It was about 1982, I think and my band Maison de Sante' was playing a wedding gig at a pub right next to Bristol airport. The 'Happy couple' were into metal and, by coincedence, so were we. We tried to dissuade them about having a punk/metal band playing to their friends and relatives on their special day and asked them if they understood the type of music that we did.
...they wouldn't have it and so off we went in the Transit to the gig...
OK - first number...a punk version of George Formby's 'Leaning on a lamppost'...so far so good...second number was a metal version of 'These boots were made for walking'...mmm crowd seemed pleased...third number, Gutter Cats by Alice Cooper...we got clapped and cheered...
We were getting into our stride when I noticed a pretty young lady walking around the edge of the room towards us with a piece of paper in her hand. I could clearly remember telling the bride and groom that we didn't do requests! But here she was, now at the front of the stage holding the piece of paper under my nose so I could read it...
'PLEASE MAKE THIS YOUR LAST NUMBER AS YOU ARE FAR TOO LOUD FOR THE REGULARS IN THE BAR NEXT DOOR'
...and so ended our first gig. The wedding crowd loved us but I guess the rest of the world just weren't ready...
I was 15 and had told a girl at school that I was in a band... which I wasn't. I'd been playing guitar for about a year and was trying to impress. Turned out she was in the St John's Ambulance and was helping to organise to juniors' summer party. Of course, she told her mum that she new a boy who had a band...
No rehearsals, no plan, NO BAND. Just a setlist of Oasis songs and stuff like Knockin on Heaven's Door, House of the Rising Sun, etc.
I knew another girl who played guitar and begged her for help. She called some friends and we all turned up on the night having never met each other.
Myself on lead and vocals, Natasha on Rhythm, and a couple of friends of hers with keyboards and half a PA.
We went down a storm (they were all under 15 and impressionable) and I was the hero!!!!
Learnt a lot - the band stayed together and I got a girlfriend!! Happy days!!!
All this about thirteen years ago..
First DJ set:
a local teenage disco, it was aprx 1999 or something. There was about 8 people in the club and they were clearly sorry thay had come because all their freinds were obviously elseware, possibly drinking in a bush someware.
half way through the night everyone knew it was a shit night out, I decided to fuck it, and played some proper dance music (that I just brough along in case) the few that were there started to go out dancing and I was proud of the fact that I did something to uplift the night, the promoter, I now believe, gave me the slot to shut me up asking, knowing full well that no one went to his stupid club that night (whatever night it was)
First Gig:
a small pub, about the size of a person's living room. Our then rhythm guitarist was away so it was just a trio: drummer with half a drum set(kick snare, hat, 1 tom, 1 crash), me singing, plugged into a small amp and my bro (lead guitar) also plugged into a small amp. despite the miserable set up the was brillient and we charmed the owner. the pub became our regular, and with the money we made we now have a proper PA, and actually look like a real band!
First Classical music performance:
I sang an Italian aria(nina) and a german one (bist du bei meir) at my uni's regular evening recitals. they went well.
one of the songs required a trill (quick alteration of notes, which I couldnt do) but I was shaking with the nerves. for the trilled note I momentarly "unsurpressed" my nerves and shook like a leaf producing a convincing trill, score!
Our first gig
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