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Have you ever seen Russell Brand live?

147 replies

Sausagenbacon · 20/09/2023 08:02

What strikes me in all of this is just how popular RB was, until 3 days ago.
Has anyone been to see him, and did you find him funny? Watching clips of his shows, it seems clear how awful he is, but the audience love it.
There must be a fair number of people on mn who did.

OP posts:
DemBonesDemBones · 21/09/2023 05:23

I've been going to see him live for 20 years, since the Big Brother days. He is a brilliant performer. Some of my happiest memories are of going to see him perform.
But I believe women. The love affair is over.

SequinsandStiIettos · 21/09/2023 10:49

'wipe up for a girl'

Well, that's clearly wrong - you wipe down (front to back) so you aren't wiping faecal bacteria towards the vaginal/urethral areas.

goldenrachita · 21/09/2023 21:23

Yes, seen him live. He was very funny on stage. I loved the sense of joy he conveyed and his self-deprecation. He was a mix of very humble and very exhibitionist. I felt he really appreciated his fans.

I do find the idea that his humour preyed on women totally inaccurate- he flirted with men a lot too, in a strangely non-gay way, just playful silliness.

I still laugh thinking of him on Big Brother's Big Mouth- the affectionate satire of what back then were ordinary people (none of the desperate social media nepotistic drones we get on reality TV these days). I keep reading how awful the 2000s were. I completely disagree.

Sidebeforeself · 21/09/2023 21:37

@beguilingeyes look up Jimmy Carrs “jokes” about soldiers being in the paralympics… utterly odious man and I cannot believe how TV still fawns over him

Justleaveitblankthen · 21/09/2023 22:31

SequinsandStiIettos · 21/09/2023 10:49

'wipe up for a girl'

Well, that's clearly wrong - you wipe down (front to back) so you aren't wiping faecal bacteria towards the vaginal/urethral areas.

That's what I was thinking.
He's so sharp too. It feels very off. He wouldn't have got that wrong deliberately would he? 😕
Whatever, totally gross of him.

beguilingeyes · 21/09/2023 23:14

Sidebeforeself · 21/09/2023 21:37

@beguilingeyes look up Jimmy Carrs “jokes” about soldiers being in the paralympics… utterly odious man and I cannot believe how TV still fawns over him

Yeah, I know..and he largely disgusts me too, but I'm just saying that he's been known to be a safe space for women comics.

methodbehindmymadness · 21/09/2023 23:58

I saw him in Cardiff about 8 years ago, he was so funny , always been a fan

YukoandHiro · 22/09/2023 00:03

Bennyhillwasshite · 20/09/2023 09:46

Saw him in Brighton years ago, must have been 2007/2008 . I remember not finding him funny but the main memory was of him openly recruiting women in the audience to have sex with. All done under the guise of humour of course but it was cringey to watch and felt weird. Lots of women were keen though

Yeah I saw this same tour and thought that bit was really awkward and I was pretty astonished people seemed to be up for that - even though I did fancy him at the time

Fallenangelofthenorth · 22/09/2023 00:03

Smeshier · 20/09/2023 08:14

I saw him a couple of years ago. He was very funny. He was waaaay past his very overtly sexual stuff and before he went full blown right wing conspiracy theory nut job. But I HATED his god complex. He spent nearly an hour hugging everyone who wanted a hug. It felt insincere and gross and meant we were late home for the babysitter. The promo material had a picture of him falling backward into a crowd, arms outstretched like Jesus.

He's not really a "proper" conspiracy theorist either. The vast majority in the truther community think he's a paid shill so they don't want him either. Not sure where he fits in really.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 22/09/2023 00:34

I saw him a couple of years ago, it was a very lefty, hippy, slightly conspiracy theory comedy but I honestly thought he was hilarious and honestly the best comedian I've seen live.

I fully believe the women though and feel a bit ill that I paid to see a rapist.

bemorebernard · 22/09/2023 00:41

He can have done what he's accused of and still be good at his job .

Most category 4 rapists are . He can still be funny .

IHateLegDay · 22/09/2023 00:41

From the moment I saw his wild, back-combed hair in the early 2000's, I took an instant dislike to him. So many of my friends found him hilarious but I never understood it and thought he was a twat.
I did enjoy his performances in Get him to the Greek and Forgetting Sarah Marshall but other than those, I can't stand the man.

mayorofcasterbridge · 22/09/2023 00:51

MeinKraft · 20/09/2023 10:17

Yes I saw Russell Brand and Jimmy Carr both around 2009/2010 and Carr was so so funny but so offensive. His stand up jokes are absolutely the darkest of all that type of comedian, there's nowhere he won't go.
Brand was funny too, I remember the venue had been half screened off though so I don't think as many tickets had been sold as they'd expected.

Show quote history

I don't understand?? I've always found both of them totally odious and not funny!

You'd have had to pay me to go and see either of them, not the other way round!!

mayorofcasterbridge · 22/09/2023 00:57

I can't actually think of a 'comedian' who is remotely funny!

Mothership4two · 22/09/2023 01:43

mayorofcasterbridge · 22/09/2023 00:57

I can't actually think of a 'comedian' who is remotely funny!

Maybe comedy isn't for you then?

EconomyClassRockstar · 22/09/2023 01:52

Yes, and I will say he is incredibly enigmatic and funny. That said, we left early because he suddenly went into his whole trying to fuck women thing and we'd rather eat tapas than listen to that shit.

Mothership4two · 22/09/2023 02:06

Justleaveitblankthen · 21/09/2023 22:31

That's what I was thinking.
He's so sharp too. It feels very off. He wouldn't have got that wrong deliberately would he? 😕
Whatever, totally gross of him.

Show quote history

Jenny Eclair used to make a very similar joke

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 22/09/2023 04:27

I find him hilarious. Loved his books, his shows, his movies.

I too feel disappointed in him. I have always had a soft spot for him.

He is very self deprecating and aware of his narcissism. Not many celebrities are.

SheerLucks · 22/09/2023 05:11

I saw him about a decade or more ago at the height of his success. I didn't have a thing for him but he was the hot ticket of the moment so I went with a friend (DH pulled out at last minute) to see what all the fuss was about.

He was ok but actually a bit dull compared to most comedians I've seen - more like a raconteur like Grayson Perry than a classic comedian.

I don't remember their being any sexual stuff though.

Lengokengo · 22/09/2023 05:31

I used to live near him in 2005-2010 ish, so would see him on the high street every now and again. Found him physically revolting so completely not my cup of tea. I didn’t find him funny, but mostly cruel. When I would see him ( he would sometimes be alone, but also with various different women), I would feel that he was someone ‘dirty’ and to steer well clear of.

Mble · 22/09/2023 06:13

mayorofcasterbridge · 22/09/2023 00:57

I can't actually think of a 'comedian' who is remotely funny!

Comedy isn’t for everyone.

ClusterFukt · 22/09/2023 06:22

He’s a celebrity that I’ve always had a visceral hatred for, I can’t even listen to his annoying nasal voice. I’ve always found him intensely cringey and totally unfunny. I never understood why people liked him so much. He looks a right sweaty smelly bastard too.

chosenone · 22/09/2023 06:27

Yep. It's been a long obsession for me. From Big Brother, Ponderland, his books and seeing him live twice. I found him so engaging, witty and attractive. The audience were belly laughing! A huge pro gay joke regarding the Bible saying you shouldn't covert your neighbours Oxen was amazing.

But… I did wonder how he could justify his past and his attitude towards women. I asked him on here when he did a Q and A live chat thing, it must be in the archives? He was very apologetic and that he was a product of his time, sex addict, lived women and wasn't a mysoginist etc. I just feel foolish for believe in him now 😔

yeveamgirl · 22/09/2023 06:39

I saw the messiah tour about 10 years ago. It's just cringy now to think about what he said, considering how he used the power of his fame. It was funny, I laughed. I even considered going up at the end when he offered to meet people but we went home instead. I was only 20 so probably a good idea, I was very impressionable.

NotAnotherPylon · 22/09/2023 06:55

I don't understand?? I've always found both of them totally odious and not funny!

Why on earth is it hard to understand that people like different things? This is a strange attitude.

I always find it interesting, though, when bad stuff is revealed about a celebrity, that people quickly queue up to say they always knew there was something 'off' about them. Almost as if anyone who liked them was a bit stupid for not realising. Or that they are in possession of some sort of special radar for detecting criminals. The comments about him looking like he is smelly are hilarious. Yeah, because rapists don't wash and look unkempt. That's how you tell them apart from ordinary decent people.