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by Jake Polden | Photos by WENN
The first ever gigs of 14 of the biggest bands
From Depeche Mode and Nirvana to Muse and Foals: we all have to start somewhere
Arctic Monkeys: The Grapes, Sheffield - 2003: On June 13, 2003, Arctic Monkeys played their first ever gig to a handful of onlookers at a local Sheffield pub. They earned just 27 quid between them. Frontman Alex Turner, who had previously been too shy to sing, rattled out tunes like 'Ravey Ravey Ravey Club' and 'Curtains Closed' and a White Stripes cover or two. What followed was a meteoric rise to stardom driven by hard-hitting, relatable lyrics, the fact that in Matt Helders the band had unearthed one of the greatest ever drummers, and of course, by Turner's decision to sing in his own Yorkshire brogue.
If you think about it, hugely successful bands are somewhat taken for granted. As fans, we go and see our favourite fill out stadiums and headline festivals and very little thought goes into the leg work that went into getting these bands to where they are today.
From dingy flats to open mic sessions and battle of the band competitions, here are the first live performances of 14 bands that originated from humble beginnings to become some of the biggest and most widely recognisable acts on the planet.
