Prompted (ie, stolen) from a very funny thread on the The Word site, which you can see here:
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/whats-worst-stage-behaviour-youve-witnessed
The worst I ever saw was the Mike Flowers Pops, who were headlining at a uni gig my friend (second in Ents) had organised, at which Space were the support. Very few bands ever bothered coming to Aber (something to do with the head of Ents being a massive tool, possibly) so the crowd were very lairy and willing to be entertained. However, one moron chucked a dribble of beer in a plastic cup at Mike Flowers during the first song, and the whole band trooped off, never to return. Space, by this point having already finished their rider and acting like juvenile delinquents, come back on and play their set again, to a rapturous response.
Personal disappointment was James at Glastonbury maybe 1995? Anyway, James has recently released Laid, which was a very popular album amongst me and all my friends. Didn't stop Tim Booth announcing "This is from our latest album, Laid". Crowd cheers. "Don't lie, you didn't fucking buy it". Actually, we did Tim, thanks for your cynicism. Kind of soured the day for me.
Anyhoo, what's your own story?
14 comments:
Dr Hook - lead singer (Silverstein? Can't remember) - leaping on top of an amp and exposing himself while singing "Freakin' at the Freakers' Ball". It was funny, but too much information. 1970 something.
e is already on The Word website. Alan Sparhawk of Low whirling his guitar round his head like a hammer and hurling it into the audience. It flew more than fifty feet spinning as it went and could have killed someone. Van Morrison's normal churlish behaviour and Cat Power's notorious inability to sing more than the opening line of a song paled into insignificance. At least their behaviour stays on the stage.
At the Knebworth Festival in 1976 when the Stones were the headliners, there was a lengthy pause after 10cc finished their set and the Sones took the stage.
A very stoned, very naked hairy man got up on stage and started jerking off.
This was easily visible on the giant screen above the stage and the cameraman homed in on the business area, which then became the sole visible thing on the screen.
I was at The Beautiful South's debut London gig at The Town & Country Club 2 and was apalled by their attitude. They were abusive and disrespectful to their (paying) audience and, sorry if I'm sounding like an old fuddy-duddy but I got as close to walking out of a gig as I ever have. Truly dreadful...
I've been enjoying that thread at the Word site too. I don't want to see Julian Cope anymore, that's for sure!
I probably should have expected it, but I saw Jesus and Mary Chain in about 1990, they played for 35 minutes, backs to the stage, terrible sound and no encore. Didn't buy any more of their CDs.
Perry Farrell from Jane's Addiction spoiled a very enjoyable gig for me (the music was great and they played everything I wanted to hear) by revealing some deeply misogynistic views about women and sex. I can't even remember what he said now, but it really offended me at the time (again early 1990s).
I meant backs to the audience, not stage, and they didn't even bother addressing the audience throughout. Not that I'm still annoyed about it after traveling for an hour to get to the gig...
There was the singer from Classix Noveaux who insisted on performing in a rubber body stocking & was the only person in the venue not embarrassed. When John Lyden decided to "sing", seated on a toilet, you knew it was all over. Mark E. has always snarled & grunted with his back to the crowd (but that still seems more appropriate than bothersome). Billy Idol falling of stage & breaking his leg was hilarious. My own band used to throw biscuits at/to the audience, but as this was before Live Aid, perhaps we were just ahead of our time?
I was lucky enough to witness the Daphne and Celeste show at Reading - it was the most punk rock thing I've ever seen. D & C basically spent 15 minutes insulting the crowd and their sensibilities, and despite the constant hail of debris -they never got hit by anything!! Slipknot, Marylin Manson, Eminem all blown off the stage - all together now: "U.G.L.Y! You ain't got no alibi, YOU UGLY!"
In terms of worst onstage behaviour, I'm not sure, watching car-wreck Courtney Love even is always good. I did go to a Eugene Kelly / Evan Dando show, where Evan told a lame joke about cancer that got him resoundly booed.
Good moment from Joe Jackson. Intimate gig at my local - he was stunning. Two well meaning but possibly misguided parents seated their 8 year old at the feet of master in order to drink in his music. Jackson peered down and intoned "Get off the f*cking stage, kid..." Er, quite.
Do you think stars behave so badly because they become used to whatever they say being slavishly listened to, or because it's already part of their nature to be an attention seeking arsehole? I'm disappointed by Julian Cope too, I loved Head On but he does seem like a bit of a bernard.
It does seem that a lack of graciousness is what mostly annoys us. Respect to Blimpy for actually recognising Daphne and Celeste at Reading there, well done sir!
I think, in Julian Cope's case, drugs might be a factor, but generally, I think that being told everything you say is wonderful (I recall Ballad of the Tindersticks) and the whole set up of touring can't be good for people's mental health.
@tracyK - I was there, maaaaaaaan, I was there.....
Carole Bristol, nice one. I was gonna tell my story about witnessing the lead vocalist of a well known (shall remain nameless)Leicester punk band actually drop his leather trollies and take a dump in the middle of the stage, at the height of a high profile showcase gig in London. But I prefer your story now - quite an, er, arresting image I would say.
Cool story you got here. It would be great to read a bit more about that matter.
By the way check the design I've made myself Young escorts
Post a Comment