Retro Scorecard — How Many of These Classic Bands and Solo Artists Have You Seen Live?

Jeff Pfeiffer January 27, 2024

image from a 1981 live performance by The Human League at London's Rainbow Theatre. Most of the image is dark, but the performers onstage are illuminated with blue lighting as they sing. From left are Susan Ann Suylley, wearing a black-and-white striped dress; Philip Oakey, wearing a white dress shirt with sleeves rolled up; and Joanne Catherall, wearing a short black dress. They are all clutching their microphones and microphone stands as they give a passionate performance. — © 1981 Pete Still/Redferns/Getty Images

**The Human League performs at London's Rainbow Theatre in December 1981**

Every so often, some fun checklist starts making the rounds on social media that gives users the chance to score themselves on a nostalgic topic.

A popular one last year was a retro version of “Never Have I Ever,” which asked people to give themselves points for each old-school thing that they have NEVER done (used a typewriter, used a paper map to navigate, etc.). So, the lower your score, the more old-school you were.

How Old School Are You? Find Out With 'Never Have I Ever: Retro Edition'

The fun game has been making the social media rounds. You give yourself one point for each thing you have NEVER done from a list that includes activities like using a typewriter, listening to vinyl records, using a phone book and more. How low can *you* go to prove your old-schoolness?

Remind

A new list that we’ve noticed going around recently is also entertaining. This time, it’s a higher score that shows just how old-school you are.

(As with so many of these, I don’t know where this one originated. I was made aware of it via Jake Rudh, a Gen X Minneapolis DJ who, among several things, hosts an occasional Twitch stream that is very much worth a look for fans of ’80s and ’90s music in particular.)

This list, pictured below, features 60 new wave/punk/post-punk/goth/industrial/synth-pop/electronic/pop/rock bands or artists who first came to prominence at some point from the late 1960s to early ‘90s (many of whom are still going strong). Next to each is a box, and you are asked to give yourself one point for each of these bands that you’ve seen live.

How high can you score? Note that there’s nothing in the instructions saying that you must have seen the band live in the ‘70s, ‘80s or ’90s. So feel free to give yourself a point if you’ve seen them at any time, even if it was last year or last weekend. (I don’t think you should give yourself more than one point if you’ve seen a band/artist several times, though. Also not sure it counts if you are planning on seeing them in the future.)

Check it out below and let us know how you did in the comments! We’d also love to hear any memorable stories you have from shows you were at.

image of a checklist that has been going around social media. At the top of the image, against a yellow background, in all-cap black text reads the header: "Give Yourself One Point for Each Band You've Seen Live" Below that, again in all-cap black text, are three rows comprising 60 new wave, pop and rock bands and solo artists from the 1970s and '80s (David Bowie, The Human League, Kraftwerk, etc.) Next to each is a box for a user to mark if they have seen the band or artist live.

h/t Jake Rudh