I know many big names who were huge in the 80s and 90s still tour today decades later bringing in a new legion of fans who were not born or were very young when they were at the peak of their powers alongside existing fans who did not not have the time back then so are there any bands or musicians you have seen live but you were unfortunate not to when they were at their pomp?

I’ve seen Cher, Diana Ross and Rolling Stones all in the last decade but I’d say all were great and I don’t mind not having seen them at the top of the pomp!

Slightly different to this topic theme but I had the chances to go see Prince and Tina Turner (separate shows) and I didn’t go because it was £50 for a ticket which I couldn’t afford as a student (laughable compared to tix prices today). I definitely regret that I didn’t just use my overdraft and go for it. 💔

Bucks Fizz.

I saw them in 91 when there were only 3 left, 2011 when they were celebrating 30 years (again only 3) and earlier this year as The Fizz.

As a massive fan in the 80s, my parents finally bought me tickets in 1984, and then Bucks Fizz were in a coach crash which cancelled the tour.

I'm grateful for all the gigs I've been to and they've all been special to me, but I did used to think wow y'know, I've seen Alanis Morissette twice but it was in 2018 and 2022, wonder what it would've been like to go in the 90s or even early 00s. It sounds so silly but I've never even seen her with her trademark long dark hair haha - the first time she had it cropped short, and the second time she had long blond hair. Those are just little things though and it was great to be able to see her and hear some of the non-90s songs too. Obviously if I'd seen her in the 90s she would've had a smaller back catalogue of songs to play. That being said, both times she did play a ton of Jagged Little Pill songs haha - the second time it was all of them except the hidden track 'Your House'. She might as well have done that one too then 💔

I'm also super grateful to have seen Björk twice (2018 and 2019) but I would love to have seen her when her vocal powers were bigger/better. The Vespertine or Volta tours would've been awesome.

I am seeing Anastacia on Tuesday in Lisbon, and I am super excited

I'd haved loved to see Corrs at the Royal Albert Hall in 1998 or during the Talk On Corners era somewhere else, and Delta on one of her earlier tours. I have seen both on several occasions since and they've always been good but feel more like nostalgia.

I do think it's clear when an artist is in their imperial phase. I've seen Kelly Clarkson live on two different occasions, but during the Breakaway era was by far the best and a phenomenal show. I feel lucky I got to see her then.

But then some acts are better live later into their career so it's all swings and roundabouts. The Girls Aloud Show tour in 2024 was more impressive than any of the 00s tours I saw of theirs, and Steps were at their absolute best in terms of tours imo on the 2017 Party On The Dancefloor tour.

Edited October 25Oct 25 by gooddelta

A nearly complete list that will be added to soon with both Interpol and Bloc Party this month and Slipknot next year. There are others but they are people like Joan Armatrading that I really don't care about.

In reverse chronological order with the year of first seeing in brackets (not all of these were artists I like) -

Sleeper (2026)

Funeral For A Friend (2026)

The Wildhearts (2026)

The Primitives (2025)

Iron Maiden (2025)

Kraftwerk (2025)

Billy Idol (2025)

The The (2025)

Berlin (2025)

Deicide (2024)

Opeth (2024)

Fall Out Boy (2023)

Siouxsie (without Banshees sadly) (2023)

The Proclaimers (2023)

Electrix Six (2023)

Bullet For My Valentine (2023)

Architects (2022)

Jimmy Eat World (2022)

Pulled Apart By Horses (2022)

Black Foxxes (2022)

Blondie (2022)

Lacuna Coil (2019)

The Piranhas (2019)

Slayer (2018)

Lamb of God (2018)

Anthrax (2018)

Obituary (2018)

Garbage (2018)

Psychedelic Furs (2017)

Lene Lovich (2017)

AFI (2017)

Culture Shock (2017)

Gaye Bykers On Acid (2016)

Public Image Ltd (2016)

Killing Joke (2012)

Misfits (2012)

The Cult (2011)

GWAR (2011)

Thin Lizzy (2011)

Korn (2011)

The Darkness (2011)

Adam Ant (2011)

Bruce Springsteen (2008)

Marilyn Manson (2003)

Mansun (2002)

Echo & the Bunnymen (1999)

Bauhaus (1998)

Sex Pistols (1996)

Johnny Cash (1994)

Elvis Costello (1994)

Zodiac Mindwarp & the Love Reaction (1994)

Van Morrison (1993)

The Kinks (1993)

The Velvet Underground (1993)

Madness (1992)

Ian Dury (1992)

Tom Jones (1992)

Television (1992)

Ramones (1991)

The Damned (1991)

Iggy Pop (1991)

Subhumans (1991)

The Sisters Of Mercy (1990)

The Fall (1990)

Buzzcocks (1990)

Wire (1990)

David Bowie (1990)

The Cure (1989)

Pink Floyd (1989)

The Lords of the New Church (1989)

Christian Death (1988)

Hawkwind (1988)

On 25/10/2026 at 09:35, matto said:

I'm grateful for all the gigs I've been to and they've all been special to me, but I did used to think wow y'know, I've seen Alanis Morissette twice but it was in 2018 and 2022, wonder what it would've been like to go in the 90s or even early 00s. It sounds so silly but I've never even seen her with her trademark long dark hair haha - the first time she had it cropped short, and the second time she had long blond hair. Those are just little things though and it was great to be able to see her and hear some of the non-90s songs too. Obviously if I'd seen her in the 90s she would've had a smaller back catalogue of songs to play. That being said, both times she did play a ton of Jagged Little Pill songs haha - the second time it was all of them except the hidden track 'Your House'. She might as well have done that one too then 💔

I'm also super grateful to have seen Björk twice (2018 and 2019) but I would love to have seen her when her vocal powers were bigger/better. The Vespertine or Volta tours would've been awesome.

You're going to hate me but I saw both Alanis and Bjork at Phoenix Festival in '96. Never been a huge fan of either (Sugarcubes, yes!) but were were decent live and I'm glad to be able to say I've seen them at the right times. Alanis was the new big thing and gave it her all to a crowd that was probably more alternative than she'd usually expect. Bjork I'd already seen before but she headlined the Saturday, following Massive Attack for a surprisingly memorable but very mellow evening. Nice fireworks too.