Power cuts and screaming teenagers – our memories of legendary gigs | Music

No legendary gig list is complete without the one by the rock band Free at Middlesbrough Town Hall on 19 February 1972 (‘I was there!’ Writers remember legendary gigs by Beyoncé, Brian Wilson, Britney, Oasis, Daft Punk and more, 6 July). Free were led by local lad and now legendary vocalist Paul Rodgers, and it was rumoured to be, and was, their farewell tour, leading to massive anticipation.

The gig was a 50p a ticket sellout, but due to the seven-week miners’ strike there was a power cut scheduled for 9pm, so the starting time was moved to 5pm. Coincidentally, the miners settled their pay dispute on the same day, but the power cuts continued until the following week.

After a brilliant gig with seven encores, the audience, including me, left the hall just before 9pm, walking home happily in the pitch dark, adding to the night’s legendary status. It all turned out All Right Now.
Andrew Keeley
Warrington, Cheshire

I saw the Beatles’ 1964 Christmas show at Hammersmith Odeon. My mum queued for the tickets at the venue, one for 12-year-old me, one for my 11-year-old best friend Liz, and one for her mum, who volunteered to take us. We sat in the circle, which was full of celebrities like the DJ Pete Murray. Below in the stalls, a seething mass of teenage girls screaming their heads off.

I have never forgotten the thrill of seeing the Beatles live. We couldn’t hear much over the screaming, but we could just make out some of their hits including Twist and Shout and Can’t Buy Me Love. I don’t remember the support acts, the journey there or the journey home. But every second of that Beatles’ performance will be with me for ever.
Lesley Cramp
Harrow, London

It is not only rock and pop gigs that can be memorable. On 30 August 1964, in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Mstislav Rostropovitch and Sviatoslav Richter performed all the Beethoven cello and piano sonatas through the night. I was there, and as it was a short-notice, first come, first served event, I had an excellent balcony seat. An experience I will never forget.
Bob Owen
Chetnole, Dorset

It is my guess that more people miss legendary gigs than attend them. On a friends’ group holiday in Cornwall in the early 1980s, our coolest friend suggested we went to see a new band at Falmouth Town Hall. We decided we would rather go to the pub. The band was the Smiths. Whatever happened to them?
Paul Masterman
Shifnal, Shropshire