Best support band you've seen?

[Big George]

Saw Idles last night and was support band was a cracking all female, all black punk band called "Big Joanie" and they were huge fun.

Very happy to see them play their own set.

what's the best you have stumbled across because they supported someone you went to see as a headiner?

In 1985 I saw Aswad support OMD in Batersea Parl and became a lifelong fan.

I didn't really care for 808 State until I saw them support Happy Mondays in 91.

Irish band Lankum supporting Sleaford Mods a few years ago made me go and buy all their records.

[Big George]

dp

[Korea Hammer]

I saw the Pixies support Throwing Muses. I'd never heard them so bought Come On Pilgrim so I'd know what they sounded like. I think the Melody Maker reviewed the gig with the headline 'Twin Peaks', and it's still the greatest concert I've ever been to.

[WCpete]

I saw the Pixies support Throwing Muses. I'd never heard them so bought Come On Pilgrim so I'd know what they sounded like. I think the Melody Maker reviewed the gig with the headline 'Twin Peaks', and it's still the greatest concert I've ever been to.

Surprised it wasn't the other way round. Either way , would have liked to see that one.

Not sure I'd call him a supporting act, but I saw Jeff Beck open for Stevie Ray Vaughn in late 80's. I believe they would alternate show to show.

[Metal Hammer]

I saw Dare supporting Gary Moore at Hammersmith. They had Professor Brian Cox on keyboards - out of this world

[Monkeybubbles]

I caught The Specials and Suicide supporting The Clash. Best gig ever.


EDIT: should have said, it was before the Specials had released a record, so they were a revelation. And I was 14 and snogged a girl two years above me at school.

[westham,eggyandchips]

Kasabian supported Oasis on 2009 at Wembley stadium.

You could tell the end was nigh for the Gallagher brothers and Kasabian took full advantage of it.

[prophet:marginal]

James, supporting The Smiths in 1985 was the first time I was really impressed by the support band. They laid down a big gauntlet for the main attraction.

Also, when me and some mates ventured to Finsbury Park to see The Damned and their 10 year punk commemoration, The Fall supported them and, a couple of tracks into the set, played a track (Bombast) that so perfectly caught the atmosphere of the crowd that it seemed like an electrical current running through us. I still smile at the memory of it.

And, we had tickets to see DJ Shadow at Brixton Academy and just happened on 2ManyDJs on the second song of a DJ set I don't think I've ever seen matched before or since, in terms of the attention the crowd gave it. Shadow must have wondered what was going on after the cheer went up for them at the end of that set. It was hilariously good.

[pablo jaye]

p:m - James supporting The Smiths is mine too, on the Meat Is Murder Tour at Reading Hexagon - one of my favourite ever gigs. Back in the day when you could get up close to the band, me and a mate tried nicking Johnny Marr's shoelace ... we didn't succeed, drink may have played a part!!

[Chicken Run Supreme]

The one that immediately springs to mind is Cocteau Twins opening the show for Orchestral Manoeuvres in The Dark at Hammersmith Odeon in 1983.
Had heard Pearly Dewdrops before but knew nothing of any of their other work. Elizabeth Fraser’s voice was a real standout on the night and a shame the theatre was no more than a third full for the support act.

OMD were fantastic by the way.

[Polaroid]

Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction supporting The Cult at Brixton Academy June 1986.
The single best gig I've ever been to.

Some weeks later I took a girl to see them upstairs in some pub in Tuffnel Park as a first date.
Something went right as we're still together all these years later.

[Big George]

Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction supporting The Cult at Brixton Academy June 1986.
The single best gig I've ever been to.

Some weeks later I took a girl to see them upstairs in some pub in Tuffnel Park as a first date.
Something went right as we're still together all these years later.

Obviously the High Priest of Love was a Prime Mover

[WHU Independent]

A few -

The Sisters of Mercy, in their infant days, supporting The Virgin Prunes at a small club in Brixton. I've still got the cassette of that gig.

Motorhead doing their first "big" gig supporting Ted Nugent at Hammersmith Odeon.

Throbbing Gristle supporting about 10 unknown bands at the Lyceum London - they came on first.

The Birthday Party (with Tracy Pew RIP) supporting The Bauhaus and the Cambridge Corn Exchange.

The Mission and the Tubes supporting Alice Cooper at the 02 London.

[Korea Hammer]

Surprised it wasn't the other way round. Either way , would have liked to see that one.

Not sure I'd call him a supporting act, but I saw Jeff Beck open for Stevie Ray Vaughn in late 80's. I believe they would alternate show to show.

Yes, but the Pixies were hardly known then. Both groups were on 4AD and were friends so they did their first European tour together.

The setlists are here.

I suppose it was closer to a double headline than a support band situation to be fair, although I think Throwing Muses always went on last.

[Tenbury]

About '68, saw Jethro Tull (Mick Abrahams had just quit) support Led Zep in Manchester. Fifteen bob to get in, still got the ticket somewhere.. (Yeah, I know, jumpers for goalposts, blah blah..)

[Billy Hunt]

Kasabian supported Oasis on 2009 at Wembley stadium.

You could tell the end was nigh for the Gallagher brothers and Kasabian took full advantage of it.

They did indeed, elevated them up a level.

Did that also have The Enemy and Reverend and the Makers on the bill ?

[Clacton-ammer]

They did indeed, elevated them up a level.

Did that also have The Enemy and Reverend and the Makers on the bill ?

Was going to post Kasabian, same gigs at Wembley I guess just before Oasis split, was already a fan of the Reverands and there was one other band, could well be the enemy but clearly they didn't do much for me. Kasabian blew my socks off! Oasis were ****ing brilliant as well.

Also 808 state, and the cookie crew.

[Billy Hunt]

As a 14 year old in 1978 I saw the Jam supported by the Cure at Canterbury Uni.

Was so impressed by the Cure I went to see them at Canterbury Odeon a few months later, supported by Joy Division.

Both times I went, obviously, because of the main act, but both support acts blew me away

[bubbles1966]

Couple at the Town and Country in Kentish Town back between 1986-1990, I guess.

They used to do a thing called the "Hot Hop" where they had four bands on, and Buddy Curtess (a Blues Brothers type band) were headlining and had to follow the Rapiers one night. Now The Rapiers , in a big venue with a big sound system , were brilliant. Stole it.

Then Carl Perkins was topping a bill at an all-dayer. Third act on was the Planet Rockers who were excellent, but the 2nd act was a guy called Ronnie Dawson. Completely stole the show, and even with a legendary back catalogue, Carl Perkins couldn't follow him.

[Chicken Run Supreme]

As a 14 year old in 1978 I saw the Jam supported by the Cure at Canterbury Uni.

Was so impressed by the Cure I went to see them at Canterbury Odeon a few months later, supported by Joy Division.

Both times I went, obviously, because of the main act, but both support acts blew me away

That’s a cracking couple of double headers there