Have a think back to your first gig… we’re not talking that Hooley Dooleys show your folks took you to when you were four, or catching Anthony Callea at Carols By Candlelight – we mean the first proper gig you ever saw.

For some people it’s just a hazy memory, but for the radio presenters of PBS, those gigs grabbed them by the scruff of the neck and helped to turn them into the music-loving die-hards they are today. With the annual PBS 106.7FM Drive Live kicking off right now, we’ve chatted with the voices behind Zen Arcade, Mixing up the Medicine, The Afterglow, and Stone Love to let us in on the first live gigs they ever went along to – and there are some brilliant ones here.

If you love music as much as they do, they’re calling on you to sign up to the station, as it’s only through the support of dedicated music fans and appreciative radio listeners that the incredibly non-profit community radio stations can continue to champion local talent and underrepresented genres.

The Drive Live event is running as we speak, with free in-studio shows from the likes of The Peep Tempel still to come over the next few days, so if you’re a Melbourne music devotee, check it out right now.

Last-minute MJ

Erica Dunn, host of Mixing Up The Medicine – Tuesdays 5-7pm

“At 10 years of age, I was lucky enough to have my sister come down with the flu and forgo her ticket to Michael Jackson at the MCG. I tagged along on the train from the suburbs with her intimidating friends five years my senior trying to get a handle on looking cool. I had no idea of what was coming my way.

“He arrived in the stadium in a space ship and blew minds. I can remember climbing up onto some concrete pylons, where adults may not have dared to climb, just to catch the full glory of the show – which was, of course, magic performance excellence in top gear. It was a high goddamn benchmark for all other gigs to follow, but started an addiction for live music that has never left me.”

Running away from U2

Clare Presser, host of Zen Arcade – Mondays 5 – 7pm

“My older siblings have a myriad of cool gigs that they were taken off to as toddlers (Pink Floyd in its heyday isn’t too shabby) but, by the time interacting with live music reached me, I had to fend for myself – and I have taken some interesting, and possibly ill advised, steps along the way.

“The first “gig” I went to was (and I grit my teeth at how achingly uncool it is) U2’s ZOO TV tour at the MCG – which I think was the tour when they were about halfway through jumping the stadium shark. To the 13 year old me, however, it had everything. Costume changes, stage make up, giant TVs commenting on the mass-consumption of media, devils, angels, leather, suspended cars, heaving humanity, and myself on screen during intermission. Epic.

“I wanted to drop out of school immediately, run away and become a sound engineer for some touring band. My parents did some serious fast talking and I took up playing bass guitar instead. Music has been my thrill, solace, companion, escape and home ever since.”

No dancing allowed

Lyndelle Wilkinson, host of The Afterglow – Wednesdays 5-7pm
“My first ever gig was in 1987 – Tina Turner, aged 13. I went with my best friend from high school and her mum. We watched her dance in red stiletto high heels and a little black dress – her signature look for that era. She looked amazing! She seemed larger than life, so strong and confident.
“At the time I really didn’t know much of her music other than her hits from the ’80s, but she was so graceful and full of energy. I remember the lighting being really simple with mostly a spotlight just following her around on stage. The show was very tame; we were not allowed to get up and dance as was the era of concerts in the ’80s in Singapore. Sit. Watch. Clap. Leave. But I had a sleepover at my friends house that night and we danced and talked about her all night.

“Still today I hate it when you are told to sit down at a concert. I find it so disrespectful to the artist to not be able to show them how their music makes you feel. Dancing is one of my favourite freedoms. The compulsion to move your body to music is the most natural thing in the world. When I see it in large crowds, I see how all humans are the same, connected. A dancing crowd is a thing of wonder.”

The hottest gig on the beach

Richie 1250, host of Stone Love – Fridays 5-7pm

“I can’t remember my first gig, but I do remember the first gig I saw on my return to birthplace in Hilo, Hawaii, about 10 years ago. As we rode our bikes into town at 11am on Tuesday morning, we could hear some heavy metal-type music that sounded loud enough to be a band, but so slick we thought it must be a CD.

“As we approached we saw this band set up in the rotunda by the beach, with fancy amps and a full electronic drum kit, and an engineer mixing them on a full 16-track board, playing to absolutely nobody.

“As we stood and watched, we saw some familiar symbols on the kickdrum and caught a few lyrics about the saviour, and realised that, yes, this was a Christian metal band playing to nobody in the beachside rotunda at 11 on a Tuesday morning.”

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