Signed posters and set lists plaster the walls of Ray Morrissey's home
Signed posters and set lists plaster the walls of Ray Morrissey's home
After more than 5,000 gigs over 35 years, rock fan Ray Morrissey can claim to be Britain's most prolific concert-goer.
After more than 5,000 gigs over 35 years, rock fan Ray Morrissey can claim to be Britain's most prolific concert-goer.
On piles of notebook pages in Mr Morrissey's front room, thousands of gigs are listed, one per line, all with a mark out of 10 circled at the end.
On piles of notebook pages in Mr Morrissey's front room, thousands of gigs are listed, one per line, all with a mark out of 10 circled at the end.
And stacks of diaries have more details of the shows, three or four a week - what they were like, what they played, who was there.
And stacks of diaries have more details of the shows, three or four a week - what they were like, what they played, who was there.
It is a personal history of British music, documenting the hazy glory of rock 'n' roll superstars and long-forgotten bands alike in meticulous, matter-of-fact detail.
It is a personal history of British music, documenting the hazy glory of rock 'n' roll superstars and long-forgotten bands alike in meticulous, matter-of-fact detail.
A few years ago, he spent six months putting most of the information onto his personal website.
A few years ago, he spent six months putting most of the information onto his personal website.
The 49-year-old started going to gigs in 1973, when he would sneak into his local venue, the Hammersmith Odeon, now the Apollo, without paying.
The 49-year-old started going to gigs in 1973, when he would sneak into his local venue, the Hammersmith Odeon, now the Apollo, without paying.
His first gig there was Mott the Hoople, supported by an up-and-coming Queen. "I remember Freddie Mercury's big teeth more than anything," Mr Morrissey says.
His first gig there was Mott the Hoople, supported by an up-and-coming Queen. "I remember Freddie Mercury's big teeth more than anything," Mr Morrissey says.
Mr Morrissey (second left) filled in for John Lydon with The Sex Pistols
Mr Morrissey (second left) filled in for John Lydon with The Sex Pistols
But he was hooked when punk came along. In 1976, hearing that two older boys from his school had formed a band, he went to check them out. They were called The Sex Pistols.
But he was hooked when punk came along. In 1976, hearing that two older boys from his school had formed a band, he went to check them out. They were called The Sex Pistols.
"It wasn't a gig as such, it was a nightclub and the band came on at midnight," he says of the show at the Sundown Club, now the Astoria 2 (he gave it nine out of 10.)
"It wasn't a gig as such, it was a nightclub and the band came on at midnight," he says of the show at the Sundown Club, now the Astoria 2 (he gave it nine out of 10.)
"There were 200 or 300 in the nightclub, but once the band came on they all went to the toilet and went for a drink, and 20 people watched the band."
"There were 200 or 300 in the nightclub, but once the band came on they all went to the toilet and went for a drink, and 20 people watched the band."
"The single God Save the Queen came out on my 18th birthday", he continues.
"The single God Save the Queen came out on my 18th birthday", he continues.
"Every gig was about jumping around down the front of the stage, falling over, and if you didn't come out covered with sweat, it weren't a gig."
"Every gig was about jumping around down the front of the stage, falling over, and if you didn't come out covered with sweat, it weren't a gig."
The verdicts on his website are peppered with wry observations into stage moments ranging from the momentous to the bizarre.
The verdicts on his website are peppered with wry observations into stage moments ranging from the momentous to the bizarre.
"The greatest day in live music ever," he declared about Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in 1985 (10/10).
"The greatest day in live music ever," he declared about Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in 1985 (10/10).
RAY'S TOP 10 LIVE BANDS 1. Sex Pistols2. The Clash3. Kiss4. AC/DC5. U26. David Bowie7. The Rolling Stones8. The Who9. Thin Lizzy10. Van Halen
RAY'S TOP 10 LIVE BANDS 1. Sex Pistols2. The Clash3. Kiss4. AC/DC5. U26. David Bowie7. The Rolling Stones8. The Who9. Thin Lizzy10. Van Halen
"Noel stopped Wonderwall after two lines because he did not want any fans singing along to it," he wrote after seeing Oasis in Brighton in 2002 (9.5/10).
"Noel stopped Wonderwall after two lines because he did not want any fans singing along to it," he wrote after seeing Oasis in Brighton in 2002 (9.5/10).
There were "shuttlecocks down pants" for Wham at Hammersmith Odeon in 1983 (8.5/10).
There were "shuttlecocks down pants" for Wham at Hammersmith Odeon in 1983 (8.5/10).
"One of the greatest gigs of all time," he declared after seeing The Sex Pistols again at the Notre Dame Club off Leicester Square in November 1976 (10/10).
"One of the greatest gigs of all time," he declared after seeing The Sex Pistols again at the Notre Dame Club off Leicester Square in November 1976 (10/10).
Snapshots from the front of that gig were featured on a poster for The Sex Pistols' Pretty Vacant single, which Mr Morrissey proudly displays.
Snapshots from the front of that gig were featured on a poster for The Sex Pistols' Pretty Vacant single, which Mr Morrissey proudly displays.
In several of them, his sweaty, youthful face is frozen in time, mid-jump, mid-yelp.
In several of them, his sweaty, youthful face is frozen in time, mid-jump, mid-yelp.
It was on Raysgigs.com that he broke the news of a Faces reunion after talking to Rod Stewart at a party ("he was really nice").
It was on Raysgigs.com that he broke the news of a Faces reunion after talking to Rod Stewart at a party ("he was really nice").
AC/DC are to embark on their first UK tour for eight years
AC/DC are to embark on their first UK tour for eight years
He has also met Mick Jagger and Madonna and was at AC/DC's second UK gig at the long-gone Nashville Rooms in Fulham in April 1976 (9.5/10) - the first of 36 times he has seen the band.
He has also met Mick Jagger and Madonna and was at AC/DC's second UK gig at the long-gone Nashville Rooms in Fulham in April 1976 (9.5/10) - the first of 36 times he has seen the band.
And the Australian rockers' return to the UK next April after eight years away is shaping up to be the highlight of 2009, he says.
And the Australian rockers' return to the UK next April after eight years away is shaping up to be the highlight of 2009, he says.
"That's one ticket that I made sure I got tickets in advance," he says. "I've got my tickets for the O2 arena and I've already got my tickets to go to Paris for two shows. I will be seeing six shows, probably."
"That's one ticket that I made sure I got tickets in advance," he says. "I've got my tickets for the O2 arena and I've already got my tickets to go to Paris for two shows. I will be seeing six shows, probably."
Getting into a gig without a ticket is rarely a problem, Mr Morrissey says, as he knows all of the touts and has honed the art of talking his way in.
Getting into a gig without a ticket is rarely a problem, Mr Morrissey says, as he knows all of the touts and has honed the art of talking his way in.
"There's a fair amount of blagging goes on," he says. "There'll always be someone that I know. If you've got to get in you've got to get in. You've just got to get up there - you ain't going to get in if you're at home."
"There's a fair amount of blagging goes on," he says. "There'll always be someone that I know. If you've got to get in you've got to get in. You've just got to get up there - you ain't going to get in if you're at home."
He made it into the hugely over-subscribed Led Zeppelin reunion at the O2 last year as a guest of one of the Sex Pistols, and is London correspondent for a Sex Pistols website.
He made it into the hugely over-subscribed Led Zeppelin reunion at the O2 last year as a guest of one of the Sex Pistols, and is London correspondent for a Sex Pistols website.
So long as they've got quality gigs, I'll be making an effort - I don't like to miss out
So long as they've got quality gigs, I'll be making an effort - I don't like to miss out
That role led him to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams in 2002, when he was asked to fill in for John Lydon on vocals when the rest of the band rehearsed for a reunion show.
That role led him to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams in 2002, when he was asked to fill in for John Lydon on vocals when the rest of the band rehearsed for a reunion show.
"I think the band were just saying thanks for all the help. We just had an afternoon there and messed around on vocals for a couple songs. It was an amazing experience.
"I think the band were just saying thanks for all the help. We just had an afternoon there and messed around on vocals for a couple songs. It was an amazing experience.
"When I think about the Sex Pistols, I feel like I'm a 17 year old again. It's weird."
"When I think about the Sex Pistols, I feel like I'm a 17 year old again. It's weird."
Mr Morrissey worked in security at the Hammersmith Odeon in the 1980s when the bouncers got fed up of him bunking in, but has always been a fan first and foremost.
Mr Morrissey worked in security at the Hammersmith Odeon in the 1980s when the bouncers got fed up of him bunking in, but has always been a fan first and foremost.
As his 50th birthday approaches, Mr Morrissey still jumps around at gigs ("a little bit, not so much") and is keen to keep up his concert schedule.
As his 50th birthday approaches, Mr Morrissey still jumps around at gigs ("a little bit, not so much") and is keen to keep up his concert schedule.
"Live music's bigger than ever - there's more bands, more festivals, more gigs generally," he says. "So long as they've got quality gigs, I'll be making an effort. I don't like to miss out."
"Live music's bigger than ever - there's more bands, more festivals, more gigs generally," he says. "So long as they've got quality gigs, I'll be making an effort. I don't like to miss out."
Can you beat Ray Morrissey's gig-going tally? Send us your thoughts on this story using the form below.
Can you beat Ray Morrissey's gig-going tally? Send us your thoughts on this story using the form below.
I think my average has to be of a similar number of gigs per week, but I've still a few years to go yet before I'm Ray's age. I remember the Oasis moment Wonderwall stopped - we mere mortals wanting to sing along... what were we thinking? I hope to continue the gig going way into my sixties - tickets are cheaper than ever now, which helps in these times of tight cash flow.Lee, Cambridge, UK
What was the WORST gig Ray Morrissey attended?Al, Enfield, London
Fair play, Ray! I am also somewhat of a self-confessed gigaholic. I have been gigging and festivalling since I was 15 (now 27) and I never tire of it. Week before last I saw 3 shows in the week; Rancid, Less Than Jake and Citizen Fish - all amazing gigs with some great support bands too. You have made me wish that I had employed a record system like your own though! All I have are a few tickets, set lists, and a blur of great memories and moments through my gigging history; I probably couldn't even hazard a guess at how many bands I have seen, but tonight when I get home I am going to try and find out! Long may we continue to support live music and encourage others to do it too, there is nothing else quite like it. Becky, Bristol, UK
I started at about the same time as Ray ... seeing the Mott the Hoople and then later the Pistols, Clash etc
The DEVO gig I went to was the one that blew me away ..... Nils Lofgren was very good live as well. A Kelly, UK
What a great [but very expensive] hobby.
Citing the 'Sex Pistols' as his best ever live band reflects the fact that the quality/calibre of the music at the gig is NOT the key concern - other factors such as ambience, vitality and personal emotional factors play an important role in one's opinion of a live act.Rupert Peregrine-Thomas, London, UK
I went to see Hawkwind and the Pink Fairies in 1972 and I think I am still there.Bill King, Cwmbran Wales
Still going to rock and metal gigs after 25 years, aged nearly 40, wife, kids and mortgage. Unlike a lot of other areas of life, as you get older at rock gigs, the young kids actually show respect to the older fans. There is nothing like that second when the house-lights go out and the intro starts, after 25 years of gigs, it still gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!George Johnson, Hoddesdon, Herts
