[signs]

who's the biggest (most famous) band you have seen in the smallest venue?

i saw the edditors in litchfield (surporting the nine black alps) about 100 people

[Mr Cat]

ride at a pub (broken doll) - ride were a small indie band, but they then went on to play at the newcastle within about 6 months...

other than that, I saw lots of bands at the newcastle riverside before they got famous/ big like - verve (back around '91) as they were supporting the smashing pumpkins...

[Arfa]

Not myself, but my Mum has a story about when she saw Hot Chocolate (don't laugh!) play a tiny Barn dance in the tiny country village of Alberberry, back in the '70s before they got famous.

As for myself, I saw Ginger and the Wildhearts play an acoustic set upstairs at the BarFly Camden, which is a tiny pub function room.

[Stingingwasp]

I saw Aerosmith at the Marquee back in 1990. it was a warm down gig, just after they played the Monstors of Rock at Donnington.

[russ123]

Of the top of my head, Black Crowes supporting Dogs D'amour back in 1990 at the Astoria. Were rubbish I'm afraid to say. Billy Idol reforming Generation X at the same venue mid-90s. Oasis there last year as well. Queen at Brixton Academy last year with Paul Rodgers - whatever you think of the pairing, the atmosphere was amazing as it was a fan club gig and the first time they played under the name in nineteen years. Similar thing with Aerosmith on the Pump tour at Hammersmith.
I also was down the front at some gig in the early nineties at the Forum and caught a t-shirt the support act lobbed out with their name on it - Rain. A few years later and I read that Noel took over his brother Liam's band and changed the name from Rain to Oasis. And to think I wore it for decorating, probably fetch a fortune on Ebay

[Ambient Fish]

Saw Thin Lizzy at the Heathery Bar in Wishaw in the mid 80s.

[per-Sony-fied]

Small venues for their popularity......

Elvis Costello @ Hammersmith Apollo

Dire Straits @ Brixton Academy

Chris Rea @ Ipswich Regent

[manny]

saw Alice Cooper last week at Vicar St. in Dublin, between four and five hundred people. did his full theatrical show, totally brilliant!

[cabstar]

Athlete at the Hull Adelphi just before the launch of debut album, had akready seen them open up v festival year before

Athlete Nottingham Orange Tree bar limited to 100 people for Tourist album launch had a few pints with the band afterwards which was really cool.

Snow Patrol supporting Athlete at York Barbican centre just released Run week before

Kylie at V2002 (I think) where she played in a small circus dance tent to approx 700 people, security claimed there was approx 3 to 4000 people trying to get in!!!!!
Starsailor at London ULU competition winner, prize winners & record execs only approx 100 people

Human League at Hull Uni last Xmas

Morrisey at Grimsby Auditorium on this current tour holds 800 people

Simple Minds Manchester Apollo or Nottingham Rock City don't know which is smallest

Supergrass, when on holiday in Brisbane 2001 was going to the record shop & their was Supergrass playing an accoustic set in the doorway of this independant record shop. Just bizarre, then went to see them play at the Arena (not an arena as we know one , just a student type club, really small)

My Auntie & best mates Mum served Queen at the infamous Nunsthorpe Tavern in Grimsby after they played at Cleethorpes Winter Gardens in 1974 week before 7 seas of Rye was released. The band asked someone backstage what was the trendiest place to have a pint & taking the **** told them the pub on the Ninsthorpe estate in Grimsby, probably one of the roughest pubs in Grimsby. My Auntie still has the fully signed photo they gave her as a present.

Will always regret not going to see Chas & Dave after seeing them perform blindingly at Glasto last year they went to a small seaside resort near us called Ingoldmells where they played at a pub on a campsite I kid you not, £3.50 a ticket plus £5 for a table

Regards

GaZZa