If you had to say just one concert you've been to that was the absolute best, which one would it be and why?

I would have to say Ozzfest 1997!!!!

Here is the lineup for that year:

BLACK SABBATH
PANTERA
MARILYN MANSON
TYPE O NEGATIVE
FEAR FACTORY
MACHINE HEAD
POWERMAN 5000
COAL CHAMBER
SLO BURN
DRAIN STH
DOWNSET
NEUROSIS
VISION OF DISORDER

I mean come on!!!!!! Yes, I love Black Sabbath, but I really love Type O Negative, Pantera and Fear Factory! And I'm pretty sure that was the year when we had 3 mosh-pits surrounding us, one on either side of us and on in the back and the rail was in the front! Talk about adrenaline!!!! They all kind of melted together.....it was crazy but such a good time, I love letting loose and being free to let it all out!!!

I have been to see other great bands but it was all too confined! I went to see just Black Sabbath and Pantera once and I wasn't happy at all! I am 5' 3" so it was hard for me to see. It was so dumb, you couldn't stand on the seats or in the aisle's! It's like you had to stay perfectly in front of your assigned seat....kind of a mood kill.

For me the choice is simple; I attended Elton John in solo performance. He gets rid of the drums, the bass, all the overtones that tend to drown out his real talent on the 88. The setting, mood and Masterful command of his genre of material as well as his comfort of gospel-blues style just grabs my musicians heartstrings. I've tried to personify this kind of style on the piano for many years, and yes even as there are many fantastic musicians in this style, I have a connection with Elton that just can't be broken. His solo appearance did bring tears to my eyes.

Peace>

Allin>

You know what Allin, you just made me think....I did go to another concert about a year ago that brought tears to my eyes! It was "Ian Anderson plays Orchestral Jethro Tull". It was just so overwhelming and powerful! And the woman that was playing the violin was excellent!

I had a similar experience at a Tori Amos concert. This was before I was a fan and my brother dragged me to one of her concerts because "You've never seen or heard anything like it!"
So, off I went to the concert, dreading it. But to my suprise, I was just floored! It was just her and her piano. Occasionally another musician would come out and play guitar for some background effects. She'd hit those keys on that piano and it was like listening to a guitar player rip into a solo. It was so powerful. And the crowd, was mixed, it was very young girls to people in their 40's. I was concerned with the amount of young girls that were there that it was going to be a scream fest but as soon as Tori would start playing that piano, everything went silent. It was one of the coolest concerts I've ever been to and I've been fan ever since.

 I love concerts, I have been to some indoors and outdoors. I have enjoyed all of them. They both have there benefits.
 My favorite would have to be a toss up between two (sorry,I cannot just pick one).
 I saw Santana, that was an awesome concert. Carlos Santana is an awesome guitar player. One of the best, in my opinion. I love guitars, so I really enjoyed that.
 The next one was Melissa Etheridge. I have always been a fan of her and her music. She really is a soulful person with alot of meaning behind her music. I saw her play twice, once indoors and once outdoors. When she played outdoors, I was so close to her, I could almost have touched her. It was awesome!!

My best concert ever was Breaking Benjamins. The energy of BB was deafing and I had such an energy rush during and after the concert that I could not contain myself. With a small venue like it was, it was incredible for me. I think  I wish I could explain it better but that is as good as it gets.

I've been to so many great gigs, that it'd be very hard to pick just one.

My favourites were:

Marilyn Manson
Rush
R.E.M.
Muse
Foo Fighters [gonna see them again in November  ]
Rammstein

All of them sounded as good live, as in the studio.  Manson, Rush, Rammstein and Muse gigs had awesome visuals too.

Trans Siberian Orchestra for me. I have seen hundreds of shows. And these guys really stand out. It is rare that a group is noticeably better live then on the CD. The compression used to encode a CD just can not contain the talent of TSO. They have an incredible stage show. And they have an insane amount of fun on stage. And when the show is over, they change their clothes and come to the lobby area of where they perform and meet everyone who wants to in person. Plus you just can't go wrong converting Christmas music to hard rock.

Oh my.... I could never pick just one.
I've seen the TSO. They were amazing! Plus my Daddy went with me. I tricked him to go he cant stand the music I listen to but the whole "Orchestra" thing fooled him. But to my surprise he enjoyed it!
Then TOOL my all time favorite band! They were.... wow I cant put it into words. They took my breath away.
Alice In Chains Acoustic this past October was incredible! There was so much love for Layne! I was 2nd row back so everything was amazing and I caught a pick they had been playing with that night. Everyone was out in the walkways dancing and everyone was singing along. It was really powerful.
And my most recent favorite show would have to be As I Lay Dying! With All That Remains, Through The Eyes of The Dead and Haste The Day! It was brutal! I got the beat down of my life in that mosh pit lol Took me almost a week to recover from being sore. I got to meet AILD too. Just incredible.

StarrD, I envy you for seeing Alice In Chains, that is one of my top all time fave bands.
LUCKY YOU  

  AIC is one of my top bands too <3

VNV Nation! Going to see them this weekend!  They have some awesome energy!

Cruxshadows in concert at Dragon*Con 2007, this past year.  I had gone and worked as security and was bored out of my skull the night they performed.  One of the other people in the department was there along with her wife and they grabbed me and said "come on, you'll like them."   I thank them frequently for that.

They have an amazing presence when performing.

Mediaeval Baebes. Any gig you like, always a blinder.

Rammstein the first time I saw them. SOOOOO much to take in it took me a week to decide I actually enjoyed it!

Mindless Self Indulgence. Kittie was there too, and a bluegrass speed metal band called Uncle F*cker

The best concert was back in like 1992. I was in Hollywood, CA and went to The Whisky and saw Motley Crue, Prettyboy Floyd, Slamhound who's lead singer is now with Buckcherry. It was awesome and wild! VIP passes and all!!
Oh no now you know the real me!

Metallica, by far.   

Hey Raph, which Metallica tour did you go to?
I've seen them 5 times so far and each time was great! They are definitely a band to see live.