In 1976 I was 14 and got all my musical education from my Uncle Gordon who was a Prog/Yes/Deep Purple/Pink Floyd obsessive.
He worked for a record company in some lowly position that had only one advantage...free gig tickets.
So my first gig was The Who in Wales June 12th 1976.
My second ever gig was the Roundhouse July 4th 1976. I went with Gordon 'cause he'd been told the support band sounded like Deep Purple. They didn't.
I have to confess though, at the time, I was more into The Ramones set and thought Flamin' Groovies were the best thing. That changed with 'Rattus'.
I saw The Stranglers 11 times between 1977 and 1979, then once in Ipswich in 1981, then at the London Dominion in 1985 because my wife had never seen them being a few years younger.
I didn't see The Stranglers again until 1993 when I was sadly unimpressed and a bit deflated.
I was far more impressed when I was taken (dragged forcibly) to see them on the Norfolk Coast tour in 2004.
Last time I saw them was at Hammersmith last year. I took my daughter who was mightily impressed despite only having been born when 'Strange Little Girl' was in the charts.
So, there you have it, I've only seen my favourite band 17 times in over 35 years. What a lazy sod.
I've only just joined the Forums here because I've never been much of a 'joiner'. But I'm glad I have.