Then and now

[glenwilson]

We were just watching something on TV and started talking about going to concerts. I used to live near the Hammersmith Odeon and there were often bands playing there. Being pre-internet in 1976 you actually had to go to the place to get tickets!! Seen loads of bands play there including Genesis, Status Quo, Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, Dr. Feelgood, Rainbow, Blondie, UFO, Sammy Hagar, and so on. What amused me was the price of the ticket to see Genesis (just after Gabriel left) was £2.50 (about €3). That today would be roughly £15. I think the last few concerts we looked at, the tickets were £120 for the cheapest going up to £640 for a decent seat!

Times have changed!

We were also lucky to have the Nashville Rooms and Winning Post nearby where quite a few punk bands played. Saw a few bands at those places like The Vibrators and Squeeze. Suddenly feel quite old.

 

[Lady_Musketeer_GER]

Times have changed indeed but there's no need to feel "old", Glen.

When taking a closer look at the price of airplane tickets, it leaps to the eye that in this context it's just the other way round - the costs have plummeted over the last decades.

Anyway... I am glad to hear that you were able to see so many brilliant bands back then.

 

[glenwilson]

Yes, it was quite a privilege to see so many.

Airplane tickets were not really an issue for my family as both my parents worked for BOAC which became British Airways. They used to get a couple of free tickets each (which included the family) per year so we traveled quite a lot when going to any country was exotic. We went to Switzerland for £1. After a few jobs I ended up in IT at BA. We did shifts, 2 earlies, 2 lates and then 2 nightshifts. After the last night shift instead of going home we used to the terminal and ask where all of us could go to for the day. Cost about £15 to fly to Amsterdam, have lunch and then fly back and go to bed at the normal time. My wife worked in travel so we go deals that way too. Definitely been privileged to travel to so many places relatively inexpensively. Never got to fly on Concord though. My mum did though! She worked in the chairman’s office and had to fly to New York on it to hand deliver a letter! Travelling is something I really miss at the moment.