Favourite Live Versions

[Ironic Indie Lad]

This is about specific live performances of individual songs rather than the best live albums, best gigs etc. 

Why do you love it? What makes it special? Were you there? etc. 

This is inspired by Ozzy Osbourne's performance of Mama I'm Coming Home at Back to the Beginning. Already a very memorable and emotional performance and with Ozzy dying it feels like it's going to become this iconic, legendary thing now. There has obviously been "better" performances of this over the years but I think it's safe to say none with the emotion or impact of this one. I was lucky enough to be there for this and I can't imagine ever witnessing anything quite like it ever again.

I am coming in with a song I go back to over and over again. It's Pearl Jam doing their version of Crown of Thorns by Mother Love Bone. This can be found on Twenty which is a live compilation to go along with the documentary of the same name. I believe this version was recorded in 2000 in Vegas.

Beautiful song in its own right but more so with the full context of the tribute to Andrew Wood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23WLdumm730&list=RD23WLdumm730&start_radio=1&pp=ygUZcGVhcmwgamFtIGNyb3duIG9mIHRob3Juc6AHAQ%3D%3D

 

 

[Lorne Malvo]

No emotional/specific reason why, but Hurt by NIN at Reading 2007. I was one of the 'the Johnny Cash cover is better' brigade but hearing this completely changed my mind.

 

[SuperBacon]

I'll have a think about this, but just wanted to mention that my Dad "appears" on No Woman, No Cry (Live) which was recorded at the Lyceum Theatre, so that's always been my favourite version.

He was in the crowd and when the applause starts always says "There I am!" as if you can differentiate his clapping from the others.

The story he tells is that he was there for another band (The Flying Pickets maybe?) and that no one had heard of Bob Marley before and they had to be told when to applaud.

Mind you, this was the man who for years told me my uncle was one of the monsters in the Thriller video so can't trust him ?

Live versions I love off the top of my head is this performance of Danny Nedelko by Idles from Glastonbury. 

I always well up at the end. I like seeing people enjoy their moments in the sun.

Great idea for a thread!

 

[davertfnewman]

I've got zero Scottish ancestry, but this song can get the hairs up on my arms when I listen to it:

 

[westlondonmist]

Van Halen performing Jump with Sammy Hagar. Live the song has heavier guitars than the 1984 version and Sammy is a fantastic singer, Diamond Dave not so much. 

[HarmonicGenerator]

I'll try not to just fill this post with Springsteen, but obviously I could (the performance of 'Backstreets' from Edinburgh in 2023 is my ultimate version of that song, and hits me emotionally in a way the studio version doesn't). I'll be good and just post two by him.

First one, 'Out in the Street' from Hyde Park in 2009, for the sheer infectious joy of the performance. That huge pop when Clarence delivers his line - pure joy.

 

 

And then 'My City of Ruins' from Barcelona in 2002. I'm already halfway gone a few seconds in when Bruce just does this small exhaling sigh before the piano part really starts, but then when it hits the instrumental break, and he walks across the stage and Patti smiles at him and he touches her on the arm and Clarence starts playing ... I'm crying just writing this, let alone watching it.

 

And then, for something different, Stevie Ray Vaughan doing 'Texas Flood' at the El Mocambo. I must have watched this show on DVD dozens of times. SRV is my favourite ever guitarist and he's supernaturally good here, drenched in sweat from the effort, the guitar like part of his body, it's just brilliant.

 

And then just for singalong fun, Iron Maiden doing 'Fear of the Dark' at Rock in Rio.

 

I can do more than just Springsteen! But I could have done another five or six from him without even needing to think about it. 

Edited August 1, 2025 by HarmonicGenerator

[Statto]

Doesn't get any better than this, folks.

Edit: Sorry, got a bit excited by this fab idea and just chucked that in without context between meetings at work. It's fab because the band are tight as hell, a kid is losing their mind over how great it is, Ray Parker Jr of Ghostbusters fame is on guitar, and the reprise is just wonderful.

Then there's this:

I know Queen are a pretty divisive band here, but I think most who like them recognise they were a pretty decent live outfit. Whilst Wembley in 85 & 86 get the attention, I think 82 was actually the peak of their powers as a live band, and this is just pushed over the top by Morgan Fisher (ex-Mott the Hoople) doing sterling work on piano.

A truncated version of the song (they had a lot of hits to get through between them!) but Willie absolutely kills this. What makes it extra special is that the other three (who were all none too shabby themselves) know that Willie is killing it, and at various times the camera catches each of them looking at their buddy in admiration. Lovely stuff.

I'll leave it there for now... will probably be back if this thread runs (as it really should!).

Edited August 1, 2025 by Statto
More, of everything.

[hallicks]

I’m not a huge Queen fan, but I find this version of “Who wants to live forever” extremely powerful and poignant given what was to come:

I am a big Rush fan, although I don’t listen to them as often these days. But I still regularly hit up this performance of “Witch hunt” from the mid 80’s, when they were at the peak of their musical performance  powers:

 

[Joe Blog]

Yes this is a cover but christ this is just fantastic. I remember when I first heard it I was about to turn it off and then he started to belt and I was just utterly captivated. The fact he looks like Dwight from The Office just adds to the surreal feel of it all. 

[wordsfromlee]

 

[Ironic Indie Lad]

1 hour ago, hallicks said:

 

This is a great shout!

I love Rush and I am a fan of their entire discography. Most probably go with 2112 or Moving Pictures. Great records but I think over time Power Windows and Grace Under Pressure have become my favourite. Mid 80s Rush rules!!!!

As a side anecdote. A girl came round my flat once and I was listening to Subdivisions off of Signals (on vinyl no less) and she was laughing uncontrollably thinking it was a bit. Some hilarious joke. Cow!

 

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2025 by Ironic Indie Lad

[Kfogg1991]

Anything by Frank turner, his live show 3000 album just dropped and honestly it just makes me smile and you can feel his energy.

I'm having such a shit day just one thing after another and I've played no thank you for the music about 80 times today and end each time with me smiling.

[poetofthedeed]

Clarence Clemons was possessed by god during this saxophone solo and you will never convince me otherwise....

 

There are not many Glastonbury moments better than this.

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2025 by poetofthedeed

[hallicks]

44 minutes ago, Ironic Indie Lad said:

I love Rush and I am a fan of their entire discography. Most probably go with 2112 or Moving Pictures. Great records but I think over time Power Windows and Grace Under Pressure have become my favourite. Mid 80s Rush rules!!!!

 

It’s so nice to find a fellow mid-80’s Rush stan. Grace Under Pressure is my favourite album. I don’t love Power Windows all the way through but it has some genuine classics (particularly “Middletown dreams”). I love Hold Your Fire but I don’t think it’s highly regarded, probably because it’s too poppy. 

 

[Chorleydave]

Generally not a Led Zeppelin fan, or even massively a fan of this song despite its classic status, but I love this version of it, with the original band looking on