Part 2 of our memories of the London Astoria on the day of the last ever show at the venue. Come in and add your own memories.

All morning, we’ve been racking our brains and thinking of the best shows we’ve ever seen at the Astoria. Here’s part 2 of our memories and you can leave your own in our comments section!

James Isaacs (art editor): “It’s a ridiculous task to pick one. Seeing Dio for the first time, watching WASP’s Blackie Lawless ride ride his bucking bronco mic stand, QOTSA killing stoner rock, The Black Crowes, NIN… It goes on and on.”

“But for me, it was the Metal Hammer Golden God Awards in 2005. Never again will I sit with Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler to watch an air guitar competition, have Nicko McBrain called me ‘Jimbo’, catch Lemmy swigging a bottle of Jack in a fire escape with a young lady, laugh as Slipknot give everyone beer bongs and witness a touching tribute to Dimebag from Zakk Wylde. It was also the first time a lot of the UK got to see a primordial Trivium own a stage as well as killer sets from Shadows Fall, Bullet For My Valentine and a headline demolition by Anthrax. Possibly the best night of my life!”

Kimberley Tarry (designer): “There’s so many, I’m finding it hard to remember all the Astoria gigs I’ve been to (bearing in mind I was wasted at most of them!). The Down gig was amazing and had such a great vibe in the place, Phil Anselmo rules, but my favourite gig was actually a very recent one. Airbourne on the 28th of November last year, there was such a great atmosphere, everyone was jumping around and having a laugh and they played with such energy and enthusiasm you couldn’t help but have a smile on your face.”

Vanessa Hards (production editor): “Too many awesome gigs to list – Sepultura/Slayer/System Of A Down, NIN, Skunk Anansie (met my hubby in the pit), Gojira… And don’t forget the LA2, too! I’ll never forget The Toilet Boys (supporting Nashville Pussy) aiming their pyro guitars above the heads of the crowd and accidentally setting light to the balloon netting above the pit. As security halted the show and tried to evacuate the building, a few hundred metallers stayed put chanting, “The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire…!”

“Best LA1 gig: April 24, 1997. Machine Head, Skinlab, Coal Chamber, Napalm Death. It stands out as it was my 22nd birthday. I was there with my best mate Amanda. The pit was so ferocious from the start, my nosering got ripped out during Napalm Death. OK, that bit hurt, but the rest of the gig was incredible. Amanda and I came away black and blue from the barrier and hoarse from screaming lyrics all night. Bliss.”

“Best gig at the LA2 is a tie between Sepultura in 1996 (right down the front with Amanda again, nice cushioned barriers, and I caught one of Andreas’s picks) and Metallica in 1995 – never thought I’d ever see them in such a tiny venue.”

“And I’m with Caren in remembering Nev. The guy is as much a legend as the venue itself.”