I know as well as anyone else that the best way to experience your favorite artists isn’t through a pair of headphones or even an expensive home audio setup. It’s live at a massive venue somewhere, surrounded by your fellow fans screaming in your ears.
Sometimes you want to watch these performances again. Or perhaps you weren’t there, because you, like, weren’t alive yet. Or not in the right country.
You may like
Dave Gilmour — Comfortably Numb, Pompeii 2016
When big Dave takes to the stage with his signature black Strat, you know things are going down. His incredible “less is more” guitar style makes his emotive solos the most impressive things to witness live, let alone on a YouTube video. Do I wish I were there? Absolutely. Is this the next best thing? You betcha.
It might not be the Pink Floyd my dad grew up with — but it’s Pink Floyd played at its best.
The backing choir adds the perfect accent, the whole band working in perfect unison to create what I believe to be the definitive version of one of the greatest rock tracks of all time. Feel Dave’s soaring guitar fill your head, the laid-back sung sections lulling you into a false sense of security. It might not be the Pink Floyd my dad grew up with — but it’s Pink Floyd played at its best.
Heart, Stairway to Heaven, Kennedy Center 2012
Heart – Stairway to Heaven Led Zeppelin – Kennedy Center Honors HD – YouTube
Watch On
You know you’ve done a good job with a cover when you make the inimitable Robert Plant tear up. Played by the ever-excellent Heart with the late John Bonham’s son, Jason, this cover celebrated the work of the great Led Zeppelin. This massive, spine-tingling cover of Stairway to Heaven might be the closest we’ll ever get to feeling what it’s like to stand before the pearly gates.
Everything’s there. The impressive pipes of Anne Wilson, the incredible backing choir that grows halfway through to reveal more singers wearing Bonham’s signature bowler hat, and Jason’s rock-solid drumming. Chills. Every time.
Metallica – Enter Sandman Live Moscow 1991 HD – YouTube
Watch On
There were reportedly 1.6 million people headbanging to celebrate the imminent end of the Soviet Union. And boy, did Metallica put on a show.
For a brief, fleeting moment in time, a Metallica crowd was one of the most densely populated areas on earth. So large in fact that it was bigger than some smaller countries — there were reportedly 1.6 million people headbanging to celebrate the imminent end of the Soviet Union. And boy, did Metallica put on a show.
This is a young band at the peak of their powers — the Black Album had just come out, Hetfield still has his hair, and Lars could still keep time. The mix is huge, the crowd’s energy palpable, and the music heavy as heavy could be. What a show.
Yungblud, Changes, The End of The Beginning, Birmingham 2025
Changes (Live From Villa Park / Back To The Beginning) – YouTube
Watch On
In 2025, one of rock and metal’s greatest characters left us. Thankfully, before Ozzy went, he held the biggest wake ever seen while he was still alive. Yungblud and a host of other impressive musicians (Nuno Bettencourt, Anthrax’s Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, Sleep Token’s II) played one of the best covers of Osborne’s Changes to ever grace a stage.
You may like
Yungblud’s gravelly voice is loaded with emotion, powerful enough to lift and reach the heavens. The musicians put on the show of their lives, with epic solos and rock-solid drumming. It’s an emotional 5 minutes, but one well worth spinning on repeat for an entire hour. Or longer. Depends on how much you want to cry. I cry a lot.
Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, Live Aid, London 1985
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody (Live Aid 1985) – YouTube
Watch On
Ask anyone alive in 1985 what they were doing, and they’ll probably tell you, “Oh, I was watching Live Aid,” the charity concert to end all charity concerts. Amongst the largest artists to play the show was Queen, with Freddie Mercury showing off his ability to dominate a stage.
This is Queen at the height of their powers — and the world wouldn’t be the same without it.
Bohemian Rhapsody just goes to show how incredible the man’s voice was, each note more powerful than the last. The rest of the band follows suit, with May’s guitar work reminding us why we love the band so much in the first place. This is Queen at the height of their powers — and the world wouldn’t be the same without it.
Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
