Avenged Sevenfold + Black Tide + bloodsimple. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK, 2008. On this day – for the first time, I think – I saw Avenged, AX7. They looked chavvier than they sound 🤣 I'd got into them after hearing my housemate play City of Evil on repeat at uni. Around this time I'd only heard City of Evil; I wasn't familiar with their first album. One night at The Planet (dirty metal club in Wolverhampton) I asked the DJ to play Avenged. He gestured that he was. Right now. It was Unholy Confessions and clearly it reminded me enough of AX7 that I wanted more! #onthisday #gigdiaries #ticketstub #avengedsevenfold #blacktide #bloodsimple #civichallwolverhampton (at Wolverhampton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnpmLdTr9sZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Coal Chamber + Human Waste Project. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, UK, 1997. Mm, loco! Coal Chamber were the very definition of nu metal to me, and teenage me loved it. It wasn't complex, but they just did this simple, fun music. This was the second time in six weeks I'd seen Human Waste Project but no complaints about that! #gigdiary #ticketstub #boughtthetshirt #coalchamber #humanwasteproject #wulfrunhall #onthisday #1997 (at The Halls Wolverhampton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmScAcXoJK-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

One Minute Silence + MuDvAyNe + Breed 77. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, UK, 2000. Plus a Kerrang! cover from the same week (not my photo unfortunately)! #gigdiaries #wulfrunhall #ticketstub #wolverhampton #oneminutesilence #mudvayne #breed77 (at The Halls Wolverhampton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmSVeJooCVq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Amen + Raging Speedhorn. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, UK, 2000. When I think of Amen, I think *black eyeliner*. #ticketstub #gigdiaries #amen #ragingspeedhorn #wulfrunhall (at Wulfrun Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmHESj4IBqZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Machine Head + Darkest Hour + Heart of a Coward. O2 Academy, Bristol, UK, 2014. On this day eight years ago I saw Machine Head (again!). #onthisday #gigdiaries #ticketstub #machinehead #machinefuckinghead #darkesthour #heartofacoward #o2academybristol (at O2 Academy Bristol) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl-2EZXoNV9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Enter Shikari + Coheed and Cambria + While She Sleeps + Hatebreed and many others... Alexandra Palace, London, UK, 2013. On this day 9 years ago it was my 30th and I went to London with my buddy for the second day of Vans Warped Tour - mainly to see Coheed and Cambria for me personally! #onthisday #ticketstub #festival #festivalwristbands #coheedandcambria #entershikari #vanwarpedtour #allypally #gigdiary (at Alexandra Palace) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClFKFMYI0aq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Deftones + Coheed and Cambria. O2 Academy, Leeds, UK, 2010. On this day 12 years ago, I went up from Bristol to Leeds to see two great bands and celebrate my birthday. Here's a review from @soundspheremag and the Deftones setlist from @setlist.fm #onthisday #deftones #coheedandcambria #academyleeds #ticketstub #gigdiaries (at O2 Academy Leeds) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck5vIFIoyQS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Tura Santana + Bullyrag + Human Waste Project. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, UK, 1997. Three bands who never made it to Spotify. HWP in particular I remember fondly, though I can only listen to them now by wading through YouTube ads. It seems that I saw them on the only three UK tours they did, including their final gig before splitting. #onthisday #turasatana #bullyrag #humanwasteproject #ticketstub #gigdiary #gigdiaries #wulfrunhall #wolverhampton (at Wulfrun Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckk1gw9Iqln/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=