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Post by fourlittlediamonds on Dec 12, 2021 7:14:59 GMT
It was 40 years ago, to the very day, that I made my way through the snow and ice to the Birmingham NEC, as a thrilled 13 year old, to see ELO on the Time tour as my first ever live concert.[br
Clutching my £7.50(!) ticket (it was a Xmas present from my big brother, who came too) I can still remember the excitement of entering that huge arena and feeling the buzz of anticipation with 12000 other fans. Watching the digital clock countdown, the lights going out, Fred appearing and saying something unintelligible (to me anyway) and the intro to Twilight as the band entered in shadow from stage right and left and the whole show erupting in a wall of light and sound. Magical!
It would be the first and last time I would ever see the (almost) classic band line-up before it all ended but even today the memories are vivid and what an introduction to live music it remains. I didn't know at the time but it was to be one of those once in a lifetime events, so just for today, I will be that excited 13 year old again and have a little nostalgic,sentimental wallow in the good old days! (Until the 50th, if I'm still around.)
Merry Christmas everyone!
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Post by Timeblue on Dec 12, 2021 9:52:25 GMT
Good memories, I wish I could have seen a Time show. For a band who were still on top, they only played 3 UK venues which seemed a little strange?
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Post by unomusette on Dec 12, 2021 18:25:09 GMT
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Post by eloneen on Dec 12, 2021 22:50:42 GMT
fourlittlediamonds Great memories!! I had my first ELO concert experience at age 13, too. But it was the OOTB "The Big Night" US tour. I also went to that concert with my big brother.
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Post by fourlittlediamonds on Dec 12, 2021 22:58:17 GMT
Good memories, I wish I could have seen a Time show. For a band who were still on top, they only played 3 UK venues which seemed a little strange? Before 1980 apart from Wembley Arena which had a capacity of 8000, there wasn't any other major concert arena in the country until the Birmingham International Arena opened that same year. (There was Earls Court but that was not designed for live music and the acoustics were terrible and it had wooden seats.) For a long time Wembley and Birmingham were the only large indoor arena venues until a few others opened in Nottingham and Manchester that could stage big touring productions for major artists.
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Post by lawrev on Dec 13, 2021 13:01:49 GMT
It was 40 years ago, to the very day, that I made my way through the snow and ice to the Birmingham NEC, as a thrilled 13 year old, to see ELO on the Time tour as my first ever live concert.[br Clutching my £7.50(!) ticket (it was a Xmas present from my big brother, who came too) I can still remember the excitement of entering that huge arena and feeling the buzz of anticipation with 12000 other fans. Watching the digital clock countdown, the lights going out, Fred appearing and saying something unintelligible (to me anyway) and the intro to Twilight as the band entered in shadow from stage right and left and the whole show erupting in a wall of light and sound. Magical! It would be the first and last time I would ever see the (almost) classic band line-up before it all ended but even today the memories are vivid and what an introduction to live music it remains. I didn't know at the time but it was to be one of those once in a lifetime events, so just for today, I will be that excited 13 year old again and have a little nostalgic,sentimental wallow in the good old days! (Until the 50th, if I'm still around.) Merry Christmas everyone! Great post! I saw them in the U.S. in early November that year. What a fantastic show it was! I had always hoped that those NEC shows (especially the one where his family came) would be the one Jeff would say meant to him the most, but I guess that Wembley 2017 holds that honor.
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Post by livinthing on Dec 13, 2021 16:30:02 GMT
Lovely memory. I went to the NEC in 86 also with my older brother. Okay, we're twins and it's 5 minutes, but again looking back,these concerts were once in a lifetime event's.
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Post by pikerman on Dec 13, 2021 18:06:39 GMT
I was there,I remember the medley of songs,great night
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Post by Horacewimp on Dec 13, 2021 18:13:11 GMT
I was there as well, it took me ages to get my Morris Marina van out of the car park after the concert.
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Post by elosimms on Dec 13, 2021 22:05:57 GMT
A wonderful memory. My first gig was at Wembley - 9th December 1981? It was snowy too. My dad dropped off my sister and I. We were near the back...and I forgot my spectacles - I hadn't been wearing them long so they were not yet 'part of me' as they became later. I saw enough and it was great. I seem to remember Kelly throwing his bass around his body, or spinning it? Probably a simple move to a seasoned musician but it baffled me. Great to see him (just) singing lead on Twilight. I loved Nowhere Man too.
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Post by lawrev on Dec 14, 2021 18:17:47 GMT
A wonderful memory. My first gig was at Wembley - 9th December 1981? It was snowy too. My dad dropped off my sister and I. We were near the back...and I forgot my spectacles - I hadn't been wearing them long so they were not yet 'part of me' as they became later. I saw enough and it was great. I seem to remember Kelly throwing his bass around his body, or spinning it? Probably a simple move to a seasoned musician but it baffled me. Great to see him (just) singing lead on Twilight. I loved Nowhere Man too. I can't recall if Kelly sang lead on Twilight when I saw them, but either way, it was a great way to open a concert!
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