Hi,
I don't know ... I always believed that if it was meant for me to be there, I would. I missed out on seeing Led Zeppelin, for example, but in the end, I had at one time so many bootlegs, it was like ... I didn't need to see them. I had already felt what it was like. The energy was quite clear in the early days and specially the 71/72 series of concerts in the West Coast.
All in all, I have not seen a few things, but then, I got to see things that otherwise would be considered major in rock history ... the original "The Wall", the world premiere show of the film in SF in quad ... Tangerine Dream's first American tour and in LA ... Magma's first tour in America just a bit ago ... Gong's first American tour in 1994 ... I can't complaint.
There are some things that I wish that others could have seen that I did see ... I gotta chance to see Stevie Ray Vaughn in Salem, OR at the County Fair with Robert Cray, and had a chance to see a guy named Mississippi Charles Bevel, that used to work at the PBS station in LA, and he was the best singer I have ever encountered, but he was not interested in the music business or selling his stuff ... he just wanted to live his work, and did not care for anything else. His guitar mate, Chick Streetman, was also incredible. There even was a small half hour or so bit done in the PBS station in LA where he worked, but I have never been able to find that video again, and would have loved to share it ... it is as inspirational as anything I have ever seen.
I would have liked to see Jefferson Airplane, for example, and had many chances, but the fights and internal stuff with them turned me off, though I loved a lot of their music. Grateful Dead, I did not want to be a part of the circus, though it was obvious that the quality of the music was excellent, and the best sound system ever put together on any stage for rock music! Chicago, I never saw, though I had a chance in Madison and Milwaukee. Saw The Who before they were famous and were opening for Herman and the Hermits ... of all people!
There are only a handful I would like to meet before I depart ... Peter Hammill, Klaus Schulze, but time is not on their side, or mine, as they do not come this far away, and Klaus is done touring. Ryuichi Sakamoto would be another I would love to see do a solo concert with keyboards and piano and hear so many of his pieces of music including soundtracks, going back so many years. And lastly, Vangelis, but he does not do live shows either, for the most part. maybe even Mike Oldfield, but it would be such a huge circus that it would turn me off, and I don't think he would be as good with just a rock band, though it would be nice ... in tat sense he never compromised.
These folks are the major musicians of our time. I would have liked to catch Ian and JT during the TAAB or PP days ... the time when I find their work excellent all around, and not just a rock song for the radio.
All in all, I'm happy with the things I have seen. ECM folks not withstanding, but they don't usually tour and I think Rypdal, Gismonti and Garbarek are now getting a bit old, and Jarrett is becoming a feisty old twit ... still would love to see either of them.
Lastly ... the one that would never happen ... I would have liked to see ... The Coffee House Band, play one show ... even if it were simply an internet thing. I know it sounds crazy and difficult, but it would be an achievement, worthy of all of you and then some! I get to introduce the players at the end of the show hopefully!