Favourite Bands – Golden Oldies

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Do you still like your favourite band from when you were a teenager?  Do you still listen to them?  Are they still playing?  Are they still alive?

Living in Australia, as a teenager, we knew that it was pretty much impossible that we’d ever see our favourite bands in concert.  Especially in Perth.  Which is one of the most isolated cities in the world.

Some famous bands came to Australia, but sometimes they only played in Sydney and Melbourne, and sometimes Adelaide.  It was just too expensive for them to come all the way to Perth – there weren’t enough people there to make it profitable.

And, if they did come to Perth, there was only one concert date in the Perth Entertainment Centre.  And we had to beg our parents to let us go, especially if it was a school night.  It was the only chance in our lives to see our idols.  They would never come to Perth again, it was (and still is) too far from everywhere.

So, instead we just listened to our records in our bedrooms and dreamt about living in London or somewhere else in Europe, or America, because they always got the best concerts there.

I think it’s still the same in Perth, although from time to time I’m sure that there are some big names who manage to go all the way to the southern hemisphere and play to their fans.

I’m sure it was different in Europe and America.  There were a lot more people, which meant a lot more fans, which meant a lot more ticket sales, which meant a lot more money.  I’m sure our favourite bands played concerts all the time everywhere else in the world, except in Perth, Australia.

They’re still playing!

Fast forward some decades, and let’s take a look at the concert scene right now.  And, let’s move our attention to Europe.  Let’s say, Germany.  Berlin to be specific.

Because we were just there not long ago and noticed a strange thing.  There are a lot of old bands and rock stars doing concerts in Berlin this year (2019).  I mean, really, really old ones.  Older than me even.

Everywhere we went, we saw posters advertising concerts for old bands.  Let’s take a look at some of them.

Alice Cooper – 13^th September 2019 (which just happens to be Friday 13^th for Ol’ Black Eyes.  I’m sure that wasn’t a coincidence)

How old is Alice anyway?  I remember liking him when I was about 14 years old.  I wasn’t a real big fan, and my mother wouldn’t have let me go to one of his concerts back then, I’m sure of that.  But, he was controversial and famous, and if you’re nostalgic for his music, you still have a chance to see him live in 2019.  Start saving for the trip!

Kiss – 4^th June 2019 The End of the Road World Tour

Have you seen them live?  When I was a teenager, they were the bad boys of rock ‘n’ roll.  Apparently, their concerts are amazing with special effects and other amazing stuff.  I don’t know exactly what amazing stuff, because I haven’t seen them live.  They did go to Perth when I was 14, but even after begging to go, my mother refused to let me.  They were a bad influence and I would probably become a devil worshipper if I went to see them in concert.  This is, apparently, their last ever concert tour, for real.  They’re probably older than Alice, so it’s probably time they retired anyway.  The good news is, they’re going to be in Perth in November 2019, so get your tickets before they sell out and re-live your teenage rebellion!

Bob Dylan – 4^th April 2019 (probably over and done with by the time you read this)

Here’s another guy who never seems to stop.  I saw him in concert (in Perth!) in the 90s.  It was one of the worst concerts I’ve ever been to.  He was awful.  I don’t know how he’s managed to stay on ‘top’ for so long, although didn’t he say once that he was famous because he sold his soul to the devil for fame?  It was something like that, anyway.  So, if he was your idol in your younger years then there’s still hope to catch him live – before he’s not anymore.

Rod Stewart – 3^rd May 2019  The eternal ‘rock star’

This guy’s been around for forever.  I was crazy about him when I was about 10 or 11 years old.  I remember cutting his pictures and articles about him from women’s magazines (obviously not my magazines, I wasn’t a woman yet).  Listening all the time to the one album of his that I had.  I knew all the words.  They were all about love and I couldn’t wait to grow up and live what he sang about.  I know, forgive me, I was only 10 years old.

So, after seeing these posters in Berlin for all these ‘classic’ rock stars, I decided to look online to see what other goodies were on offer this year in Berlin.

Once I started looking, I realised that Germany is a goldmine for oldies concerts, and if you want to see these guys you should get yourself over to Berlin asap because there’s plenty happening there in 2019.

Concert list, Berlin, 2019

Let’s see, there’s Suzi Quatro on 24^th April, although I think she plays in Australia from time to time.

On 15^th April you’re going to have to make a difficult decision if you live in Berlin.  You have to choose between Dido, Mark Knopfler, and Nick Cave!  Where have these guys been hiding out all these years?  They just pop up out of nowhere and then all decide to play on the same night!

A couple of real oldies for you now.  On 1^st June Bryan Ferry will grace the stage.  I was never a big fan of his, but he’s one of the smoothest singers I’ve heard in my life.  I wonder if he’s as good live as he is on his albums.

Then you have Eric Clapton on 4^th June.  But, wait a minute!  That’s the same night that Kiss is playing!  What to do?!  It’s going to be a difficult decision, might have to toss a coin to decide this one.

7^th June finds an old favourite (not of mine, but he was in the charts for years with ‘In the Air Tonight’ in Australia so he must have some fans).  Yes, it’s Phil Collins.  I saw him in concert in the 90s (in Perth!) and from memory he wasn’t very dynamic but most people there seemed to be having a good time.

11^th June and one of my old time favourites – ZZ Top.  I think I only know one song from them, ‘She’s Got Legs’.  I know it because I used to love dancing to this in nightclubs in the late 80s when I was discovering the less sophisticated side of life.  All part of growing up.  So, if you also loved dancing to ‘She’s Got Legs’, maybe you won’t want to miss this chance to see ZZ Top in 2019.

If you know who The Hollies are, and you like them, then you’re in luck.  They play, in Berlin, this year, 2019, on 8^th April.  Hurry, there’s not much time to get your ticket!  If you don’t know who The Hollies are you’re probably under 50 and not an Anglophone.  And, while researching for this post, I just found out that The Hollies played in Australia, and in PERTH, just this year on 16^th February!  So maybe you, your mum, and your grandma have already seen them this year and you won’t have to make the trip to Berlin.

There may be more!

This list could go on forever, there’s so many ‘old’ bands/singers playing in Berlin this year.  I checked only up until the end of June, and there are about 30 artists of retirement age or older who are giving concerts in 2019.  I haven’t even looked at July to December, who knows what gems I’ll find when I do!

So, as well as providing you will a useful concert list for Berlin, 2019, I hope I’ve also triggered a little nostalgia for you, and now you’ve got some of your favourite old tunes in your head.

…I was made for loving you baby, you were made for loving me… I can’t get enough of you baby…..

Who’s your favourite ‘golden oldie’?  Are they still playing live?  Have you seen them in concert?  Tell us all about it in the comments section.

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