Nothing to do with the photo's, but my lasting memory of that day was being on a 177 bus going towards Woolwich, upstairs on the bus a bloke got off at the Watermans arms, he had 2 carrier bags full of cans of lager & said "do you want them?" as he couldn't be arsed to carry them to The Valley, gratefully received !
The 1974 gig was on a gloriously sunny day. I got sunburnt.
Found myself in the previous Bad Company crowd picture as I vaguely remembered where I was sitting. No chance in these but great pics and thanks for posting, Henry
Thanks @Badger and @Bangkokaddick 1976 it was then. I was going to say that if it was 1974 that I can't explain why there was elbow room as it was a who sell out.
I was too young to go in 1974 really, I recall thinking that I'm a boy so i decided to substitute a trip to the valley at 5.15 to view pictures of Lilly whilst playing my squeezebox.
Great stuff. If any photos show a person on stage standing in front of the stage left speaker stack......... it’s yours truly!
The gig in 1974 was one of the best days of my life. I was 14. My dad worked for London Electricity and he was given the opportunity to work behind the scenes for the day just in case something went wrong with the power supply.
He was, what was known as an electrical joiner and In those days, when there was a loss of power, it was his responsibility to get a gang out to get it fixed and quite often he'd take me with him on a job. Obviously, didn't get involved and all I'd do was sit in his bright orange mini van.
So,he was on standby for the day. When he asked if I wanted to go to the Valley and be backstage for the day, I jumpt at the chance.
If I'm being truthful, I didn't really appreciate how big some of the acts were. Obviously, I knew about the Who but had never heard of the like of Montrose and didn't realise Bad Company was the reincarnation of Free
So to cut to the chase, I was restricted as to where I could go and spent most of the 12 hours I was there milling around at the back of the stand. But I did mange to watch things from the wings and my programme was signed by, in no particular order.
Roger Daltrey Pete Townsend Keith Moon Lou Reed Maggie Bell Sammy Hagar Ronnie Montrose Paul Rodgers Simon Kirke
There might have been a few other artists but my memory escapes me. I never expected an experience like this so didn't take a camera. If only they had smart phones in those days!
To be clear, I didn't approach these superstars. It was a really friendly stagehand who did it for me. That programme would be worth a fortune in today's market but unfortunately it got thrown away, along with 1000's of Charlton programmes when my mum moved after my dad died in 1992.
I was back there in 1976 but this time as a paying customer. I was on the East Terrace and can confirm it pissed down
For the second gig it was so wet and miserable that the Who knew they had to play the gig of gigs to redeem the day. They did. They opened with 'Can't Explain' in powerful, electrifying blistering fashion and within a bar the entire sodden crowd was on it's feet and roaring. The set they played was absolutely intense and straight to the heart. I wouldn't know, but I suspect we saw the Who in one of their best ever performances that rainy evening at the Valley.
Enjoyed the line up (and weather) for the ‘74 gig more than ‘76. Lindisfarne got the Geordies on their feet and created a good atmosphere. This was before the cans and bottles started flying. Maggie Bell and Bad Company were also good. Thought The Who were better in ‘76 than ‘74.
Thanks @Badger and @Bangkokaddick 1976 it was then. I was going to say that if it was 1974 that I can't explain why there was elbow room as it was a who sell out.
I was too young to go in 1974 really, I recall thinking that I'm a boy so i decided to substitute a trip to the valley at 5.15 to view pictures of Lilly whilst playing my squeezebox.
Thanks @Badger and @Bangkokaddick 1976 it was then. I was going to say that if it was 1974 that I can't explain why there was elbow room as it was a who sell out.
I was too young to go in 1974 really, I recall thinking that I'm a boy so i decided to substitute a trip to the valley at 5.15 to view pictures of Lilly whilst playing my squeezebox.
Before my time but my mum gave this to me years ago
For you youngsters, in 1976, £4 was a lot of money. My weekly pay from a student job in Sainsbury’s was £7.54. Today, £4 just about covers a large cappuccino in Costa
Comments
If any photos show a person on stage standing in front of the stage left speaker stack......... it’s yours truly!
It must be me then!
If so, that's Bob.
Rare picture showing the original builders’ yard too.
I was too young to go in 1974 really, I recall thinking that I'm a boy so i decided to substitute a trip to the valley at 5.15 to view pictures of Lilly whilst playing my squeezebox.
He was, what was known as an electrical joiner and In those days, when there was a loss of power, it was his responsibility to get a gang out to get it fixed and quite often he'd take me with him on a job. Obviously, didn't get involved and all I'd do was sit in his bright orange mini van.
So,he was on standby for the day. When he asked if I wanted to go to the Valley and be backstage for the day, I jumpt at the chance.
If I'm being truthful, I didn't really appreciate how big some of the acts were. Obviously, I knew about the Who but had never heard of the like of Montrose and didn't realise Bad Company was the reincarnation of Free
So to cut to the chase, I was restricted as to where I could go and spent most of the 12 hours I was there milling around at the back of the stand. But I did mange to watch things from the wings and my programme was signed by, in no particular order.
Roger Daltrey
Pete Townsend
Keith Moon
Lou Reed
Maggie Bell
Sammy Hagar
Ronnie Montrose
Paul Rodgers
Simon Kirke
There might have been a few other artists but my memory escapes me. I never expected an experience like this so didn't take a camera. If only they had smart phones in those days!
To be clear, I didn't approach these superstars. It was a really friendly stagehand who did it for me. That programme would be worth a fortune in today's market but unfortunately it got thrown away, along with 1000's of Charlton programmes when my mum moved after my dad died in 1992.
I was back there in 1976 but this time as a paying customer. I was on the East Terrace and can confirm it pissed down
i will take this memory with me to my grave.
By the time it started to get dark, I could roll a joint with one hand.
They did.
They opened with 'Can't Explain' in powerful, electrifying blistering fashion and within a bar the entire sodden crowd was on it's feet and roaring.
The set they played was absolutely intense and straight to the heart.
I wouldn't know, but I suspect we saw the Who in one of their best ever performances that rainy evening at the Valley.
Great pics btw.
We have a nice signed poster from both concerts too.
Alex Harvey had a rain soaked crowd buzzing so that when the who took to the stage the valley was perfectly set up for them.