I've severally written, we didn't suffer from the echo at Earl's Court because we were so high up and close to the wall from which the sound was bouncing. And that also means that we got a great view of the Lotus Stage opening.

Another poster writes about leaving early to get a train. We (4 of us) had travelled up from Brighton by train and had no problems getting home.

And... Shepherd's Bush. My grandfather had a stall in the market there, and an aunt used to run a toyshop on the Goldhawk Rd and I had a Saturday job there for many years. Also The Empire was 'quite a good' Stones gig in '99!

--
Captain Corella
60 Years a Fan

My first Stones gig was the 22nd May Earls Court gig. Many memories:

- sending off for tickets by post, expecting nothing due to "millions of applications", then 2 arriving

- driving up from Portsmouth for the evening, parking close-by, pub for a couple of drinks

- crew walking around with star-shaped tour T-shirts

- buying a poster (on my wall still), T-shirt (now far too small...), and a Mick and Keith badge - that was all I could afford

- 19 songs played: felt like a long set at the time.

- the roar as the stage petals opened: we were about half way back at the side so a great view if a little small. Sound OK, but some echo. It didn't matter

- on leaving half expecting it to be the one and only time I'd see them.... now on 93 and would have made 100 this year

- oh and I still have the ticket, amazingly

Quote
Ronnierocks
21 May 1976 Earls Court Arena
It was 44 years ago this week that I saw The Rolling Stones for the first time.
I went to four of the six shows and get down the front twice to get a bit wet when Mick threw a bucket of water over the crowd.
Anyone else have memories of it?
I still see The Stones at least once on every tour since.
I lived in Shepherds Bush, West London so got to many great shows.
This was the two weeks of gigs I saw around the time of The Stones gigs.


Elton John Earls Court Arena, London 13.05.1976
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 15.05.1976 first uk tour for this great live band
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 16.05.1976 tonight I had front row centre seats
Patti Smith,Stranglers Roundhouse, London 17.05.1976 the first ever London show by Patti Smith.
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 21.05.1976 my first Rolling Stones show
AC/DC Fulham Greyhound Pub, London 23.05.1976 played to about 100 people .
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 25.05.1976 I got down the front for 2 of the shows
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 26.05.1976
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 27.05.1976 my 17th birthday
Who,Alex Harvey Band,Little Feat Charlton F.C. , London 31.05.1976

"AC/DC Fulham Greyhound Pub, London 23.05.1976 played to about 100 people"

That´s sick

That's a sensational 2 weeks, Ronnierocks!

You gotta admire folks making long treks see The Stones.
Even now they must have the best travelling fans.
I did not have a cheque account in 1976 as aged 16 and had to send Postal Orders.
Remember Postal Orders?
Promoter Harvey Goldsmith would come on tv and say there were over 250,000 applications for tickets...and there were sacks of mail behind him.
Those magical words "please allow 28 days for delivery" but sure it took longer.
The Stones have always been a big deal when their tours were announced.
I seemed to remember they played American gigs that were covered in two page reviews in The Sun and The Mirror to help hype up the UK shows a bit later.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020-05-21 16:26 by Ronnierocks.

The Who at Charlton - the loudest concert ever (back then, and for a number of years thereafter).

Well I was at the E Ct 23rd show, which I see now from another thread has a Soundboard recording

The highlight for me was the Meters, whose album Fire on the Bayou I knew. They were so tight and funky. Sound was good - maybe not using the P.A.?
Bill joined them for some numbers and his playing was distinct and very audible - with a lot more dexterity and life than he usually has scope for with his main band.

The Stones show was one of my most disappointing for two reasons. The totally awful sound system/P.A. which created an echo and all the instruments were out of sync. This was particularly bad for those up high, as most were. For the encore I went down to the front and the sound was ok. I think the speakers were hung from the roof. Led Zeppelin the previous year had been fine, soundwise, and a lot lot better bandwise.

Secondly, had seen Stones first at Wembley indoor in 1973 and they were just in a totally different class. Jagger could sing, Keith played with power, presence and pace. It was a faultless your de force that took your breath away. Beautiful, lyrical versions of Angie and YCAGWYW. Charlie, Bill, Taylor, everything in Sync. The best Gimme Shelter ever possible, I believe. No encore!

Only saw a an evening show. They'd already done an afternoon one!

So sadly, no, Earl's Court could not compare.

But I look forward to hearing the Soundboard.
Just realised, it was today!

And I really hope that the Meters were recorded on one of these shows??
They were a better support band than in 73 - in this case better than the Stones!

This would be repeated at Knebworth with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Thank goodness for Punk. And Studio54, and Keith cleaning up etc.

Always life, always hope.

Quote
JumpinJeppeFlash

Quote
Ronnierocks
21 May 1976 Earls Court Arena
It was 44 years ago this week that I saw The Rolling Stones for the first time.
I went to four of the six shows and get down the front twice to get a bit wet when Mick threw a bucket of water over the crowd.
Anyone else have memories of it?
I still see The Stones at least once on every tour since.
I lived in Shepherds Bush, West London so got to many great shows.
This was the two weeks of gigs I saw around the time of The Stones gigs.


Elton John Earls Court Arena, London 13.05.1976
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 15.05.1976 first uk tour for this great live band
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 16.05.1976 tonight I had front row centre seats
Patti Smith,Stranglers Roundhouse, London 17.05.1976 the first ever London show by Patti Smith.
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 21.05.1976 my first Rolling Stones show
AC/DC Fulham Greyhound Pub, London 23.05.1976 played to about 100 people .
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 25.05.1976 I got down the front for 2 of the shows
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 26.05.1976
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 27.05.1976 my 17th birthday
Who,Alex Harvey Band,Little Feat Charlton F.C. , London 31.05.1976

"AC/DC Fulham Greyhound Pub, London 23.05.1976 played to about 100 people"

That´s sick

Yep that’s a pretty cool gig to have been at.

Where is the thread about 23 EC Soundboard?

It's the Leicester with Eric Colton thread.

The second message, and a link to Rocks Off. Erikjf the poster. I think.

But I checked again and I think it's not the 23rd but the 22nd - not all the tracks though.

And some other nights. Pity there's not a whole show - is there?

But there must be some high quality boots somewhere.

Lyons on 9th of June appears to have a whole Sounboard show.

I suppose all shows were taped but only some leaked out to be available?

I'm not an expert on boots - some people on Rocks Off especially, are

Quote
Ronnierocks
21 May 1976 Earls Court Arena
It was 44 years ago this week that I saw The Rolling Stones for the first time.
I went to four of the six shows and get down the front twice to get a bit wet when Mick threw a bucket of water over the crowd.
Anyone else have memories of it?
I still see The Stones at least once on every tour since.
I lived in Shepherds Bush, West London so got to many great shows.
This was the two weeks of gigs I saw around the time of The Stones gigs.


Elton John Earls Court Arena, London 13.05.1976
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 15.05.1976 first uk tour for this great live band
KISS,Stray Hammersmith Odeon, London 16.05.1976 tonight I had front row centre seats
Patti Smith,Stranglers Roundhouse, London 17.05.1976 the first ever London show by Patti Smith.
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 21.05.1976 my first Rolling Stones show
AC/DC Fulham Greyhound Pub, London 23.05.1976 played to about 100 people .
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 25.05.1976 I got down the front for 2 of the shows
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 26.05.1976
Rolling Stones,Meters Earls Court Arena, London 27.05.1976 my 17th birthday
Who,Alex Harvey Band,Little Feat Charlton F.C. , London 31.05.1976

Tinnitus-tastic!

Quote
Four Stone Walls
Lyons on 9th of June appears to have a whole Sounboard show.

I suppose all shows were taped but only some leaked out to be available?

I'm not an expert on boots - some people on Rocks Off especially, are

Plenty of us on Hot stuff section.

Tell us more about that AC/DC show!

Did you get the impression that you were seeing an amazing band and show?
Was Bon wasted at the bar before the show? After?
Groupies yelling?
C'mon man, give us some info!!!!