Ever see a band before they made it big?

[AFN: Judge Shred]

I booked Fallout Boy, Rise Against, and Brand New among others before they blew up. Saw Good Crapolette, had a run in with them.

[Rockhound]

The Hooters played at my high school before they went national. Big Country played my college. I saw REM when they opened for The Police at old JFK Stadium in Philly(Live Aid stadium).

[Mad Johnny Maxx]

I seen Slipknot perform in 1997 before Corey Taylor was frontman.

Annnnnnnnd I would have to say Mudvayne as well. I remember meeting Chad and telling him I was a college radio DJ. Real soon after those words left my lips, Chad's plopping a huge stack of demo tapes into my arms to have me give away...which I did...although I kept a few for myself...not sure where the hell they are these days.

[longdogga]

Jul 5, 2008 23:49:11 GMT -5 Mad Johnny Maxx said:

I seen Slipknot perform in 1997 before Corey Taylor was frontman.

Annnnnnnnd I would have to say Mudvayne as well. I remember meeting Chad and telling him I was a college radio DJ. Real soon after those words left my lips, Chad's plopping a huge stack of demo tapes into my arms to have me give away...which I did...although I kept a few for myself...not sure where the hell they are these days.

well thats awesome

[Alucard]

Jul 5, 2008 22:49:18 GMT -5 Batman said:

I was gonna go see Franz Ferdinand at the Coop at UCLA before they were big... But I got too wasted and passed out. Then, within a couple months, they were huge and I haven't been able to see them since.

For some reason envisioning young Batman passed out in the Batcave made me chuckle.

[HoagieWithPastrami]

I saw AFI play at clubs several times in the late-90s.

But they're different. AFI headlined punk shows nationwide for years (and by years, I mean since about 1997) before they made the full-fledgied "jump" up to mainstream radio in 2003.

They were more of an "underground" band then, but they would still pack 1,000 person clubs wherever they went, so they weren't totally unknown on a nationwide basis, especially amongst the punk rock crowd.

[Alucard]

Jul 6, 2008 1:07:07 GMT -5 HoagieWithPastrami said:

I saw AFI play at clubs several times in the late-90s.

But they're different. AFI headlined punk shows nationwide for years (and by years, I mean since about 1997) before they made the full-fledgied "jump" up to mainstream radio in 2003.

They were more of an "underground" band then, but they would still pack 1,000 person clubs wherever they went, so they weren't totally unknown on a nationwide basis, especially amongst the punk rock crowd.

Lucky.

I adore AFI's earlier work, I can listen to it all the time and not get bored with it.

[HoagieWithPastrami]

Jul 5, 2008 23:34:10 GMT -5 AFN: Judge Shred said:

I booked Fallout Boy, Rise Against, and Brand New among others before they blew up. Saw Good Crapolette, had a run in with them.

I saw Rise Against open up for bands back when they were still on Fat Wreck Chords. Their second album was the shit.

[Drink Up Me Cider]

I saw Turisas supporting Sentenced a couple of years back. They're a lot more popular now.

[HoagieWithPastrami]

Jul 6, 2008 1:08:19 GMT -5 Alucard said:

Jul 6, 2008 1:07:07 GMT -5 HoagieWithPastrami said:

I saw AFI play at clubs several times in the late-90s.

But they're different. AFI headlined punk shows nationwide for years (and by years, I mean since about 1997) before they made the full-fledgied "jump" up to mainstream radio in 2003.

They were more of an "underground" band then, but they would still pack 1,000 person clubs wherever they went, so they weren't totally unknown on a nationwide basis, especially amongst the punk rock crowd.

Lucky.

I adore AFI's earlier work, I can listen to it all the time and not get bored with it.

They were better before they went mainstream and overdid the goth thing. When they were just sort of a "dark" punk rock band. Since they went more mainstream they seem to appeal to the shopping mall goth crowd more than the punks.

Believe it or not, but I saw Davey Havoc play a show in jeans, a t shirt, and a baseball hat back in the day. No fishnet clothing whatosever!

[Alucard]

Jul 6, 2008 3:23:55 GMT -5 HoagieWithPastrami said:

Jul 6, 2008 1:08:19 GMT -5 Alucard said:

Lucky.

I adore AFI's earlier work, I can listen to it all the time and not get bored with it.

They were better before they went mainstream and overdid the goth thing. When they were just sort of a "dark" punk rock band. Since they went more mainstream they seem to appeal to the shopping mall goth crowd more than the punks.

Believe it or not, but I saw Davey Havoc play a show in jeans, a t shirt, and a baseball hat back in the day. No fishnet clothing whatosever!

I can believe that, I've seen old old videos with them all just sorta dressed like normal guys (Very Proud Of Ya era)

[404error]

I saw Great Big Sea in Charlottetown when they played at Myron's in front of about 50-100 people.

Also, a band called Sandbox Legacy played our 94 prom in Nova Scotia. They ended up getting a song on Much Music called "Curious" when they changed their name to Sandbox. At our 95 prom the band that played did a cover of "Curious".

Indeed.

[FrankGotch]

A guy I used to work with was in a band called The Gods they got pretty big but never broke out. Anyway he showed me his favorite piece of memorabilia, its a poster that was made up for one of their shows.

It had a huge sun with scowling face, and across the front was The Gods in huge black letters. The best part of the poster though is written at the bottom in very small letters. Its said opening act Metallica.

[TuneinTokyo]

I saw Green Day, Operation Ivy (also see Rancid), NoFX, Primus, No Doubt, and I'm sure a few others that I forgot about.

Most of these shows were at the Gilman St in Berkeley.

[Hidden Jake]

My uncle saw Metallica while Mustaine was still in the band. They were opening for W.A.S.P suprisingly.

[Guns of the Samuri]

Hm... I saw System of a Down While they were rising (shortly after the release of their second album)

And I have seen Mars Volta, but I don't know if they are big now or not

[Bob Schlapowitz]

I saw Godsmack in like 1996-97ish. (Don't remember what club it was at!)

[HMARK Center]

Can't say I saw any before they were huge, but I like to think that I'm watching one now with my little brothers' band (cheap plug time! myspace.com/theembracers )

I mean, seriously, they just got asked to play a festival in Tennessee with Arlo Guthrie that's gonna have tens of thousands of people there, that's awesome.

[Psicosis Auto Theft]

I actually played an opening set gig with Nickleback one year before they had their big hit song "How You Remind Me". They're fans were even bigger macho dickheads back then.

I also saw Green Day a couple times playing small Punk bars/all-ages show back in the early 90's. They were great shows from what I remember. Check out the band's pre-Major label recording "Kerplunk". It's fantastic stuff!

[Munkie91087]

I saw Linkin Park back when they were known as Hybrid Theory and only had the rapper and not the screechy lead singer. I saw Staind in 1997 or so before they signed with Fred Durst's record label. I saw System of a Down in 1996 and even had their demo tape.