10 Greatest Secret Music Concerts Of All Time

WHERE: Apple HQ rooftop, Saville Row

WHEN: January 30th, 1969

You might have heard of this one.

It's only one of the most famous gigs of all time, inspiring many of the concerts on this list and beyond.

It's only the subject of an 8 hour documentary made by the Lord of the Rings guy.

It's only been parodied by everyone from The Simpsons to The Rutles.

While it's passed straight into myth, the Get Back documentary does a fine job of distilling just how much of a bizarre hail-Mary effort this was from the Fabs. Having spent the previous month writing a whole album and documenting the process (to famously mixed results), the plan from word go was to end the month with a surprise gig.

The issue was finding a site for it.

Parliament was briefly considered, as was an ancient Roman amphitheatre in Libya. The gig was so close to happening on Primrose Hill they called to book it, but after they were told it was too short notice, Glyn Johns thought "what about the roof?"

Something that also gets forgotten amongst the myth and legend is just how *fun* this gig is. It's ramshackle, seat of your pants fun from word go, with the boys (none of them 30 yet), grinning and joking with each other, even as the cops threaten to shut it down.

When they click though, like on the staggering third take of Don't Let Me Down, one can't help but wonder how much more the band could have given with more time. And it's that bittersweet thought that keeps it off the top spot, but only just...