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Old 12-02-2008, 20:48
player1
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I am a big fan of "theatrical" concert openings...none of this ...band ambles onto stage, singer mouths allo and band tune up for an age before the inevitable 1 2 3 4 !

No, I prefer something a little more theatrical ...a bit of suspense building before the band appear, or an explosive opening ...here's a few of my favourites , how about yours ?

Status Quo . Rocking all over the world tour - Curtains closed on stage, lights go down, opening riffs of Caroline heard from behind curtain as a projected globe starts to spin with city after city being projected onto the globe before the inevitable hometown gets projected over and over ( in my case Glasgow ) at which point as the crowd roars the curtain opens to reveal Rossi, Parfitt et al in full flight.

U2 - Zooropa ....Zoo TV starts to "broadcast" as Television , the drug of the nation by Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy plays over the PA at the end of which the house lights are killed, the stage monitors flicker into life and a video montage plays to the Euro anthem at the end of which Bono appears on a rising platform and in a puff of Cigar Smoke as the opening riffs of Zoo Station scream out.

The Killers at Glastonbury...a theatrical start with fireworks exploding above the Pyramid stage to the opening riffs of Sams Town before Brandon Flowers shimmies onstage in a Gold Vegas style show jacket.

Anyway, enough of my reminiscing ( for now ) ...how about yours ?
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Old 12-02-2008, 20:55
beckic
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Best one I've seen was Muse's Wembley gig opening.
The three of them rising out of the centre of the stadium to very dramatic music (the one used on the apprentice, not sure what it's called ) confetti and gas-masked extras escorting them along to the stage.
Next thing you know... Bang! Knights of Cydonia.

There's actually footage of this on Play.com at the mo so you can see for yourself! Link
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Old 12-02-2008, 20:59
KarmaChameleon
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Best one I've seen was Muse's Wembley gig opening.
The three of them rising out of the centre of the stadium to very dramatic music (the one used on the apprentice, not sure what it's called ) confetti and gas-masked extras escorting them along to the stage.
Next thing you know... Bang! Knights of Cydonia.

There's actually footage of this on Play.com at the mo so you can see for yourself! Link
I was going to post the exact same thing. AMAZING show.
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Old 12-02-2008, 21:03
beckic
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I was going to post the exact same thing. AMAZING show.
Yeah it was!
I bet you're as exited as me for the DVD. Can't wait!
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Old 12-02-2008, 21:09
Scooterwolf
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Scooter's opening to the 2006 Ultimate Aural Orgasm Tour was superb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yr_azNKq4w
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Old 12-02-2008, 21:36
Reaperville
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Another vote for Zooropa here, I STILL get goosebumps when I watch that bit.
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Old 12-02-2008, 21:48
DigiPal
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Madonna - Blonde Ambiton

Madonna - Confessions

Spice Girls - 2007/08

Amazing!
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Old 12-02-2008, 21:53
Scots_Dragon
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Not necessarily in this order.

Metallica - Used to open to 'Ecstacy of Gold', used in the film The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. I think they thought of Lars when they thought of the Ugly one.

Marillion (Fish era) - La Gaza Ladra (Thieving Magpie) was their prelude music.

Rush - Used to have laser show during their concerts, but used it at the start as well.

Rammstein - One of the best live shows I have ever seen, which is not surprising considering the lead singer (Til Lindemann) is a qualified Pyro-technician.
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Old 12-02-2008, 23:00
ags_rule
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GNR have opened EVERY single concert they've ever done with 'Welcome To The Jungle'. Lights go out, the crowd are teased with the classic opening riff. And then we hear Axl Rose utter that most memorable of rock phrases -

"DO YOU KNOW WHERE THE F*CK YOU ARE?"

'Welcome To The Jungle' kicks in!
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Old 13-02-2008, 00:19
indie.star
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Muse, hands down!
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Old 13-02-2008, 08:21
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Pink Floyd with The Wall live when they blast in in the middle of the announcer.
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Old 13-02-2008, 08:48
cafemambo2
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For me is when Robbie Williams was at Knebworth on the Sunday night he appeared upside down with the music off the start of the x factor playing.
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Old 13-02-2008, 09:18
WatershipBrakey
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GN'R with the WttJ intro.

Maiden's World Slavery Tour with Churchill's speech followed by the whole band legging it onto the stage to the opening riffs of Aces High.

One of Prince's O2 shows - starts with a video of people talking about him and then Let's Go Crazy kicks in as he appears through the floor. Awesome.
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Old 13-02-2008, 10:27
tellmeall
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the best concert opening of all time for me has to be michael jackson's dangerous tour, with him being shot 2/3 feet in the air from under the stage and just standin ther with the sunglasses on and all the fireworks going off....it always gives me pure goosebumps watchin it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2g2oK45d0o
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Old 13-02-2008, 11:39
Taboo
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One of the Prince gigs last summer. Big brass band playing "when the saints go marching in", wheeling a big black box thru the crowd onto the stage and Prince appears from it. Never seen so many people going mental over a box LOL
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Old 13-02-2008, 14:58
major winters
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NIN always do a exciting opening to their gigs. Very spooky, very ambient, awsome
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Old 13-02-2008, 15:02
iain
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zoo tv for scale.

Prince's guitar heavy aftershow at the O2 Indigo last summer - after leaving us waiting for however long, the opening riff of Sly and the Family Stone's Thank You For Talkin' To Me Africa is heard as Prince plays it behind the curtain for about a minute and a half, before the curtain goes back, but Prince still has his back to the crowd for about the same amount of time again, before eventually turning to face the crowd as the track really kicks in. awesome gig.

Iain
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Old 13-02-2008, 15:50
paulksound
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E.L.O.With the flying saucer tour
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Old 13-02-2008, 16:26
simonplloyd
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Queen - when they open with Tie Your Mother Down. They did the same on the Queen & Paul Rodgers tour. You just hear the opening riff as the intro tape dies away and on they run. Electrifying!
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Old 13-02-2008, 16:37
Scoobyh1
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Spice Girls - Slam it to the left!!...Shake it to the right!!...Spice Up Your Life!! YAY!

Great Opening!!

But i think the best opening was with Britney Spears Onyx Hotel.

When all you hear is dun dun dun dun for Toxic and she starts singing.

That was amazing. Very surprised she performed the way she did at the VMAS...shes a fantastic dancer.
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Old 13-02-2008, 17:56
ELO Fan
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E.L.O.With the flying saucer tour
Yep, I was going to mention this

The "Out of the Blue" tour in 1978 had the band emerging from an enormous model of the spaceship which adorns the front cover of the album. Luckily I have it on video, as I'm far too young to have experienced it live.

Last edited by ELO Fan : 13-02-2008 at 17:56. Reason: A rogue smiley appeared...!
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Old 13-02-2008, 18:15
tangsman
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Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene 7-13 Tour

Laser Harp Startup @ the NEC Birmingham was pretty impressive visually. Like special effects in a sci-fi movie.
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Old 13-02-2008, 21:35
welshyyyyy
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Queen - the fast intro version of we will rock you was always great but i loved this one at milton keynes - probably cos i was there - the boom boom boom boom flash , then that last manic laugh sound - loved it
http://youtube.com/watch?v=j-noPYjTPGo
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Old 13-02-2008, 23:33
pharoah
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Madonna performing Express Yourself on the Blonde Ambition tour and also Vogue on the Re-Invention Tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAjw9eVYKNw - Blonde Ambition Tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inBMxTa9qeQ - Re-Invention Tour
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Old 14-02-2008, 11:43
Dick Darlington
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Got to give another vote for ZooTV. Fantastic opening to a show.
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