It’s hard to beat a secret gig. The rumours before, the mad scramble to find our more details, the rush to nab tickets, the hordes outside the venue without tickets desperately trying to barter their way in, all before the event itself – so often when bands try out new material, or get up close and intimate with fans in a way not possible at the normal arenas they entertain. Yes, the secret gig rules, and so does its bastard spawn the guerilla gig. So here are 25 legendary ones to reminisce on, even if you weren’t there at the time…
Radiohead at Glastonbury, 2011
Radiohead at Glastonbury, 2011: Thom Yorke’s bunch managed to put on one of the least best kept secret secret shows ever when they performed at Glastonbury in 2011 on the Park Stage, dwarfing the previously set attendance record for said marquee. No surprises there. The muddy rush to get a view of the band was a thing of insanity. Insanity, we tell you!
The Jam at the Marquee Club, 1980
The Jam at the Marquee Club, 1980: Paul Weller’s lot were huge in 1980 when they performed at this tiny London venue under the pseudonym John’s Boys. When word got out, queues for a glimpse of the band snaked right round the block. As for the gig itself – the place was packed, and a huge fight famously broke out in the crowd between the mods and the skins.
Kanye West at KOKO, 2015
Kanye West at KOKO, 2015: Yeezy delighted fans when he announced an ultra low key show at KOKO in north London, for a show lucky London hip-hop fans who managed to squeeze in are likely still buzzing from. After dropping by a local Nando’s – yes, really – Ye stormed the stage at 1am, bringing with him legends of the grime game, including Skepta. Fans rightly lost their shit.
The Beatles on Saville Road, 1969
The Beatles on Saville Road, 1969: If you thought the insanity of guerilla gigs had its roots in the crack skiffle scene of the early 2000s then you’ve got another thing coming. The Beatles – who else? – arguably began it all with an impromptu show on the rooftop of 3 Saville Row in 1969, playing for a total of 42 minutes until the Met kindly asked them to turn it down.
Foo Fighters at the House of Vans, 2014
Foo Fighters at the House of Vans, 2014: The Foos played a much celebrated show under the nom-de-guerre The Holy Shits in an abandoned tunnel under London Waterloo Station last year. 600 fans were treated to more than 20 old favourites and some rarities too at the last minute impromptu show.
The White Stripes at Saskatoon Eastview Bowling Alley, 2007
The White Stripes at Saskatoon Eastview Bowling Alley, 2007: The White Stripes were a group who thrived on the raw energy of guerilla shows. One of their all time best was said to take place at this Canadian haunt during their 2007 North American tour, which was distinguished by Jack bowling a few frames as an encore. Madness.
The Strokes at Camden Dingwalls, 2010
The Strokes at Camden Dingwalls, 2010: Julian Casablancas and co caused an almighty stir in the summer
of 2010 when they played a secret show at this shoe-box sized sweat factory in North London under the name Venison. There were plenty of game beasts in the crowd that night as they charged through a hit-packed 18-song set – their first in four years.
The Killers at The Garage, 2013
The Killers at The Garage, 2013: Like Brandon Flowers’ affable stadium pop but prefer it in an intimate setting? The Killers followed a massive Wembley Stadium show in 2013 with a secret gig at the Garage in Islington, sparking a frenzy when they alerted fans to the impromptu happening by tweet. They played for 40 minutes in the smaller venue.
U2 on top of a Los Angeles liquor store, 1987
U2 on top of a Los Angeles liquor store, 1987: Anything the Beatles can do, U2 can have a go at as well. The Irish band stopped traffic in LA when they hopped onto a rooftop in 1987 and played ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’. The footage, and the pandemonium below, can be seen at the outset of their movie Rattle & Hum.
The Libertines – all over London in the early 2000s
The Libertines – all over London in the early 2000s: The Libs loved a secret gig in the old days, whether at the Rhythm Factory or the now sadly defunct central London Metro Club, or even in Pete Doherty’s front room. Needless to say, they were notoriously trashy nights and frequently shut down by police. Hopefully there’ll be more of these to look forward to now the Albion boys are back.
Queens of the Stone Age at the 100 Club, 2007
Queens of the Stone Age at the 100 Club, 2007: Imagine getting this up close with the beast that is Josh Homme. Queens took their pummelling rock to this tiny London venue on a visit to the capital around the time of fifth studio album ‘Era Vulgaris’.
Prince at the Electric Ballroom, 2014
Prince at the Electric Ballroom, 2014: The purple one had the whole of the country buzzing in 2014 with the promise he might pop up and play a three hour secret show somewhere. The show he staged at the Electric Ballroom in Camden after tipping off his fans on Twitter was one of his greatest shows ever, according to those in attendance.
Green Day at 924 Gilman, 2015
Green Day at 924 Gilman, 2015: Green Day fans worldwide need be constantly on their toes, as their heroes are prone to secret gigs all over the shop. They’ve delighted crowds with impromptu appearances everywhere from Brisbane to Costa Mesa and London, under the guise Foxboro Hot Tubs. Best of the bunch? That’d have to be their takeover of this LA venue that banned them in the 1990s.
Nirvana at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2014
Nirvana at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2014: Nirvana might have been unable to continue without Kurt Cobain, but they did manage a show somehow kept under total wraps last year around their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that featured St Vincent, Kim Gordon and Joan Jett step in for Kurt. A fitting and kickass way to honour one of the 20th century’s best loved bands.
The Cure at The Forum, 1998
The Cure at The Forum, 1998: Robert Smith is the goth that just keeps on giving. Famous for playing tedium-defying five hour sets now and again, he and the Cure thrilled fans with a secret show at The Forum in 1998 that came with two encores.
Sex Pistols’ Thames boat trip, 1977
Sex Pistols’ Thames boat trip, 1977: No secret gig gallery could be complete without the Sex Pistols sail down the Thames in 1977 to “celebrate” the Queen’s silver jubilee. The band tore threw a raucous couple songs before manager Malcolm McLaren managed to get himself arrested after calling the police “fucking fascist bastards”. As you do.
Blur at Mode, 2015
Blur at Mode, 2015: The Britpop heroes rolled back the years, causing pandemonium just like the old days when they road-tested the whole of new album ‘The Magic Whip’ at Mode in West London this March to 300 lucky competition winners. They encored with ‘Trouble in the Message Centre’ too. One for the history books, agreed fans exiting the venue.
The Rolling Stones at Le Théâtre Mogador, 2012
The Rolling Stones at Le Théâtre Mogador, 2012: The Stones had the whole of Paris guessing where it was they were going to play a secret show when their 50 anniversary tour hit the French capital. Eventually they popped up at the 1,800 capacity Le Théâtre Mogador for a 12 song set that thrilled lucky punters.
Lana Del Rey at Glasslands Gallery, 2011
Lana Del Rey at Glasslands Gallery, 2011: LDR performed a magnificent secret show with four piece ensemble at London’s Jazz Cafe in 2012 for fans who’d bought a copy of ‘Born To Die’. It had nothing on the hype of her celebrated secret show the year before at Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn though.
Pixies at Village Underground
Pixies at Village Underground: The 1990s legends thrilled fans at Village Underground in Shoreditch in 2009 when they staged a secret show there to celebrate the release of their ‘Minotaur’ boxset. Any show by the Pixies these days feels like a bonus, so lucky fans at this soiree must have felt doubly blessed.
