The Beastie Boys! 1994 (I think - I was in 8th grade.) I'm not too ashamed. It could have been worse.

Never EVER be ashamed of my future husbands, the Beastie Boys. I went to many of their concerts, if only they were my concert first. Sigh.

2003. 8th grade. Hoobastank ft. Lost Prophets and some band with the word "Robot-something."

Seems like forever ago.

Tori Amos/Alanis Morissette, back in 1999 (I was 13).

No, I'm most definitely not ashamed.

1998, Matchbox 20!! They were actually pretty rockin'. That man can really sing, and seems to love his fans. Also, Semisonic opened. They were pretty rad, too.

Five years old . . .

Raffi.

And no, I'm not ashamed.

Paula Abdul and Color Me Bad.

I'm more embarassed by the NSYNC and Britney Spears concerts that came a little later.

REM - was my first! In 1999 I was 18!

I was very sick at this concert with a severe case of iron deficiency anemia and I had to sit down most of the time because I had half of the blood in my body that I needed to live :(

Paula Abdul and Color Me Bad.

I'm more embarassed by the NSYNC and Britney Spears concerts that came a little later.

Eddy Grant ("Electric Avenue") in Vienna, Austria.

First in the States: Psychedelic Furs.

Third Eye Blind in 2003 (literally the week Into the Vein dropped...so they played all the songs off that album). It was pretty amazing.

I never realized that actually going to concerts to see the bands was an option when I was young and silly. And if it had occurred to me, it totally would have been NKOTB, too. I would sit in my room and cry at Joey's "Please Don't Go Girl." It spoke to me.

The first band I saw in concert was DC Talk, the Christian band. (I went with my very Christian friend's church group to an amusement park where they were playing. I spent the day trying to explain to all of the home schooled Christian kids that being pro-choice was cool, there was nothing wrong with homosexuality, and that expecting young people to wait until marriage for sex was a losing battle. It was a looooong day.)

The first band I took the initiative ang got tickets for was Dave Matthews Band.

The Mars Volta - 2007 tour

Two years ago (at the tender age of 15!) I saw Amanda Palmer. I'd originally got a ticket to see the Dresden Dolls but Brian the drummer wasn't there, and Amanda carried the show alone. She was absolutely brilliant. I have no shame.

Spice Girls. (It wasn't my idea! I had this Polish friend who loved them! [It was a great show, though.])

Color Me Badd played at the county fair & my posse of 9-10 year old girls were hella' excited! I think I still have that cassette somewhere around here...

Queen in '81.

Weird Al Yankovich.
AND I've seen him twice since (although to be fair, I wouldn't have gone the third time if I hadn't been promised I'd get to meet him. Turns out I didn't. Oh well.)
I win.

Third Eye Blind in 2003 (literally the week Into the Vein dropped...so they played all the songs off that album). It was pretty amazing.

Years ago (TOO many years ago) when I was but 12 years of age, I sent in roughly a zillion entries to a 1/2 hour music video TV show called "Video Hits" to win tickets to see Gowan. And I won! Along with a T-shirt, his cassette tape and an AUTOGRAPHED poster! And I was stoked, and I went and jumped around and danced and screamed like an idiot and loved every minute of it. :) (OH, but he had the COOLEST hair!) LOL!

The only part I'm embarrassed about is that I had to go with my mom! :(~ HOW LAME! LOL

I was in 5th grade and was invited to go to the New Kids on the Block concert by my first girl crush who lived across the street! It was the best! Definitely embarrassed about it now...i even had a NKOTB t-shirt!

My friend dragged me and my roommate to see this concert at Radio City, telling us it was Squirrel Nut Zippers. Must have been around 1999 or 2000. Turned out they were just the opening act for Tony Bennett. We walked out after he did about a song and a half...

Howard Jones at Red Rocks.

It was around '86, '87...my (extremely cool) older brother took me and my best friend. It was pretty flippin amazing.

First concert: Barbara Mandrell, I was six and it was a pretty good time. I would have done anything for NKOTB tickets back in the day. Sadly, I don't think they made it out to Montana during their tours.

I was in 5th grade and was invited to go to the New Kids on the Block concert by my first girl crush who lived across the street! It was the best! Definitely embarrassed about it now...i even had a NKOTB t-shirt!

The Cranberries with Veruca Salt opening for them! I believe it was 1994 and I was in the 7th grade. Two of my favorite bands at the time and I am definitely not ashamed.

Weird Al was my second concert, phyllisbarnaby! I can't even be embarassed by it, because he puts on such a fantastic show.

Robert Cray with Paul Butterfield.

First concert I paid money for was ZZ Top.

HEY PhyllisBarnaby, I LOVE Weird Al to this day! He is going to be playing at the grandstand this summer when the carnival comes to town, and both me & hubby are STOKED and we're getting there plenty early to make sure we get good seats!! LOL I can't wait! :)

Dead Kennedys, Washington, DC 1982, when I was technically too young to go.

My second concert was more embarrassing: Jacksons VICTORY Tour.

My first concert was a Journey concert in, oh, 1980mumble (I don't remember the exact date. It was the Frontiers album, and Bryan Adams [before he went all soft-rock] opened for them).

And then there was Duran Duran. This tour season is the first tour season I just can't be bothered with them since the Notorious tour.

Green Day and Jimmy Eat World, 2002

System of a Down, and I am totally not ashamed.

I saw Bile, this industrial band I was really into, at Limelight. Yes, the Limelight from Party Monster. I was 16, but got in because my friends were friends with the band. Heh, I can't believe my mum let me go.

Goo Goo Dolls. I was 12 I think... and the only REALLY embarrasing part is that my grandma took us (me and my sister). And kept saying their name wrong.

You know, Joey was my favorite New Kid, too. I even named a gerbil after him!

My first concert was Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood when I was 18, but I was dragged to that one by my stepfather who made me stand in line to get him 4th row tickets. My first REAL concert, one I actually wanted to see, was Tori Amos in 2002. That was simply amazing!

Oh, and I'm not ashamed, either. I have been a Duran Duran fan for years and years; there's no shame left in me.

A Do Make Say Think (I had no idea who they were either!)at the Black Cat in DC with my exboyfriend. He was really into those instrumental bands, and I was his only friend, so I went with him. Over seven hours with no sitting.

First one I paid for, I believe, was Billy Idol. My sister loved him, and so by extension so did I.

First one I attended...Olivia Newton-John on her "Physical" tour.

Embarrassed, moi?

Everclear. 1998 on my tenth birthday.

Kliz, I love Do Make Say Think!

My first was No Doubt with The Vandals and Cake opening. I was 11 and it was awesome. My mom made plaid pants for me and everything!

Alas, it was also NKOTB 10 rows from the top of the Oakland Coliseum. I was still sure Jordan would be able to see me and fall in love, due to my Debbie Gibson hat personally bedazzled by my BFF for my 11th birthday.

I'm pretty sure my next amphitheater show will be the reunion tour.

At least people remember Debbie Gibson; Candi,(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candi_%26_The_Backbeat) on the other hand, was an obscure Canadian pop band that was forgotten almost instantly.

No shame here though, just memories of a 3 piece black and neon pink outfit, lol! :P

I was in ninth grade, went to Warped Tour '98. This was when Blink 182 had just got really famous and they were the headliners...but Len was there too ("Steal my Sunshine"). I'm not ashamed...but I did have to go to the hospital that night for dehydration (98 degree weather...not drinking any water...outside at Coors Field at 5,280 ft...)

Ohhhhh wow. talk about embarassing.

Meat Loaf. New Year's Eve, 99-2000. I even grew out mutton chops for it, so I'd look more blue-collar.

Ohhhhh wow. talk about embarassing.

Meat Loaf. New Year's Eve, 99-2000. I even grew out mutton chops for it, so I'd look more blue-collar.

No shame in saying that my first concert was a Hanson concert in 8th grade!

But maybe I'm a little bit embarrassed about seeing them six more times after that....

Insane Clown Posse, 8th Grade, 1999.

Yes. I was one of the angry kids that wore a lot of black.

Green Day and The Living End in 2001.

Boyz 2 Men, baby! I was in middle school so it would have been between 1994 and 1996.

Amy Grant, House of Love tour. I think 1995.

Ozzy Osbourne....top row of the Sports Arena in San Diego. 1981.

Huey Lewis and the News -- 1986

G. Love and Special Sauce. 'Nuff said.

oo good question.
first was nickelodean tour featuring 98 degrees back in the good old 90s. then came american idol season one, and finally a profound jump to ani difranco, goddess herself.

wonderful memories.

Amy Grant... I think also the House of Love tour, but I don't quite remember. The timing is right, though. I was about 12-13.

I was super-Christian and into Contemporary Christian music. I am so sorry. And ashamed. And embarrassed. I got over it in a couple years.

I saw X open for Devo in 1978, so I must have been about 14. Damn good show, and first of many!

Wait, I'm mistaken. I saw Yes earlier, '77 I think!

1996--No Doubt!

Best concert ever (I was 12).

Wow - am I really that old for this blog? :)

It was either The Eagles or Chicago at the New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum when I was 14 (all my friends were 15 and I remember my older brother picking us up in my parents' Buick Estate Wagon).

Alanis Morisette! It was awesome.

Hanson, when I was 13. However, I am not at all ashamed and have seen them a few times after that. And hopefully I will be seeing them again this fall!

The Dresden Dolls! I wore whiteface and it was awesome. No regrets there, but I have the advantage of it being only like two years ago. O_o

My first concert was James Taylor, in Lake Placid NY. My friend Marka got the tickets, and five of us went. We were 15, it must have been 85. But my first BREATHLESS concert was just a few months ago. k.d. land in Schenectady NY. Wow. Now THAT was a concert!

1984: Dio. Loved the show, though Dio is pretty much on the mellower end of what I'm into. Growing up in HI, though, it's not like I have a lot of acts to choose from.

My first concert was Lacuna Coil when I was 12. I still listen to them!

I

I'm only admitting to this because it's a relatively anonymous venue for a horrible confession like this...

Avril Lavigne. Yes. I'm embarrassed.

To be fair, I was twelve, it was her FIRST tour, and my mom bought them for me after I'd already lost interest and realized she wasn't any good. Luckily her guitarist was attractive.

The first show for which I bought my own tickets was a ska fest two years later. I'm less embarrassed about that one.

I'll make up for Avril by seeing Radiohead this August. ^_^

The Cranberries!

I think I was 14. That's a pretty embarrassing one.

They Might Be Giants, roughly 1995. I've lost track of how many times I've seen them since then, but it's in the neighborhood of a dozen.

But I am so jealous of anyone who got to see Debbie Gibson in concert...I would have died to see her when I was in jr. high!

Britney Spears, when I was eleven or twelve. To be fair, it was the Oops I Did It Again Tour, which, although not an act of musical genius, was immediately preceding her decline into craziness. I know I should be ashamed, but I refuse to be because of the reason above, and because it was a fucking good time for a middle schooler!

I went to the Warped Tour 2000 when I was 15. I wasn't allowed to go with my friends like a normal person, so I had my dorky dad with me all day. That's the part that was the most embarrassing. I'm glad he took me though. Looking back on it, it must have been horrible for him.

mine was Matchbox 20. and i held hands with a boy when they played push... weird.

However, a guy I work with was just saying his most embarrassing concert was..

Ace of Base.

I reprimanded him for even thinking Ace of Base is embarrassing...he's a very, very luck guy!

Madonna.

Hollywood Sportatorium. The Virgin Tour.

The Beasty Boys opened, if you can believe that.

I was *definitely* still a virgin at the time! :D

Peter, Paul, & Mary. At an outdoor concert venue in Michigan. Every summer with my grandparents (we timed our visit with them to coincide with the concert!). We'd go early and have a picnic on the grass. And yes, we all held candles and sang Blowin' in the Wind and Puff the Magic Dragon. :)

And I'm not embarrassed by it. I loved it every single summer. But I am embarrassed at how upset I got when we couldn't get NKOTB tickets...

My first concert was Tiffany! I was six and she was just so cool :)

I have to defend Debbie Gibson. She is a feminist hero. She was the youngest artist to write, produce, and sing a number 1 hit. She worked her way into the business by sending homemade demos to every record company around. She knew how to play several instruments and was an absolutely spectacular piano player.

She gets unfairly grouped with prepackaged teen acts, but she was actually an amazing female artist.

Donny and Marie Osmond. The tickets were a birthday present from my grandmother. I think it was 1977 or 1978, as I'm sure I was 8 or 9.

Debbie Gibson was my first concert, too, when I was about 8 years old. Watching that video brought an instant flashback to those days, when my sis, best friend, and I would rewind that cassette over and over. My folks took all three of us to the concert and it was like, the greatest thing ever...and now, I am really missing my childhood best friend!
The next year, we went to see NKOTB, which also rocked. It was in Boston, (NKOTB's home turf) and we were way up in the nose bleed seats, but the girl next to us still fainted. My boyfriend promised to get NKOTB reunion tour tix for my birthday. I'm sure they're still just as good, twenty years later, right?

Donny and Marie Osmond. The tickets were a birthday present from my grandmother. I think it was 1977 or 1978, as I'm sure I was 8 or 9.

heh... Good Charlotte! (cringe..)

Belinda Carlisle in '89 or '90. Can't remember the year.

And I don't think we should be embarrassed by our first concerts. Indeed, it should be obligatory that first concerts be somewhat daggy. People that attend a cool first concert are just too cool for their own good. ;^)

I didn't really go to concerts until my sophomore year of high school or so. The first was Ani Difranco, and it was -awesome.-

I'm not embarrassed--the first concert I ever saw was The Who at Shea Stadium in 1982. They were good. But better than The Who--The Clash opened. I loved The Clash so much. Still do, they're still my favorite band of all time. (Yeah, I'm old, bite me.) I was fifteen years old so I'd never had a chance to see them before. Almost missed the concert as it was early October, chilly, and I was sick, running a 101F fever, but I didn't let my mom know or she would have kept me home. I remember that my best friend and I were disappointed that The Clash didn't play "White Riot" and we danced down the ramps at Shea in between the sets singing it at the top of our lungs. We can't sing, either of us, but neither could Joe or Mick, so it didn't matter. David Johanssen opened, but we got there too late (and didn't care.) They taped "Should I Stay or Should I Go" and that's the live version you used to see on MTV. I'm sure it's on YouTube.

Queen must've been an awesome concert...too bad I was born in 86 :(

my first concert was (not counting all the house party gigs by the local high school bands) Warped Tour in 2003 (I was 16).

I was looking forward to Andrew WK, Rancid, and Pennywise...somehow got stuck in the Simple Plan crowd for half an hour :( (never liked that band) and saw a bunch of other bands I didn't really like.

Hmm...oh and I met Sum41 and had them pose with a friend who really liked them.
I also met Andrew WK he is a way awesome guy, I also got a picture of me and the drummer from Good Charlotte...I always hated that band but I did it to make people I know who like them jealous.

Alanis Morisette - I was 14 years old and it was amazing!!!

I still love Alanis - now and forever!

Good Charlotte

1994 Lollapalooza. I was 15. I think it was at Irvine Meadows. My girlfriends and I almost got crushed in the swell from the Beastie Boys. The Breeders were there and so was George Clinton, but I was there for The Smashing Pumpkins. We missed L7 and I don't remember seeing Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, which sucks, 'cause now I love them. I met my first boyfriend there. I squished up against him in the mosh pit. Yow! He was freshman at U.C.I.

The Pretenders and The Rolling Stones!

Great question! Jesus Jones and Ned's Atomic Dustbin. Ned's opened, for shame!

Shania Twain, when I was 8. I also got to see Ricky Martin. Hells yeah!

I started my concert-going career young. God, I love concerts.

Third Eye Blind in 8th grade! My poor mother insisted on coming...bless her.

Actually, I kind of rule. I went to see the Who's Quadrophenia tour when I was 12. My dad pointed out what pot smoke smelled like and the guy in front of us puked the whole time. We got floor seats thanks to our seats being fucked up by a newly built arena (woot - HSBC Arena - which was still Marine Midland Arena).

I should add that a few years later I convinced my parents to drive me to Toronto (from Buffalo) so I could see Hanson. Not my first concert, but definitely my most embarrassing.

My first concert was back in’ 02 when I was 18. My college roomie and I were obsessed with Incubus (her huge poster of Brandon Boyd bonded us instantly), and I got us both tickets to their show. I'm neither ashamed nor proud of the band, I'm not that into them anymore, but they are pretty good. And Thirty Second to Mars opened, before they were famous, so that makes an interesting story. The only part that sucked was that my parents wouldn't let us take my car from my college to the concert in St. Louis (about 3 hours away), and insisted on driving. My roomie was cool about it, but that still sucked. At least they dropped us off and didn’t sit through a concert they would have hated.

I haven't been to a concert since (my life has been a bit bumpy since then) but in August I get to see NIN. Squee!!! Is it sad that even at 24, I am still hoping Trent will see me in crowd?

Wow, so many youngsters, so many embarrassing first concerts.

Mine was Peter Gabriel at the Brendan Byrne arena in 1986.

N'Sync...and yes, I am embarrassed by it. I was in 8th grade and was in love with Lance Bass. haha

I was dating this born again Christian (yeah stupid me considering I'm an atheist...1st real bf, i was dumb...) anyway, he took me to a Jars of Clay concert...everyone there was a hardcore Christian, I didn't know any songs...it was awful

I guess it was 1984... I think... I would have been 12. I got to see Sting on his Dream of the Blue Turtles tour. I begged for tickets for my birthday and my whole family went. I was a fan of the Police too late to see them live, so this was the next best thing.

Hanson is so bad, though, that it's almost badass. Admitting to that with attitude should automatically grant you an Ovaries of Steel award.

1994-WHFestival in DC
Counting Crows
Violent Femmes
Cracker
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Rollins Band
James

It kicked ass. I fell in love with concerts that day, (despite my near death experience during the Rollins set), and I still mourn the loss of WHFS ;(

I love the age spread of readers that this question reveals!

My second concert was amazing - REM, with Radiohead opening. That was pretty fantastic. The only thing that sucked was that REM was promoting Monster, which was the album with which they began to not appeal to me as much. I still love their pre-Monster music like crazy, though.

The Monkees.

In 1996 during their 30th anniversary tour (minus Mike Nesmith, unfortunately).

I was 9 years old and totally obsessed, and they were great, and it was awesome. Not embarrassed of that at all.

...now, NSYNC twice, we don't talk about.

Duran Duran, 1984. When Astronaut came out, I went to see them at the same venue, with the same best girlfriend, and had a totally unironic awesome time. Not embarrassed a bit!

The Cure in 1994 or 95. I was 14/15. Preceeded by some radio station festival around the same time. I don't remember much of that one, except I saw Cake and got kicked in the head by a crowd surfer.

MC Hammer. 13 yrs old. Danced the whole night (in stadium seating) Stop...hammertime!

I am not at all ashamed to say it was the Bangles, for my 13th birthday. (Though I did have to go with my parents).

The Blue Man Group, 2007. The guy I'm seeing won the tickets in a radio contest and took me with him. It was one of the most phenomenal things I've ever seen.

Depeche Mode. The Violator Tour. 1990 & it was awesome! not at all embarassed!

ugh. totally ashamed: N*Sync (for my best friend's 13th bday)

now a college radio veteran (with a few purple hearts to spare I reckon) I am viciously jealous of the girl above whose first real concert was Amanda Palmer.

The first concert I remember deciding specifically to go to was Dar Williams. I'm going to go see her again tomorrow night ;)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I fucking loved it! Me and my little bro went. :)

At some point after that, I HAD to see New Kids on the Block, and also, my mom took me to see Rod Stewart, which I totally enjoyed.

How's that for embarrassing? Ah, well, I'm still not ashamed. It was great. :D

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I fucking loved it! Me and my little bro went. :)

At some point after that, I HAD to see New Kids on the Block, and also, my mom took me to see Rod Stewart, which I totally enjoyed.

How's that for embarrassing? Ah, well, I'm still not ashamed. It was great. :D

Mine is a bit hardcore, I saw Slipknot in 2005 when I was 19 for my first show. The only thing I regret about it was not being in the mosh pit, but I had damn good seats.

My first concert was Metric, when I was 13 (about 2 years ago)and I am not one bit embarrassed. :)

Well, my major source of shame is just how late I've been in going to a real concert.

My parents are both classical music fans, and would neither foot the bill for a rock concert nor escort me.

So for years, the closest I got was a few tiny local bands, such as September Child (if anyone here knows that name, I'll be astonished) and once, Colin James playing for free on Canada Day. I really really wanted to attend Lilith Fair, but was poor and jobless at the time.

Finally, just this last September, Rush came to town. I've been a fan of theirs since I was about 13, around the time when their Presto album came out. I kept my ear glued to one of the local radio stations hoping to win tickets, but no such luck. Still, I got a ticket and attended, and it was excellent. I blogged about it here.

Late bloomer = story of my life.

So far I'm the oldest fart to respond:

Either Dionne Warwick or Sly and the Family Stone, both the same year '68 or '69, I'm not sure. Dionne was forgettable, but Sly---Wow (even though he was an hour late, probably getting high).

Peter Gabriel's So tour in 1986, at the Forum in Los Angeles. I was out of my head for him at the time. No teeny-bopper bands for me.

I'm with Shiftercat. I'm not ashamed of WHO my first concert was, but how old I was. It was last March, at the age of 23, and I saw AFI. They've been my favorite band for about two years, so I'm definitely not ashamed to have seen them. I took my younger sister with me, who was 15 at the time, and because of that my mom insisted on going with us. She didn't go to the concert, but she drove us around and that was kind of embarrassing. But she loves AFI as much as I do so I just had to take her. :-) It would have been mean not to.

Everclear, circa "Santa Monica" days (probably 1996-1997).

Feeling pretty good about that, compared to Debbie Gibson.

The Cure in 2000. I'm proud.

Jessica, we should have totes grown up 2gether!!111

Seriously, the Gibster was my first concert as well.
Friday, Sept. 22, 1989 at Meadowlands Arena ... yes, I have the ticket stub on my home office bulletin board!

I've come to accept that prior Debbie Gibson obsession is not something to be ashamed about, for precisely the reasons D.E. brought up.

The Stuck in the '80s podcast recently interviewed Deborah (in which you'll learn the record company insisted she answer to Debbie) - the mp3 is at http://pod.sptimes.com/stuckinthe80s122.mp3

(I do have a teensy bit of shame over buying NKOTB's new song, "Summertime," off iTunes. They may have reunited for the money, but at least they did so with a tune that makes me happy!)

Hanson ~ Toronto 1998
embarrassing today? absolutely...
at the time - it was a total blast.
Mmmmbop!

((( was in love with Joey McIntyre as a kid... wore my neon pink NKOTB shoelaces and hair scrunchies with pride )))

The Spice Girls in 1998. I still stand by the fact that they weren't *THAT* bad. They were some of the highest paid entertainers in the world at the height of their popularity. And they were damn fine entertainers at that. They may not be the best singers, but they put on a hell of a show. Something like a Broadway show. Colorful and full of personality. I loved them and I will defend them till the day I die. However, I do have to say Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell's recent comments on feminism made me very sad. She was my favorite and I've always rooted for her- even in her solo career.

I was 19, it was 2004, and the band was Guster, and it was in Portland Oregon, and we magically got a parking ticket even though we all remember scraping the cash together to pay for our parking on the way out of the garage that night.

I don't think Beauty and the Beast on Ice when I was 12 (yes, twelve), counts.

I won tickets to a New Kids on the Block concert when I was 11 or so. Row 27, baby!

My first "grown-up" concert was U2 in 1997, when I was 18. MUCH less embarrassing. :D

I did hit up the NKOTB when I was in 6th grade, but was cooler (at least at the time?) was my 4th grade Michael Jackson concert!

As far as mom dragging me to great concerts? John Denver was pretty sweet, even if it was in 5th grade.

I did hit up the NKOTB when I was in 6th grade, but was cooler (at least at the time?) was my 4th grade Michael Jackson concert!

As far as mom dragging me to great concerts? John Denver was pretty sweet, even if it was in 5th grade.

Ringo Starr, 6th grade. 2002

not embarrassed in the least; it was roy orbison

then again i'm old enough to have seen janis joplin as well (my second concert)

first live concert I attended was an Alan Freed Rock and Roll show. IIRC, it was not at the Brooklyn Paramount, but at a theater in Manhattan. I think the next concert I attended was a Miles Davis concert (I think it was in Town Hall in NY) -- it was opened by a then unknown singer, piano player named Nina Simone (she brought down the house - much to Miles' annoyance).

I am intensely embarrassed about my first concert - it was The Kelly Family (which, thankfully, very few people outside of Europe have ever heard of). I was 11 or 12 and I went with my mom and a bunch of my friends.

A year after that, my parents dragged me to see Elton John, which was marginally cooler.

And every single concert since then has been Placebo.

NKOTB, 17 years ago when I was 12. I never could quite make up my mind which one I liked best; it started with Jordan, but my best friend liked him too and we couldn't share him. Eventually I moved on to Jon, and she moved on to Joey, so then I moved back to Jordan again. At some point I liked Donnie, but not as much...

I'm not embarrassed. A girl at my school bought a bouquet of roses for Joey, as she had back stage passes. I was really jealous. Of course, I couldn't understand why everyone liked Joey so much.

The first show I can think of is Prince at MSG in 89, Lovesexy tour..but for the sake of participating in the collective embarrassment: the first album I bought with my own money was REO Speedwagon "High Infidelity"

Apart from the stuff which our school choir performed (me included, most of the time), believe it or not, it was Trevor Pinnock cembalo recital in, lemme think, 2003.

Quiconque--I saw Peter Gabriel at the Brendan Byrne arena in 1986. Could have been the same show! (Pretty sure there was more than one show.) That was a very memorable concert. In those days, there was a narrow walkway around the top of the stadium, past all the nosebleed seats. Near the end of the show, my brother (yes, I went with my older brother, he was very cool) and I noticed that people were running the walkway. We were both runners so we joined them. We spent the last 20 minutes or so racing around the top of the arena, singing along, with the lights flashing on us. It was amazing.

The Monkees on their (first?) reunion tour. Weird Al opened.

Backstreet Boys! I've seen them in concert four times and I'm going for a fifth time this fall. Even though I'm in my twenties, I guess I'm still a teeny bopper at heart.

BTW, Peter Gabriel wasn't my first concert but was the first LP I bought, his third self-titled album, the one with "Games Without Frontiers" on it. Still love that song. I was 12. For you young'uns, an LP was a big flat piece of vinyl (plastic) that played a lot of songs, not just one. Kind of like a CD, just much scratchier. And with much better art.

The Kinks. I am feeling very, very old.

Thought Riot when I was 15.
strangely that was also the day that I started eating meat.

the first "big" show I went to was Horrorpops in 2006 at the Launchpad.

I missed anti-flag more times than I can count.

last show I went to was VNV Nation in June 2007, they were amazing.

And I'm going to miss Tom Waits.

I'm not ashamed of any of the shows I've gone to, all had good memories :)

I do feel a little ashamed of the shows that I had the opportunity to attend and didn't.

first concert I went to by myself was (and I'm so not ashamed to say it especially since I'll be going to see her again in July) Cyndi Lauper with the True Colors tour

Ozzy Osbourne and Ac/DC in Des Moines Iowa, circa 1978. This was the concert when he bit the head off of a real bat. The next day he went to a local hospital to get rabies shots and I still go to that doctor who treated him. Talk about a claim to fame for him! Any how the concert was awesome.

I'm happy to say that the only concerts I'm embarrassed about are shows that I did *not* pay for, or even plan to attend. (Amy Grant: House of Love; and Collective Soul after they sold their collective soul in 2001).

The first concert I ever bought tickets for and squirmed with anticipation for weeks on end, was Counting Crows when they were touring This Desert Life. The only thing I'm embarrassed about, is the fact that I didn't have a real concert experience before the age of 17 (I'd been begging my parents to buy me August and Everything After since I had been in fifth grade). People laugh at me when I expose myself as a CC fan. But, I maintain that Adam Duritz is one of the most amazing lyricists of the 1994 boom. I know that's a weighted statement, but I've yet to find a lyric as poignant as "Everytime she sneezes I'll believe it's love."

OK, geekery over.

My very first concert was Michael Jackson. I didn't pay for the tickets, since I was in elementary school, but I begged and begged and my parents took me as a birthday present. I'm not embarassed since this was right after Thriller came out and way before he was creepy. Besides, I had to go - I was totally in love with him and would listen to my Thriller record(!) all day.

Much, much later, the first concert I paid for was Hootie and the Blowfish. Very good concert, not embarassed in the least. Viva Hootie.

KISS, 1996. Best ever. Even though they are sexist, they are ridiculously fun.

I saw Ozzy and Anthrax in '89. I was twelve at the time.

Yep, I'm an old-school metalhead.

At a travel swim meet, we got free tickets to a John Michael Montgomery concert.

First real concert (i.e., not a school chorus or a campus cappella group) I actually recall paying for was They Might Be Giants.

Steppenwolf in '89, followed by the Who 2 weeks later. It was a good start, but I didn't keep it up. I could probably count on two hands the number of concerts I've been to.

The Moody Blues. 1989. I was 21.

What? Don't look at me like that. I'm not THAT old! ;-)

Violent Femmes in the early '90s. I still remember the look of worry and fear on the face of my friend's mom when she dropped us off, "Now, please, whatever you do, don't do the "moshing" dance. 20-20 did a special on how dangerous it is, you could be hurt!"

My first concert was Joan Jett at the Ashland County Fair, 1999. So awesome!!!

Jacksons, Victory Tour in '84. I was 6 and you bet I rocked the MJ glasses and sparkly white glove.

My first concert was Debbie Gibson, too! My grandmother took me-- in Atlantic City.

First concert I bought tickets for: Green Day in 1994 or '95.

Most recent concert: Ani DiFranco.

As you can see, things have improved.

I can't remember if it was '97 or '98, but the first and only concert I've been to was the Oldies Summer Spectacular at the Riverport Amphitheater in St. Louis. I got to see the Turtles and Tommy James and the Shondelles. Even in my late teens, thought, that kind of stuff was fun but not really my cup of tea.

Prince and the Revolution (Purple Rain Tour - 1985, Nassau Colliseum). Shelia E opened. The ticket said "Wear something purple". I was purple head to toe. I was 14.

October 6, 1981 - The Who. I was a 14 years old. A friends mom drove us and picked us up, but did not attend.

Soon afterwards I saw David Bowie for the first time.

I am not ashamed.

Toby Mac and Third Day. I was a freshman in H.S. It was a good concert.

Bob Dylan - 1988

I was 13 years old and was giddy beyond measure. I was a bigger Dylan fan when I was 11/12....By this point I had moved on to The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Echo..., Etc.....but, I was still SO stoked to finally see Dylan. I am still a fan.

reba mcentire at the houston livestock show and rodeo.

98 Degrees.......I was 11 or 12. 3rd Eye Blind should have been my first, but I had a fight with that friend and she brought her sister instead.

I'm really more ashamed of how I obsessed over NSYNC in later years. I went to two of those concerts and screamed my head off.

Yeah, probably the only concert that could get that same reaction now would be Ani DiFranco.

I was only 14! I blew my babysitting money for a month!
It was Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders Fall 1981, The Venue, "Toronto's Horse Palace" which, as Chrissie said that night, was last used by Hendrix before the Pretenders 10 years before '81. The band had the original line up (i.e. Pete Farndon & Honeyman Scott before the rock and roller disease caught up with them i.e. junk up the arm....)
Ah it was exciting, Chrissie H. actually started throwing instruments at people w. cameras and swearing at them. I still remember that well aimed tamborine whirling above my head, and the lighter I stole from my dad burning my fingers...

I should note that I don't go to concerts much anymore, I think that Iggy Pop concert in the 90's did me in, by "in" I mean my ears, we left the small club where the concert was (myself and about 7 friends) screaming at each other cause we couldn't hear anything.

Hey kids wear ear plugs! Unless you like the sound of "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." all the time. It was a great gig though! ;-

Coachella 2002. Bjork, Cake, Jurassic 5, Beta Band, KRS-One, Saul Williams.

For my 8th birthday my parents took me to see the B-52's, and it was the best birthday ever. I begged to go see them, and my mom got me a new outfit and everything (it was a miniskirt, 8 yr old appropriate, of course, with a matching oversized sweatshirt that I wore with scrunched socks and keds... best night ever.)

Lilith Fair when I was 13!

(always a feminist at heart) ;)

Because I loved reading these responses I had to add mine (also because no one else had this listed): Tone-Loc - my dad took me when I was in middle school. There is so much wrong with that I don't know where to begin...

I am a late bloomer, as my parents were overprotective and wouldn't let me go to any concerts. My sister and I managed to sneak to see Tiger Army and AFI in ought-six. It was pretty amazing. I have followed Tiger Army ever since. So no, I am not ashamed of who I saw for my first concert, I am just a bit ashamed of how old I was for my first show although it wasn't my fault (I was 18).

The first concert was on my 16th birthday, my godmother surprised me with tickets to see Alanis Morissette and Liz Phair.

The first one I ever scrounged money up for myself and went to on my own was Nine Inch Nails and Perfect Circle.

Good times.

My dad took me to see Willie Nelson when I was 13. When I was 16 I bought my own tickets (with money from my job at Burger King) to see David Bowie on the Let's Dance tour, 1983. Yeah, I'm old too.

And Blue Pencils, I agree, The Clash is the greatest band evah.

Beatles, 1966, Olympia arena in Detroit. I was twelve. Counldn't hear for the girls screaming (unless I covered my ears). Went with my older sister and her friend, who wore a moptop. I thought the place was going to collapse for the noise.

Second concert was Herman's Hermits. With my sister and her boyfriend. Dang, I should call her and thank her for being so good to me.

Dave Mathews Band 1998. I was a junior in high school.

I remember being scandalized when this 40-something year-old woman sitting next to me lit up a giant brick of weed...ah, so innocent.

But the first album (and this was a cassette) I ever had was either Paula Abdul or Taylor Dane--I can't remember which came first.

Aw man, I'm jealous of these kids whose first concert was Alanis Morissette or the Cranberries. I don't think it occurred to me circa seventh grade to go see them.

My first concert I ever got excited for was Wynonna Judd with the Sweethearts of the Rodeo and Vince Gill, when I was around nine. It was in a middle school in a remote Nashville suburb; I believe it was some kind of fundraiser. (I'd been really into the Judds since kindergarten, when my family moved to Nashville for the first time.) I was more excited, though, to see Les Mis on Broadway for the first time around age eight, when I knew all the words to all the songs and slogged through the (abridged) novel out of obsession.

It's hard for me to track down my first real adult-liking concert, because beginning at age 13 or so -- 1997 -- I was into then-obscure indie bands whose shows I couldn't attend. I was always trying to finagle entrance (usually by dragging my parents along) to 18+ and 21+ clubs to see the likes of Truman's Water, Mike Watt and Low, and I went to great but failed lengths to see Sonic Youth in Atlanta on their A Thousand Leaves tour.

The Matador Records tenth anniversary concerts in 1999, when I was fifteen, were my first big successes of shows. I booked plane tickets to New York from Nashville for the weekend just for them, and when my friend bailed on the first night my dad, who was recovering from chemo at the time, selflessly accompanied me and slept on the couches in Irving Plaza's lounge the whole time. (A guy who had been my internet semi-boyfriend came to the second show.) At those shows I managed to see Pavement, Chavez and Come right before they all broke up, and the show totally got me obsessed with Thalia Zedek. Plus I saw Guitar Wolf (pre-death), Yo La Tengo, Cat Power (who was super-nervous -- who would be when they're playing second-to-last to a packed crowd right before Pavement? -- and not yet well-known), Bardo Pond, Mary Timony (I think Helium had just broken up but I hadn't known it yet) and others.

aw, i'm so glad to see so many NKOTB fans! i was in 6th grade when i went to see them. in my defense, my second concert, in college, was the Cure.

oh, speaking of shows we regret NOT going to:

i was invited to the first small concert for an experimental dallas group that a friend of mine was starting with tim delaughter about 6 years ago, but couldn't go. anyone else want to kick me?

It is only due to the anonymity of teh internetz that I can come clean on this one:

Third Day (Christian worship band)

*ducks under desk in shame*

Oooo I'm very lucky. My parents got me hooked on classic rock starting when I was a little baby. So my first concert was The Who, with the Pretenders opening. It was amazing. (This was about a year ago or so when they went on tour to promote their new CD)
Second concert was Bruce Springsteen. Absolutely not ashamed.

Iron Maiden, 1984, 9th grade.

I think it was Nassau Coliseum. Maybe Madison Square Garden.

sir lord baltimore, j.geils band, black sabbath, fillmore east 1971

I'm a little embarrassed about this one... it was Reba McEntire when I was 10/11 or so. I was in her fan club, too! I even got to meet her after the performance. This was back before I discovered any other music besides country/classical/hymns/gospel. To be fair, I grew up in rural Louisiana, and 99% of the radio stations were country music. Oh, how my music tastes have grown since then!

Jill - Hanson in Toronto 1998? I was at that concert too! I made my parents drive me there from Buffalo as an 8th grade graduation present.

Sammy Hagar opening for Boston.

Great question. Loved skimming over the responses! From mainstream pop to underground punk as yr first concert - it's all good!

My first concert was technically the Monkees at the State Fair when I was about 6 or 7. I was desperate to see them cos I was obsessed with the TV show and in love with Davy Jones. Of course, by the mid-late 80s, he was mullet-ugly. o_O

The first 'gig' I went to on my road to alternative/indie-dom, sans mother, was Blind Melon in 1994 at the age of 14. I went with 2 other school friends and had my breath taken away by all the beautiful punk boys and girls with dyed hair and thrift shop clothes. Seeing a huge sort of community was a defining moment rather than the piss-poor music that we witnessed together that night!

I am extremely jealous of the person who saw Queen. And slightly jealous of the Dio concert. I'm planning on naming a pet Dio, or saving it for a kid...But I probably won't have kids. I just think it would be awesome to name something Dio. That would probably scar any child for life especially if I make he/she play "holy diver".

My first experience was in 1998 when I saw Rancid, I was 14.

Not So Silent Night 2003: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Rancid, Iggy Pop, The Offspring & Jane's Addiction

Lilith Fair! Sarah was sick, but it could have been a lot worse, ha.

Go ahead and hate me -- the Stray Cats, January 1984, the Orpheum in Boston. No shame at all.

Alice Cooper at the Wild Goose in Algonquin, Illinois, in 1970. (Yeah, I'm a little older than the average here lol.)

Second was Santana at the International Amphitheater in Chicago, with my little brother, 1971.

Third was Jefferson Starship, Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich, 1971 or 2. (If you remember the 60's, you weren't really there.)

Peace, sisters!

Alice Cooper at the Wild Goose in Algonquin, Illinois, in 1970. (Yeah, I'm a little older than the average here lol.)

Second was Santana at the International Amphitheater in Chicago, with my little brother, 1971.

Third was Jefferson Starship, Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich, 1971 or 2. (If you remember the 60's, you weren't really there.)

Peace, sisters!

For my first concert, I went and saw Destiny's Child at a county fair during middle school. It was, to say the least, nothing short of incredible. I did the dance moves from the "Say My Name" video and thought I was completely sassy and fantastic. What a memory.

I'll hop on The Cranberries bandwagon. I think with Cracker, early to mid 90's. Since I still count them among my favorite groups, I can't really be embarassed by it, now can I?

BBMak-back in '99 or '00

Girls were trying to throw bras at the stage and one landed on my friend's head. Good times.

I guess you'll have to hate me. The first concert I went to was a Prince concert. It blew my little 15-year-old mind.

Kiss, with my Dad, in 1979. I was 11.

It was awesome. :-)

*cringe* - should have been lowercase dad.

I can't remember if my first concert was Lilith Fair or a horrifying Christian festival called CREATION FEST. Both 1997, both at the Gorge. I was 15. Let's say it was Lilith Fair, and pretend I never, ever went to Creation Fest.

Weezer and No Doubt, probably around 96 or so. I was 13 and even today, I remember that show. Weezer was awesome, and it was back when Gwen was, seemingly, a feminist. Rock on!

2004, age 14 - Our Lady Peace with my dad and sister, very easy, very cheap.
2007 - My first REAL concert where i begged for tickets, bussed 400km, and waited around at the festival all day for the main event - Ani FUCKING DiFranco!
i also was Mother Mother, Elvis Perkins, and Immaculate Machine jam in a gazebo that day while i was waiting for Ani.
"You are your own rave." - Ani DiFranco, July 28, 2007 - Hillside Festival.

The Wallflowers & Polaris frosh year of high school. I was so hot for Jakob Dylan.

the first concert i attended, without being dragged to was Ozzfest 2005. to think that the metal scene was to rough for little girls. pft! i sure proved them wrong...but i sure do remember the day. my friend and i were dropped off at the entrance. it was a hot hot place to be in(somewhere in the mountains in san bernardino). but the music made it all up. i enjoyed watching the bands perform. it was AMAZING, specially for a 15yr old!