I'm haunted by a vision of a Jeff Buckley poster outside Manchester University in 1995. Alongside it was an advert for Ben Harper (who I didn't really like), and as both the names and poster designs were fairly similar, I paid no attention to either. My biggest ever live music regret.
This got me thinking about the other ones that got away. Painful, I know, but we all have to face our demons, so here are my 10 Greatest Misses, each with a song by the artist to soundtrack the tale of woe:
1. Jeff Buckley, Manchester University 1995 - as above!
SONG: Nightmares By The Sea
2. Japan, Lancaster University 1982 - unforgivable really, but in my defence, money was tight/non-existent, and I did see Tears for Fears at the same venue in early 1983
SONG: Despair
3. Led Zeppelin, O2 Arena London 2007 - this would be Number One for sure, but mitigating circumstances (20 million ticket applications, ticket photo ID required). Spent 6 hours freezing outside but to no avail - apparently, more than 20 fans posing as workers in hi-vis jackets were refused admission at various points of the evening
SONG: Heartbreaker
4. Kate Bush, Hammersmith Apollo 2014 - again, mitigating circumstances here and turned up at the venue more than once during the 22-night run, but it wasn't to be
SONG: Never Be Mine
5. The Cramps, Various Venues - my only excuse is that they seemed to play a lot and I must have thought 'next time'
SONG: I Can't Hardly Stand It
6. The Pogues, Hacienda Manchester 1985 - luckily, I saw them a few times but managed to miss this iconic gig
SONG: Sayonara
7. Rush, Various Venues - by the time I was old enough to see them, I'd lost a bit of interest (only to rekindle it when it was too late)
SONG: Cinderella Man
8. Frank Sinatra, Royal Albert Hall 1992 - relative poverty my only real excuse here
SONG: Somethin' Stupid
9. Madonna, Hacienda Manchester 1984 - offered a ticket, decided not to go
SONG: (Not So) Lucky Star
10. Van Halen, Manchester Apollo 1984 - actually had a ticket for this but, from memory, the gig was postponed and I never got to see them
SONG: Fools
Japan at Lancaster is top of my list along with U2 on the war tour also at Lancaster. My other big regret is not seeing Talk Talk. Also never saw the associates or teardrop explodes.
A painful list, Steve. Feel for you, mate.
Weirdly, although I saw them loads of course (25 times, since you ask) Rush are among my greatest regrets because I didn't go to their final tour in 2015. I convinced myself it would come to the UK/Europe but it didn't. Had they made it clear it was their last hurrah (tbf, I don't think they were sure) I like to think I would have got over to the States.
I actually regret missing some bands I really don't like when they were nobodies. Arctic Monkeys played Carlisle 20 years ago and I don't go cos, well, I had no idea who they were. I over-compensated for it by seeing a bunch of average indie bands for a few years in case they became massive.
Likewise, fourth on the bill of a NME tour in 2000 was some group called Coldplay but we stayed in the pub. I haven't been fussed about seeing them since but I do wish we hadn't had that extra pint.