What was…

I saw a question somewhere which asked “what was the first concert you attended” and while I ran through the options in my mind, I realised I was going on a journey through memories of the first in a variety of live events I’d attended.

My first live…

• gig – I went to see Chic at a small venue in central London. It wasn’t full, they weren’t well-known, and I believe our tickets were comped. I would’ve been in my early twenties, and have to admit that I was way more interested in my date that Chic 😉 Sorry Nile Rodgers…
  
• stadium show – was Whitney Houston at Wembley stadium, London in 1986. My abiding memories of the evening are how great her voice was, but also how much I hated all the chaos of the crowd and the travel.
  
• musical – was Jesus Christ Superstar in London’s west end, shortly after it opened. It was a school trip arranged by my catholic school, and we were crammed into seats in the gods. Nevertheless, it blew me away.
  
• football (soccer) match – was also a first date 😉 My date was a Manchester United fan who’d been given the tickets by his father’s friends – long-time fans of the opposing team – so he had to sit quietly, surrounded by the opposing team’s fans, not visibly celebrating as his team scored multiple goals, which I’m afraid amused me no end.
  
• club rugby match – was a real let down. I attended with my now ex and was surprised how quiet the home crowd was, that they wore shirts and the club tie, and clapped politely. All the while, the opposition’s travelling supporters wore replica rugby shirts and were positively vocal. Things did change, and I don’t believe my ex ever got over it…
  
• international rugby match – was when England were playing the runaway best team in the world at the time (New Zealand All Blacks). The game ended in a draw, but that was a staggeringly good result for the England team, with the coach later admitting he could do no coaching during half time as the team were all throwing up, utterly exhausted. He just had them patched up and sent back out. It was the best team England ever had (they got a lot fitter and went on to win the World Cup).
  
• classical music event – was seeing Yo Yo Ma perform at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
  
• play – was at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. I was studying for my English exams and one of the set texts was Measure for Measure. It was listed as a comedy, and I simply couldn’t see it in the read through. But on the stage (a couple of rows from the front at that), it was an absolute hoot!
  
• ballet – was that Christmas favourite The Nutcracker Suite. I knew none of the classic ballet tales at the time, but could appreciate that the staging was absolutely gorgeous and the dancing stunning. It being at Covent Garden, it would’ve been a good ballet company, even if I cannot remember who. Nowadays, I’d prefer something more modern, or perhaps a Matthew Bourne re-imagining of a classic.
  
• panto – was a small local affair not long after I’d moved to the UK. I’d no idea what panto was, no clue about the intended audience participation, the innuendo and the in jokes. Even knowing about all that now, I’m not moved to seek out another one, and realise my British membership could be revoked for this admission! 😀
  
• film at the cinema – was in Nigeria where I was among a group of young teenagers watching Antonoini’s Zabriskie Point. I can’t remember much, and am pretty certain it went right over all our heads. I hear it’s now being talked about as one of those misunderstood classics by people in the know.

I’d like to have seen opera live – Italian not German – but otherwise, don’t feel I’ve missed out. Many of these experiences weren’t the best experience of that type I’ve ever had, but am content to have experienced a decent range of live events despite spending my first 20 years in the third world.

Do you have any favourite live experiences?

© Debs Carey, 2026