By Jesse C. Nelson
In addition to not traveling due to the COVID-19 situation, I'm lacking a second great passion this year, live music. Normally I'd travel to a country I've yet to visit in the summer, and while on the trip catch a music festival. But it's not just while abroad that I attend concerts. When bands visit Korea, I make it a point to try to catch the show. This made me think of all the great and legendary performances that I've seen in Korea over the last 12 years.
When touring in the Far East, Japan is on a band's agenda, before or after shows in Australia and New Zealand. But Korea often got left out. I saw that remedied more and more over the years, hearing many musicians proclaim it their first concert in Korea. Without further ado, let the memories begin.
Being too young to have seen the Beatles live, the second best thing is seeing half of the Beatles via two different concerts. After a one-year delay due to getting sick in Japan, Paul McCartney did his first show in Korea in 2015. Ringo Starr came a year later. Comparable to the Beatles are the Beach Boys. Mike Love's version of the band came to Korea for the first time in 2016. Simultaneously, founder Brian Wilson was touring. Unfortunately while he performed in Japan, he didn't come to Korea.
In 2010, I saw Bob Dylan's first appearance in Korea. A year later, it was Eric Clapton. These shows are on a much more intimate scale compared to seeing them in the U.S. A month after Clapton's concert, the Eagles also visited Korea for the first time. That show was incredible, and prior to the death of Glenn Frey. As for more 70s rock, I saw Elton John on a visit to Korea, as well as Queen with Adam Lambert. Queen played at a music festival. It exposed me to veteran Korean punk bands Crying Nut and No Brain.
Heavy metal forefathers Deep Purple came to Korea in 2010. Two years earlier, it was Judas Priest. Iron Maiden played their first Korean concert in 2011, which was incredible. Their subsequent show in Japan was canceled when the tsunami hit. German power metal legends Helloween and Gamma Ray came to Korea in 2013. Four years later, Dream Theater impressed Korean fans; and me. I caught both Guns N' Roses and Oasis (before they broke up) in 2009. In 2017, Marilyn Manson appeared again in Korea.
As for music festivals, at Global Gathering I saw Prodigy, and the next year it was Justice and Fatboy Slim. At a festival at Vivaldi Park, I saw two legendary Japanese metal bands, Seikima II and Loudness. At the Seoul Jazz Festival in 2017, I saw Squirrel Nut Zippers, who I'd wanted to see for so many years.
Like everyone else, I hope the COVID-19 situation stabilizes. Afterward I look forward to great musicians continually being attracted to perform in Korea.
The writer (razoripress@yahoo.com), currently teaching at Dongseo University, is also a freelance writer and avid traveler, who has visited 104 countries to date.
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When touring in the Far East, Japan is on a band's agenda, before or after shows in Australia and New Zealand. But Korea often got left out. I saw that remedied more and more over the years, hearing many musicians proclaim it their first concert in Korea. Without further ado, let the memories begin.
Being too young to have seen the Beatles live, the second best thing is seeing half of the Beatles via two different concerts. After a one-year delay due to getting sick in Japan, Paul McCartney did his first show in Korea in 2015. Ringo Starr came a year later. Comparable to the Beatles are the Beach Boys. Mike Love's version of the band came to Korea for the first time in 2016. Simultaneously, founder Brian Wilson was touring. Unfortunately while he performed in Japan, he didn't come to Korea.
In 2010, I saw Bob Dylan's first appearance in Korea. A year later, it was Eric Clapton. These shows are on a much more intimate scale compared to seeing them in the U.S. A month after Clapton's concert, the Eagles also visited Korea for the first time. That show was incredible, and prior to the death of Glenn Frey. As for more 70s rock, I saw Elton John on a visit to Korea, as well as Queen with Adam Lambert. Queen played at a music festival. It exposed me to veteran Korean punk bands Crying Nut and No Brain.
Heavy metal forefathers Deep Purple came to Korea in 2010. Two years earlier, it was Judas Priest. Iron Maiden played their first Korean concert in 2011, which was incredible. Their subsequent show in Japan was canceled when the tsunami hit. German power metal legends Helloween and Gamma Ray came to Korea in 2013. Four years later, Dream Theater impressed Korean fans; and me. I caught both Guns N' Roses and Oasis (before they broke up) in 2009. In 2017, Marilyn Manson appeared again in Korea.
As for music festivals, at Global Gathering I saw Prodigy, and the next year it was Justice and Fatboy Slim. At a festival at Vivaldi Park, I saw two legendary Japanese metal bands, Seikima II and Loudness. At the Seoul Jazz Festival in 2017, I saw Squirrel Nut Zippers, who I'd wanted to see for so many years.
Like everyone else, I hope the COVID-19 situation stabilizes. Afterward I look forward to great musicians continually being attracted to perform in Korea.
The writer (razoripress@yahoo.com), currently teaching at Dongseo University, is also a freelance writer and avid traveler, who has visited 104 countries to date.
