There was a gig earlier this year, attended by several of the Über Röck writing staff and not many other people, when a (then) New York Doll and member of Michael Monroe's band played a near-empty venue that would, several short days later, be full of so-called fans of those bands attending a performance from some clown in an Axl Rose wig and his tribute band cronies who offered nothing but the cold, hard facts that music fans, if we can even call them that, like the mass population of this brainwashed isle, have given up thinking. Given up on life, given up on taking a chance on anything other than the moribund smell of familiarity.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Shouldn't have to be that way. The fact that you are reading this shows that there is a spark of life inside of you that tells me that you already know this. Tells me that you really want to know where the cool bands are playing, what they are playing and how they are playing. Tells me that going against the grain, being the black sheep of the family, the Omega Men (and Women) of this world is the coolest way to be.

Über Röck's writers have scoured every corner of this rock 'n' roll world in order to see the good, bad and ugly on the live scene and that is never gonna change. We are legion. With 2011 promising live appearances from the likes of Iron Maiden, Rob Zombie, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Murderdolls, Michael Monroe, Saxon, Manowar, Wolfsbane and Slipknot there is zero excuse for not getting up and out there doing what we do - loving real bands playing ass-kicking live music. 

And 2010 was no different, as the following list of the ÜR writing staff's favourite gigs of the year proves. Whether in clubs or arenas, we were there.......telling it like it is.....

LEWIS B

The Urban Voodoo Machine - Download Festival
Feeder - Bristol, O2 Academy
Skindred - Newport, Bassment
Pendulum - Cardiff International Arena
Aerosmith - Download Festival

JASON DANIEL BAKER

CJ Sleez & Voodoo Bunny w/Buddy Black - Toronto, Bovine Sex Club
Billy the Kid and Rex Goudie - Toronto, Bread and Circus
Sin Dealer - Toronto, Cherry Cola's Rock n Rolla Cabaret & Lounge
SPITFIST/Hussy - Toronto, Bovine Sex Club
Tylean - Toronto, Club Neutral

IAN BELL

Cock Sparrer - London, Kentish Town, HMV Forum
Michael Monroe - London, Islington O2 Academy
Biffy Clyro - Bristol, Colston Hall
Seasick Steve - V Festival
Helloween - Hard Rock Hell IV Festival

MATT BLAKOUT

Kiss - London, Islington O2 Academy
Winger - Bristol, O2 Academy
Download Festival
High Voltage Festival
The Union - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach

NEV BROOKS

Monster Magnet/Seventh Void - Cardiff, Millenium Music Hall
Michael Monroe - Download Festival
The Urban Voodoo Machine - Download Festival
Skindred - Newport, Bassment
Sharks - Bristol 02 Academy

CRAGGY

Michael Monroe - London, Islington O2 Academy
Michael Monroe acoustic - London, Universal Studios
Bermondsey Joyriders - London, The Gaff
Ricky Warwick - Brighton, The Freebutt
Cheap Trick - London, Shepherd's Bush Empire

DOM DALEY

Michael Monroe - London, Islington 02 Academy
Jim Jones Revue - Bristol, Thekla
Iggy And The Stooges - London, Hammersmith Apollo
The Dwarves - Bristol, The Croft
Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach

DEBZ

Reckless Love - Camden Barfly
Michael Monroe - London, Islington O2 Academy
Crashdiet - London Underworld
W.A.S.P. - London, 333 Mother
Ricky Warwick - Pontypool, Hog And Hosper

GAZ E

Michael Monroe - London, Islington O2 Academy
Foxy Shazam/The Guns - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
Cheap Trick - Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
The Bronx/The Ghost Of A Thousand/Mariachi El Bronx - Bristol, Thekla
Ginger & Friends/Wolfsbane - Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall

RAQUEL F

Crank County Daredevils - Barcelona, Rocksound
Texas Terri - London, Shepherd's Bush Empire
Guns N' Roses - London, O2 Arena
Alien Sex Fiend - London, Electric Ballroom

JOHNNY H

Iggy And The Stooges - London, Hammersmith Apollo
Michael Monroe - London, Islington O2 Academy
Backyard Babies - London, Islington O2 Academy
The Bronx/The Ghost Of A Thousand/Mariachi El Bronx - Bristol, Thekla
The Dwarves - Bristol, The Croft

BEN HUGHES

Michael Monroe - London, Islington O2 Academy
Alabama 3 - Leeds Academy
Jesse Malin - York, Fibbers

ROB LANE

Bowling For Soup - Sheffield, Corporation
Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social - Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
Butch Walker - Manchester, Night & Day Cafe
Gaslight Anthem - Nottingham, Rock City
Acey Slade & The Dark Party - Sheffield, Corporation
 

JOHN OAKLEY

Hammerfall - Bang Your Head Festival
Motley Crue - Wacken Open Air
Saxon - Bang Your Head Festival
Sabaton - Wolverhampton, Slade Rooms
Tigertailz - Newcastle, Legends

RUSS P

Bernhoft - London, Ronnie Scott's
Bernhoft - London, The Regal Rooms
Jimmy Gnecco - Cardiff International Arena
Goldblade - Newport, John Frost Square
Gun - Cardiff International Arena

MATT PHELPS

Michael Monroe - London, Islington 02 Academy
Buckcherry - Plymouth Pavilions
Lostprophets - Yeovil, Westlands Leisure Complex
Guns N' Roses/Sebastian Bach - Birmingham NEC
Meat Loaf - Cardiff International Arena

DAVID PRINCE

Blue Gillespie - Porth, Rhondda Hotel
Matt Berry/John Mouse/Prince Edward Island - Cardiff, Tommy's Bar
An Acoustic Evening with Jaret & Erik from Bowling For Soup - Cardiff Solus
FM/Airrace - Cardiff, Millennium Music Hall
Skin/Toby Jepson/Matti Alfonzinetti - Bristol, Thekla

TAZZ STANDER

Black Country Communion - London, John Henry's
Ginger & Friends - London, Relentless Garage
Tres Calaveras - London, King's Cross, Scala
Michael Monroe - London, Brixton O2 Academy
Ozzy Osbourne/Black Spiders - London, Roundhouse

DARREL SUTTON

Slugfest 3 - Abertillery Rock City, The Mount/The Doll's House
Sick Of It All/Madball - Bristol, The Fleece 
Every Time I Die/Terror - Newport, Six Feet Under
AC4 - Bristol, The Croft
The Dwarves - Bristol, The Croft

KIM THORE

Muse - Raleigh, NC Raleigh RBC Center
Vagabond Saints Society - The Garage, Winston Salem, NC
Cinderella - The Millennium Center, Winston Salem, NC
Matt Walsh - The Millennium Center, Winston Salem, NC
TK421 - Awful Arthurs, Salem, Virginia

ANTHONY ALLEN VAN HOEK

Danzig - NYC, Nokia Theater
Corrosion Of Conformity - NYC, Highline Ballroom
Agnostic Front/Antidote/Urban Waste - Brooklyn, NY, Bell House
Antidote/Fed Up/Refuse Resist - Brooklyn, NY, Party Xpo
Red Eyed Devil/Everyday Dollars - NYC, Yermammadome

ROB WATKINS

Paul McCartney - Cardiff, Millenium Stadium
Rage Against The Machine - Download Festival
Cheap Trick - Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
Enuff Z' Nuff - Download Festival
Bigelf - Oxford, 02 Academy

ROSS WELFORD

Nashville Pussy/Voivod - London, Relentless Garage
High Voltage Festival
Faster Pussycat/Enuff Z'Nuff - London, Underworld
Black Spiders/Glamour For The Kill - Brighton, Engine Rooms
Zodiac Mindwarp And The Love Reaction - London, Pipeline Bar

DAI WHISTANCE

Michael Monroe - London, Islington O2 Academy
PIL - Bristol O2 Academy
Bullet For My Valentine - Graspop Festival
The Damned : Bizarre Winter Ball - London Scala
Immortal - Graspop Festival

.....so there it is! Agree? Annoyed? Vent your anger or blow your kisses towards those wondeful social networking buttons to the top right of this 'ere screen and let us know your thoughts and your very own choices for the year's best live performances. Better still, click on the foxy Förüm banner below and let us know your comments on the Über Röck Söldiers Öfficial Förüm.