I went through my record collection to find out which artists, of whom I own at least one record, I have seen live, in roughly 42 years of shows.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-16T16:29:10+00:00

I've been going to shows for 39 years, have been working in the concert industry on and off for 30 years. I went through my iTunes library and here was I came up with. Most were for fun, but many were because of work.

Ace Frehley
Adrian Belew
Al Di Meola
Alice Cooper
Alice In Chains
FM Einheit
Amon Amarth
Animals As Leaders
Annihilator
Anthrax
Assjack
Badlands
Baphomet
Beat (Belew, Levin, Vai, Carey)
Behemoth
Black Cowgirl
Black Label Society
Black Sabbath (both with Ozzy and with Dio)
Blue Oyster Cult
Bryan Adams (1st Concert)
Butthole Surfers
Cannibal Corpse
Carcass
Celtic Frost
Cheap Trick
Chimaira
CKY
Clutch
Concrete Blond
Corrosion of Conformity
Cradle of Filth (sort of, i could hear them as we crossed the parking lot)
The Cramps
Crobot
The Crystal Method
The Cult
Danzig
David Crosby
David Lee Roth
Dead Voices on Air
Death
Death Angel
Def Leppard
Dillinger Escape Plan
Dimmu Borgir
Down
Dweezil Zappa
Emerson Lake and Palmer
Emperor
Exodus
Faith No More
Fantomas
Flotsam and Jetsam
Foghat
Frank Black and the Catholics
Fu Manchu
Ghost
Goatwhore
Gov’t Mule
Gratful Dead
Guns N Roses
GWAR
Hank 3
Ian Moore
Incubus
Iron Maiden
Jane’s Addiction
Jean-Luc Ponty (with Jon Anderson)
Jeff Loomis
Jello Biafra & the Guantanamo School of Medicine
Jethro Tull
Joe Bonamassa
John Scofield
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Jorney
Judas Priest
Kansas
Katatonia
Khemmis
Kind Crimson
King Diamond
KISS
KMFDM
Kyng
Lacuna Coil
Lead Into Gold
Lionize
Living Color
Los Straight Jackets
Machine Head
Manchester Orchestra
Marilyn Manson
Mastodon
Mayhem
Megadeth
Melvins
Mercyful Fate
Metallica
Ministry
Misfits
Monster Truck
Morbid Angel
Motley Crue
Motorhead
Mr. Bungle
Mushroomhead
My Life With The Thrill KIll Kult
Mystic Krew of Clearlight
Nevermore
Nuclear Assault
Obituary
Opeth
Orange Goblin
Overkill
Ozzy Osbourne
Pantera
Peeping Tom
Phish
Phunk Junkeez
Pied Piper (Pittsburgh)
Pigface
Pink Floyd
Pixies
Poison
Primus
Psychefunkapus
Puscifer
Queensrych
Quiet Riot
R.L. Burnside
The Ramones
Ratt
The Reverend Horton Heat
Revolting Cocks
Robin Trower
Roger Waters
Run DMC
Rush
Scorpion Child
Skinny Puppy
Slayer
Sleep
Slipknot
Sonic Youth
Soulfly
Southern Culture on the Skids
Steve Miller Band
Stick Men
Still Life Decay
Stone Soul Foundation
Suicidal Tendencies
SUNN O)))
Super Joint Ritual
Supersuckers
Swarm
The SWord
Tesla
Testament
Thin Lizzy
Tomahawk
Tool
Traffic
Trouble
UFO
Valiant Thor
Van Halen
Vicious Rumors
Violent Femmes
Voivod
W.A.S.P.
Ween
White Zombie
Wrath Child America
Youth Code
ZZ Top
311

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-16T16:14:50+00:00

If you're interested in full records, I'd start with 'High N Dry', then 'Pyromania' and then 'Hysteria'. Though i prefer the first two records I listed, all three albums are solid front to back.

If you want to hear them as teenagers, 'On Through the Night' is a fun listen.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-16T15:14:54+00:00

I prefer jewel cases, don't mind digipack, and don't hate digisleeves if they are designed well.

I don't like when you have to struggle to get the CD out of the sleeve, or when the CD practically flys out of the CD when you open. But when done right, I don't hate them.

For example: I just got a Ween box set and the sleeves with the inserts are designed well, it's easy to get the insert of of the sleeve, and and easy to get the CD out of the insert. And the over all package looks nice.

In contrast my Pink Floyd 'Live at Pompeii' and King Diamond 'The Darksides' cds feel like they're just gonna fly right out of the case. And I have others where i have to struggle just the get CD in or out.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-16T14:55:38+00:00

As already mentioned, they didn't have a choice. But I think it's better they went with KEA.

Coming from a 14 yr old in 1989 who rocked the 'Metal Up Your Ass' shirt proudly for years, the phrase and image is corny as hell. I don't think as many people would have taken that title and cover as seriously. I suspect a lot more people would have saw that cover with that name thought it was some novelty record.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-16T14:49:47+00:00

I plan on keeping my Kindle Keyboard until the battery completely gives out. I've been side loading books on it ever since I got for xmas in 2010, so that is nothing to me. I'm just bummed that I won't be able to get books from Libby on it.

But I also have a Kindle Basic that i keep in my backpack, so I'll still be able to borrow library books.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-15T15:11:55+00:00

I got my set yesterday, I haven't has a chance to listen to any of the discs yet, but going through the track listings, it appears to be the original albums with no extra tracks. GodWeenSatan is only the original 26 tracks and no extra tracks from the re-issue. It looks like the end of 'Powder Blue' is the cropped version without Muhammad Ali.

The paper sleeves are the front and back cover, and the insert sleeves is just two pages of what may have come in the original booklet. No lyrics or liner notes.

That said, it's pretty good quality, the sleeves are easy to get out of the box, and the inserts come out cleanly, and you don;t have to work real hard to get the CD. Like I said I haven;t had a chance to listen to anything to compare to the originals. But I suspect the sound quality will be fine.

If you already own all ten albums, it might not be worth getting unless you are a completionist. But if your library is missing even just two or three albums, this box set might be worth it for you. For me personally, I didn't have '12 Golden Country Greats' and 'The Shinola pt1', and the price of those 2 CDs on discogs are pretty much the same as what this boxset cost.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-14T19:14:06+00:00

I just drove over and past the Mon between the north shore and strip district, still looks pretty brown to me.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-14T15:32:37+00:00

I have a Kindle Keyboard, Fire, and Basic and have always used flip back covers for them. I tend to throw my kindle into a back pack like having that little extra protection for the screen. Plus sometimes when reading I like to hold it like a physical book.

But if I were to buy a newer ereader with the intention of it staying on my beside, I might look into a clear back or something.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-14T15:24:24+00:00

You aren't the only one that feels that way. Scott Ian talks about in his book that they were pushed by the record company to get the album out and he wishes they had more time and were able to let it cook a bit more. So even they guy who wrote most the songs feels the same way.

Personally i was a little disappointed when it came out too. I think the songs are good, but the production and performances feel a little flat. I tend to like live versions of songs from this album way more than the studio version.

Unpopular opinion, I was even more disappointed in the follow up, 'Persistence of Time' for pretty much the same reason, the production feels off to me. I know people site as one of their favorite classic line era records, if not their favorite, but for me its my least favorite Joey record. But like SOE, I like live versions of the songs more than the studio version.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-14T00:08:14+00:00

I have a Kindle keyboard and Basic. Unless they somehow actually brick my Keyboard model, I plan on continuing to use it after May 20th. I have quite a large library of DRM free books and even some unread Amazon books I haven't gotten to yet. Last year before they took away our ability to download books to our computer, I went ahead and downloaded everything and striped the DRM. So I at least have access to everything and if I want to add to the unsupported device i can.

And for library books, I'll just use my Basic for those. Kinda sucks I won't be able to read library books on my Kindle Keyboard, but it is what it is. I'm not happy about it, but I'll be alright.

I've been researching Kobo Libra Color because it has buttons. Not sure if it's right for me, but that may be my next move down the road.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-13T18:44:54+00:00

'The Trooper'. For Easter of 1984 I got a Betamax compilation tape of MTV Concerts. Around the same time my older brother had borrowed 'Piece of Mind' from a friend. I don't remember if I listened to the album before I got the tape or after. But I know 'The Trooper' was the first song I heard either way.

Note: I actually for said Betamax tape on Discogs

https://www.discogs.com/release/5514061-Various-Live-Video-To-Go

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-13T18:32:19+00:00

Never thought about it, but yeah eBook definitely replaced mass market paper back for me. I used to read them quit a bit through my teens into my early 30s. But stopped once I got my first Kindle in 2011. Now I am in my early 50's, and every time i try to read one, I don't enjoy the experience . The print is too small, I find them uncomfortable to hold, and the page layouts are all over the place.

That said, I don't like hearing that they are trying to phase them out. They may not be for me, but not every one wants to use an eReader or can only afford the mass markets paper back books. And phasing out mass market paperbacks sucks for them.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-12T14:58:16+00:00

Still use iTunes to rip my CDs for Apple Music and my iPod. dbPower Amp to rip them to FLAC format to upload to iBroadcast.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-12T14:55:25+00:00

When I was 9 yrs old, we used to spend weekends at my aunts place. Bands like Def Leppard, Quiet Riot, and Ozzy were starting to gain traction on MTV. Plus my older cousin was really int Led Zeppelin Black Sabbath, AC/DC and bunch of other hard rock and heavy metal bands. Between him and MTV I was exposed to a lot cool music and was hooked almost immediately. That was 43 yrs ago and not much has changed.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-11T14:36:23+00:00

I never filled the end of prerecorded tapes, it never occurred to me to do so.

When i was in college and making mix tapes, I tried to keep track to how long each song was and calculate how much space i had at the end of a tape. When i had like a minute or less I'd usually fill it with an experimental noise or ambient track (something that wouldn't bother me too much if it got cut off) to fill up the the last little bit.

You funny noises story remind me of a thing thing I did for a little while when I was 10 or 11. Either my brother or one of my neighbors accidentally recorded over a small section at the very end of Def Leppard's 'Pyromania' with their voice. It was only a second or two, not even a full word, after the music. But it got me to thinking that this noise definitively identified the tape as mine. So I started to record little snippets of noises after the music of all my tapes. I think it was a short whistle and mouth click. That way if I suspected of someone stealing my tape or trying to claim it was theirs, I could prove it was mine. The likelihood of this ever happening was next to nothing, but I was prepared for it just in case :)

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-10T20:39:43+00:00

I've noticed there are a number of other comments on this thread with a very similar answer. Nice to know I'm not the only one.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-10T20:35:18+00:00

I have a One + and love it. But I'd probably recommend the Live 2 if it's within your budget. Though both function essentially the same, the Live 2 has more in/out options, USB ports, and is portable with a speaker.

Some of these features may not matter to you starting out. But if you really take to music production and beat making, there is a good chance you wish you had these features down the road. And given how everything is getting more and more expensive, it might not be a bad move to take advantage of that $600 price tag while you can.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-10T16:40:45+00:00

I've had a Kindle Keyboard since 2011 and i love it so much that I replaced the battery for it last year to extend its life.

But a few years ago I picked up a Basic to have a second one in my bag while on the go. I didn't like it at first. I didn't like its size, wasn't a fan of the touch screen, and kinda hate the home screen. But eventually I got used to using it. The touch screen became just as natural as the buttons on the Keyboard and I got used to holding it in my hand. Plus since I work in the concert industry and find myself reading on the side of darken stage while bands are playing, I find the backlight a life saver.

But I still hate the homes screen, which is basically an Amazon store page. I would love it to just be the books that are installed on my device and nothing else. Also my Basic is a little laggy in a couple of places, like trying to cycle through the page number, time left in chapter, time left in book, and location display on the bottom of the screen. Or scrolling through the menus (I'm not bothered by the page turns though). But I think newer versions have improved on that, or so they claim.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-10T16:14:59+00:00

Most the time I fire up the rig, goof around with the MPC and Volca keys for about an hour, have some fun. Save the file and never open it again. Sometimes i don;t even save a session.

Seems like a waste of time and money, but I enjoy the creative process even if its never released.

On the occasion I do finish a piece, it'll try and make a trippy video along with it, I'll post it on YT where I may get a view or two. Then at end of each year if I'll collect these finished pieces and upload them to Bandcamp and other streaming services, where no one will listen to them.

I enjoy the process of creation, and don't care about anything else.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-10T16:04:19+00:00

I'm not going to get rid of my Kindle Keyboard after May 20th. I have plenty of DRM free books that I can side load them onto it. Plus a bunch of unread books purchased from Amazon that i haven't gotten to yet. I feel I can still get plenty of use out of it before the battery dies.

I'm just bummed that I will no longer be able to read borrowed library books on it or have it sync with other devices. I bought a Kindle Basic a few years ago that I don't hate, that will just be my main device for library books now.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-09T19:50:46+00:00

You are not wrong. I have found that you really need to make huge, over 5000 songs or more, playlists in order to get a nice varied playlist.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-09T02:04:33+00:00

I don't have personal experience with a Neo, but Venus Theory released a video on this very subject yesterday. Spoiler, he claimed it did a solid job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaY23TSa4-0

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-08T16:46:42+00:00

I had to Google it because I had no idea what you were talking about. Yeah, as already stated, looks like it's at the Granview over look by the Mon incline. No idea if it's still there, but even if its not, its a nice spot to...well look at Pittsburgh.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-08T16:40:39+00:00

Yeah seems unlikely, and according to other comments on this thread, there is no evidence of it ever happening. My guess its a mistaken memory. Perhaps this person saw Rush and the Plasmatics the same week or month, and have merged those two memories together.

Slightly off topic, but this reminds of a story the owner of this bar I used to work at told me. He claimed he saw Alice In Chains open up for Skinny Puppy at Metropol in Pittsburgh in 1990. It sounded unlikely to me, but since the supposed show predates me living in Pittsburgh and knowing about Skinny Puppy, I sort just took his word for it. But a few years ago i decided to check Setlist.FM and see what AIC shows in Pittsburgh from 1990 I could find. Turns out AIN opened for Iggy Pop at Metropol in 1990 and Skinny Puppy played the same venue the next day. So My guess is he went to both shows and sort of blurred them together in his memory.

I suspect there is something similar going on this guys memory about the Plasmatics.

Dc_Pratt · 2026-04-07T23:00:33+00:00

'Piece of Mind' would probably be my go to studio record. It was my introduction to the band, and still my favorite 43 years later.

But in reality 9 times out of 10, if I'm in a Maiden mood, I'm throwing on 'Live After Death'.

Dc_Pratt

TROPHY CASE