The closest I’ve come to a famous band I’ve seen without trying to is Say Anything which probably wouldn’t count for this thread. I’ve seen them twice with Saves the Day and once with Tallhart, (and a couple times when I was trying to see them.)
Oddly enough, when I saw them with Tallhart, I decided that since they weren’t playing their old stuff anymore, that Tallhart was not worth seeing again, and of course, they open for every band in Orlando now :smack:
have seen the KinKs a little over 300 between 1969 and their last USA shows in 1995…now seeing Ray Davies solo shows and am up to 252…
So Dan, obviously you can offer an informed opinion: will Ray and Dave every tour together again?
I saw the Grateful Dead 66 times.
I have seen an act with at least one member of the Grateful Dead (Solo shows, JGB, Furthur, Ratdog, etc) around 160 times.
If DJs count, then probably Armin Van Buuren. If not, then probably U2.
Moody Blues about 10X
Paul Simon 3X
Traffic 3X
Ke$ha - thrice
Everybody else I’ve ever seen is in a tie for second place. I’ve never seen anybody else more than once.
R.E.M.- 4 times
The Smithereens- 3 or 4 times
G. Love and Special Sauce- 3 times
Rev. Horton Heat- 3 times
Bob Dylan- 3 times
10,000 Maniacs- 3 times
Cracker- 3 times
Camper Van Beethoven- 2 times
The Replacements- 2 times
Morphine- 2 times
The Ramones- 2 times
I’m probably forgetting some others I saw more than once…
The Replacements - 5 times
B-52’s - 4 times
Zeitgeist (later as The Reivers) - 3 times
REM - 3 times
Mission of Burma - 3 times
Jason & the Scorchers - 3 times
Let’s Active - 2 times
Violent Femmes - 2 times
Tommy Keene - 2 times
Husker Du - 2 times
Soul Asylum - 2 times
Hoodoo Gurus - 2 times
Robyn Hitchcock - 2 times
U2 - 2 times
The Jesus and Mary Chain - 2 times
Billy Joel - 2 times
Sleater Kinney - 2 times
Scratch Acid - 2 times
I think there are a few I saw at least twice I may be forgetting.
My best friend is a real fan as well. He recently turned me on to an interesting factoid. Google “Paul is dead” “Too Slim” to see for yourself. (Unless you already know.)
Ray was interviewed on BBC breakfast tv last week and hinted that something might be possible. Their respective agents were in discussion, I think.
Anyway, he/they have been touring and releasing albums for 45 years or so, and I’ve mentioned them a few times here, so you should have heard of them 
Peter Hammill/Van der graaf Generator - 15+ times since 1976. Could be as many as 20.
Mark Eitzel (with or without American Music Club) - probably a good dozen, with another show this coming Thursday! I first saw them when they first played in Scotland in early 1992 and I think I’ve only missed one Scottish tour (ha! usually only a single gig north of the border!) since then because I went down to London to see VDGG for their first UK gig as a trio after Jaxon left!
David Thomas (with or without Pere Ubu) - between 10 and 12 times I think…
The late, great Jackie Leven* about 7 or 8, the same as Michelle Shocked, who I doubt I’ll go see again but she used to be really good live…
Off the top of my head, early in the morning:
Bruce Springsteen - maybe 12 times
Jimmy Buffett - a bunch more times than that
Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks - 8 times or so
Grateful Dead - 7 times
Neil Young - 4 times
Elton John - 4 times
Not at all sure it passes your 70-80% threshold, but I’ve seen my beloved New Model Army probably 30 times or so. That includes the London December shows every year for the last 15 years. This year will be the first tour of theirs that I haven’t made at least one date for, in the last decade.
Other than that, Sisters of Mercy 5 times, Depeche Mode 5 times, Elbow 3 times, The Cure 8 or so, New Order 6, Billy Bragg 4 or 5, Pixies 5, of which the last one, in 2011 was absolutely the best gig of my life.
KISS - 6 times. I’ll have to catch a show next time they come around so I can say I’ve seen them in every decade they’ve existed.
Motörhead - 5 times. Twice as an opener, and three headlining gigs, including Lemmy’s 50th birthday.
Black Sabbath - 3 times if you include Heaven And Hell in 2007.
AC/DC - 3 times, but never with Bon Scott.
Just listened to ‘Jenny Says’, my first experience with the band. I like them!!
Have seen ‘Chicago’ four times.
Phish: 30+
Dead: 50+
Ozomatli: Probably around 10 or so
Beck: 5
REM: 3
Widespread Panic: 3
(FTR: I am a big Poi Dog and Cowboy Mouth fan, but have not seen either live)
How could I have forgotten Buffett? I’ve seen Jimmy 3 times at big venues about 4 times in small bars when I was too young to be in them. And once at our house for a BBQ. My Dad used to manage a band and was friends with Jimmy way back in the early days when I was a wee sprout.
With your username I’d expect Frank Zappa to be on the list.
When I was in high school, my best friends brother was living next door to Jimmy in Key West, so I’ve been a fan since “White Sports Coat.” I’ve met him twice, at various concerts, and have seen him in venues ranging from full-scale ampitheaters to dive-dars when it was just him and Fingers.
What’s the prehistoric version of a Parrot? 
Saw the Steve Miller Band three times. Saw The Fabulous Thunderbirds twice. Saw Joe Cocker twice. Saw Yes twice - ticket was gifted to me both times, the day of the concert. Kinda weird, that. I saw Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons twice.
Saw The Vogues numerous times. They live in the Pittsburgh area, so the opportunities were great. Same with The Skyliners. Billy Price as well. I saw Billy in a few different incarnations of his band. Not well-known, but sang with Roy Buchanan on his, “Live Stock” album.
I’ve seen the Grateful Dead around 35 times. Other versions of the Dead probably another 10 times.
I’ve seen X or their country version The Knitters at least 20 times and will see them another 2 times on their upcoming tour.
Los Lobos probably 15 times.
That’s amazing. I’ve seen them twice.