On the day that marks the rather sad occassion of the last show to be held at the London Astoria, come in and check out our favourite Astoria memories and let us know your favourite gigs inside!

All morning, we’ve been racking our brains and thinking of the best shows we’ve ever seen at the Astoria. Here’s part 1 of our memories and you can leave your own in our comments section!

Alexander Milas (editor): “It’s an impossible question to answer, because some of the best times you have aren’t always at the best gigs – it’s the experiences you have. Moshing to Sepultura – yes, with Derrick Green fronting – was one of mine. Hell, seeing Gojira destroy the place just a few months ago supporting In Flames was a hard thing to top.”

“Witnessing The Darkness play to a packed audience the moment before they went supernova? Yeah, that’s hard to forget. Hawkwind, Alice In Chains, Symphony X – I can’t pick just one but if I had to, it’d be two nights – Down. And then Down again. If you were there, you’ll know it was a magical experience. I’ve never seen a crowd that pumped. Phil Anselmo was a god those nights.”

Caren Gibson (deputy editor): “I couldn’t possibly pick a favourite gig: there have been so many! Slayer supported by System Of A Down and Sepultura in 1998. Machine Head with Napalm Death in 1996. Down playing London for the first time in 2006. Lamb Of God just being Lamb Of God in 2005. Emperor’s Halloween show in 2006 and Maynard james Keenan painted blue for Tool’s show in 1996.”

“Memorable moments: Slipknot’s first ever UK show when Sid swan dived off the balcony. Gojira wiping the floor with In Flames last year. Black Sabbath reunion tour in 2000.”

“And who over the age of 25 will ever forget Neville? The people’s security guy who encouraged circle pits and crowd surfers while keeping the punters safe. He was one of us. RIP Neville. And so long Astoria.”

James Gill (Editor at Large): “Enter Shikari, 2007.”
“The second unsigned band ever to sell out the Astoria. After The Darkness (dry heave). The gig was to be a special one as it was the buzz band’s first (or at least one of the first) large shows from the guys outside of the London satellite town shows. It wasn’t just a great band doing well, it was proof that a great band could do well without a major label. In a move of what looked like selflessness but was probably just a devil may care adolescent ‘fuck-it-that-would-be-awesome!’ move, the guys had spent their fee on hiring a laser (The laser cost £1,800 because you have to have a special guy to use it). Glowsticks rained down on the band until they were banked up at the drum riser and amps like debris after a hurricane. The venue was more packed than I’ve ever seen the Astoria, the bands were at their frenetic best and the laser made me feel like I was back at Dreamscape in 1994! The gig was an utter bombardment of the senses combined with the ecstatic hairs-on-neck epiphany of some religious cult leader’s climactic address. Can I play with madness? Yup.”

Click here for part 2 of our Astoria memories.

Tonight’s Astoria bill will include performances from The Automatic, My Vitriol, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, The King Blues, Frank Turner, JJ72s (acoustic), Brigade, VV Brown and And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead.

The last ever club night at LA2/Mean Fiddler tonight will include DJs and performances from Outcryfire, Open The Skies, F.A.T.E, Orakai, Your City Is Forgotten.