Support band you saw that blew away the headliner

[chesterbells]

As said previously van halen supporting black sabbath was just a joy to watch (Manchester Apollo) but the one I remember the most was mott the hoople tour in the early 70s with a little known band they were called Queen I often wonder what happened to them

That VH/Sabbath example is the only one I can think of. I didn’t go, but it’s the one often mentioned in discussions like this.

First hand I honestly can’t think of any examples really.

 

[roman totale]

Prodigy at knebworth immediately springs to mind, blew oasis away

That’s the one that always comes to my mind too. It was men vs boys.
It’s a roughish bootleg that only captures a fraction of just how powerful they were, but worth a listen.

 

[AlexWilliamsGloves]

The Libertines supporting Supergrass back in 2002 at the Limelight Belfast....chaotic, smelly, noisy madness...they were incredible

 

[tonea2003]

just recently thought the dma's were far better than the courteeners

thats not to say the courteeners were bad far from it

also new model army supporting the levellers at the castelfield bowl a couple of years ago
absolutely blew them away incredible set and i love the levellers thats how good they were

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Faith No More supporting GnR at Maine Road.

 

[Blumooniac]

1978 Van Halen supporting Black Sabbath, absolutely wiped the floor with Sabbath!!

Tell the same story every time a thread like this appears. My first gig. 13 years old. Front stalls, about 6 or 7 rows back. I cannot describe the effect seeing Van Halen had on my young mind. They became the band of my youth. So f***in lucky to see them during their peak years. Cheers, cousin Al.

 

[Resurrection Joe...]

Chas & Dave V Led Zeppelin. Knebworth Park. '78. Only one winner there.

 

[Doctor Jimmy and Mr Jim]

Going back a bit and showing my age here, but The Stranglers supporting Patti Smith at the Hammersmith Odeon in Oct 1976. They were excellent.

 

[robbieh]

Same year 76. The Who at Charlton were good but I thought that the Alex Harvey Band who came on before them were sensational.

 

[Doctor Jimmy and Mr Jim]

Same year 76. The Who at Charlton were good but I thought that the Alex Harvey Band who came on before them were sensational.

I see what you did there! Very good! As you can tell from my user name I'm a massive Who fan but you're right Alex Harvey was brilliant that day. It absolutely pissed it down as well if I remember correctly.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Stereo MCs supporting the Happy Mondays at the Free Trade Hall (93,94?). The Stereos were so good (had just released Connected, I think) that the Mondays were like a caricature of themselves. We ended up leaving halfway through the Mondays’ performance

I was there that night too. Fag end of the Mondays career by then…..

 

[robbieh]

I see what you did there! Very good! As you can tell from my user name I'm a massive Who fan but you're right Alex Harvey was brilliant that day. It absolutely pissed it down as well if I remember correctly.

My memories are a bit hazy. I remember it being sunny when we arrived, think Little Feat were playing.
We were right up close during the SAHB set but moved back quite a bit for the Who. It's probably why I can still hear.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Same year 76. The Who at Charlton were good but I thought that the Alex Harvey Band who came on before them were sensational.

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band would have been a good name!

 

[Marklr]

I was there that night too. Fag end of the Mondays career by then…..

Me too. The Mondays were over by then. Unlike a few years earlier when I saw them support James at the Ritz promoting their Bummed album. Fucking ace gig. Happy Mondays at their peak. Dead loud too.
From around the same time:

 

[staffsblue]

The Slow Readers Club supporting Puressence at Sound Control in 2011.
Both were fantastic, but got obsessed with TSRC after being instantly impressed by them.

 

[richardtheref]

Mid 80s I went to see Faith No More at the Newcastle Mayfair. 2 support bands that night were The Red Hor Chili Peppers and The Wonder Stuff. All 3 were superb. Only about 50 folk there.

 

[pee dubya]

Been to a few where the sound quality for the support has been atrocious, but then on point for the main act.

I know absolutely nothing about audio set-up etc, but the cynic in me wonders if its deliberate to make sure this exact thing doesn't happen...

 

[staffsblue]

I was there that night too. Fag end of the Mondays career by then…..

I saw a pre fame Stereo MCs supporting Electronic at Wembley Conference Centre in 1991 and they were awful.
Seem to recall it's was before Rob started singing and his rapping was average to say the least.

 

[hallsteve62]

Been to a few where the sound quality for the support has been atrocious, but then on point for the main act.

I know absolutely nothing about audio set-up etc, but the cynic in me wonders if its deliberate to make sure this exact thing doesn't happen...

Nail on head!

 

[Lavinda Past]

Suicide totally outclassed the Clash

The Prodigy made Oasis look like a school band.

David Bowie blew Humble Pie out of existence.

Psychedelic Furs came very close to outdoing Iggy Pop