I worked for the Brides last year. They were very concerned about playing my smaller venue and put plexi shields in front of cabs. They were great to work with. I think forty years of touring has taught them a lot.
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The loudest I've personally seen was Sunn, which claim on their stage rider to reach volume levels of 125 dB on stage.
And everyone in the audience wore ear plugs because they knew what they were getting into. My eyeballs were shaking.
I can't even fathom how painfully loud the bands at the top of the lists would have been.
And everyone in the audience wore ear plugs because they knew what they were getting into. My eyeballs were shaking.
I can't even fathom how painfully loud the bands at the top of the lists would have been.
Back in the sixties, Blue Cheer was supposedly the loudest band. I never heard them, but I heard The Clash back in the eighties and they were pretty damn loud. It was very uncomfortable for me.
I've not read all the replies here, but didn't The Who hold the record for loudest ever concert for a 1970's concert in Charlton Athletic stadium in London??
I think Pink Floyd may have broken that record in the 1990's?
I saw John Fogerty in 2009? in Christchurch NZ and he and band were very loud
but the loudest and most uncomfortable concert was Stevie Wonder and Steve Miller Band in 2007/8
Steve Miller opened and his band sounded great- played all the hits and volume and sound all good
then Stevie Wonder came on and it was ear piercingly loud..... I thought the sound engineer would sort it out, but after about 5 songs it was still far too loud and I walked out (with several others).
To date it's the only concert I've ever walked out of before it ended
I think Pink Floyd may have broken that record in the 1990's?
I saw John Fogerty in 2009? in Christchurch NZ and he and band were very loud
but the loudest and most uncomfortable concert was Stevie Wonder and Steve Miller Band in 2007/8
Steve Miller opened and his band sounded great- played all the hits and volume and sound all good
then Stevie Wonder came on and it was ear piercingly loud..... I thought the sound engineer would sort it out, but after about 5 songs it was still far too loud and I walked out (with several others).
To date it's the only concert I've ever walked out of before it ended
I did see them and can attest to the fact they fulfilled their reputation as the loudest band on wheels.
I saw the Who in '72 sitting/standing six rows back in front of Pete Townsend. After Blue Cheer that was the second loudest show I ever attended.
I guess the loudest band for me must have been Swans 27-02-1986 in Tivoli Utrecht.
They were able to blow out the limiter twice, I was told it was set at 128 db.
A strobe light started flashing around 125 db to warn the band.
After the second shutdown the band decided to continue the concert in another venue in the same town.
So most of the crowd in there jumped on their bikes to see the rest of the concert in De Vrije Vloer.
Good gig though.
Not measured, but from the buzzing eardrums the next day, it must have been Sonic Youth that were the loudest in my experience. I saw them more than three times in Paradiso Amsterdam, the concerts in the mid to late eighties were the loudest. Later on they appeared more balanced in their volume output.
They were able to blow out the limiter twice, I was told it was set at 128 db.
A strobe light started flashing around 125 db to warn the band.
After the second shutdown the band decided to continue the concert in another venue in the same town.
So most of the crowd in there jumped on their bikes to see the rest of the concert in De Vrije Vloer.
Good gig though.
Not measured, but from the buzzing eardrums the next day, it must have been Sonic Youth that were the loudest in my experience. I saw them more than three times in Paradiso Amsterdam, the concerts in the mid to late eighties were the loudest. Later on they appeared more balanced in their volume output.
I saw The Who in Worcester, MA, on their second-to-last last tour, or something like that, must have been in the early to mid 80s, IDR. We sat balcony stage left in line with the front of the stage, so we weren't even near close to the front of the amps/speakers; what we heard was probably more of the stage mix. Nevertheless, it was soulcrushingly LOUD.
Played in a band in the mid 70s, standing with the ride cymbal in my left ear and the keyboard amp in my right. Yeah, I'm hearing impaired. My earplugs ride in my pocket everywhere I go, AND I use them.
Played in a band in the mid 70s, standing with the ride cymbal in my left ear and the keyboard amp in my right. Yeah, I'm hearing impaired. My earplugs ride in my pocket everywhere I go, AND I use them.
Wow got to keep up, Who was last I heard and that looks like a while ago.Spinal Tap.
This link has the bands, dates and SPL measurements.
Loudest band in the world - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I ran spotlight for Blackfoot one time about 25 years ago. I dont remember the exact number but the bar owner (a really small place) measured it as over 120. I remember it being waaaay too loud, and I dont mind "loud". I can remember a girl, totally wasted, leaning against one of the mains most of the night. I felt sorry for her.
Then there was this guy...
BnB
Then there was this guy...
BnB
