I haven’t seen any similar topic on here so I thought I’d start one.
I consider myself lucky to have DVD’s of most of my favourite artists & enjoying watching them as they won’t always be around (same for me) & it will be good to have visual memories as well a auditory ones. I have also been fortunate to see live performances that have been released on DVD, to reinforce those memories.
I could list several more but will make do with just two that are particularly special to me. My choices will produce groans from quite a few of you but I don’t care!
Firstly, When in Rome – Genesis, 2007.
Stunning concert in front of 500,000 (!) people. Great sound & good camera work capturing a rock band at their best. If you like top quality sound, & I presume most here do, together with the most amazing staging, this wants some beating for sheer spectacle. I also consider this their best live album.
As a bonus the DVD package includes a full documentary showing how the tour/show was put together. The best moment is possibly when the band can’t remember how to play a certain bit & after several aborted attempts Phil Collins gets a Genesis CD from his bag & they all sit around listening to it to see how they did years before!
The DVD means a lot to me as we saw the same show two months later at Madison Square Garden whilst on holiday from home in the UK. A very happy coincidence that we were there at the same time as they were. My wife & I lived like millionaires for 24 hours, spending the day exploring 5th Avenue & Park Lane, curious at a large police & military presence outside the Waldorf Astoria at teatime, being told it was to guard President Bush who was staying there at the time. A helpfully police officer said if we hung about for 10 minutes, we would see him arrive from the UN & we did!
From there to see Genesis who really rocked the Garden. We heard two Americans talking on the way out & one said, “I thought we had some great bands, but nothing compared to these Brits”.
Back to our hotel about midnight & up again at 4.00 am for a plane taking us on a day trip to Niagara Falls. All in all, a day I will never forget & the DVD brings it all back.
Secondly, The Eagles Farewell Tour (Melbourne), 2005.
Same as Genesis, top class professionals producing a brilliant performance, captured with great photography & sound. We saw this show live in Birmingham the following year & had the pleasure of a brief chat with Timothy B. Schmit, who, along with the rest of the band, was staying in our hotel. Of all things, he asked us how to go about sending a parcel in this country!
Even if you don’t like either band, I would suggest these DVD’s are worth watching to see the all-round quality top class artists can produce, possibly explaining their longevity & vast record sales.
As already said, I have other DVD’s I consider excellent but these two are particularly special to me.
Yours?