AIBU to ask who is the worst performer/group you've seen live?

[Weston14]

Following on from a (very late-to-the-party) discussion about this year's Glasto with some friends over dinner tonight, where we all decided Lauryn Hill was an absolute let down, who is the worst performer or group you've ever seen live? Especially thinking of people you really liked who let you down here, not just "was dragged to see Take That with DSis and they were shite"

If you're not much of a music fan I suppose this stretches to comedians, actors, poets...anyone who gets up on stage and does a turn.

James Arthur supported Westlife recently and just appeared to be bored, I was bored by him.
Westlife put on an amazing show.

Whitney. Gutted to say it but she was dire. Wembley arena 1998 ish. Just before all the drugs stuff came out. We thought she was ill/ drunk. bobby kept rushing on stage to hold her up. She was off key and spaced out. And miming 😬

@RainbowAlicorn interesting! When did you see them? Mine was a couple of years ago

Another vote for oasis here. I was so excited to be seeing them and they were such a let down. The zutons supported them and were brilliant though.

@stealthbanana funny enough the gig I least fondly remember is also Smashing Pumpkins at Brixton. It may even have been the same concert. Billy Corgan was quite obviously totally bored and couldn't be arsed. Felt sorry for DH, he is/was much more of a fan than I am.

@PotterHead1985 do it!!! They couldn't even mime in time and at some points didn't even bother trying - it's very disconcerting to hear voices singing but watching the people not even moving their mouths except to suggesting bite their lip....

Another Van Morrison moan. He played Edinburgh castle about 30 years ago. The sound was terrible, you couldn't hear him behind a newspaper and he was a grumpy moaning faced bastard. Georgie Fame was on keyboards and looked like he wanted to stab Morrison repeatedly, they'd obviously had needle offstage. Every time someone shouted out a (famous) Morrison song there'd be a terse "I'm not fecking playing that!" from under the hat. Bloody awful. I was a huge fan but don't think I've listened to him since.

We went a couple of years ago to see them and oh my god... just wow! was that also at the Academy beaverbill? I went that gig as well.

I would give all the money I have to hear David sylvian sing live, I wouldn’t care what he sang he is my absolute favourite artist ever!!

Music - Manic Street Preachers. I’d seen them before and loved them, but this was a later tour and they did some of their “young rebellious” songs (from The Holy Bible etc) but basically dialled them in like some kind of middle aged uncle. I was sad. And also felt old myself.

Comedy - easily Ian Cognito. I was unfortunate enough to be sat nearish the front when he told a horribly unfunny rape joke. I didn’t laugh. He noticed my stony face and chose to pick on me for not laughing, ending up with him riling the whole audience up against me and suggesting that they wait for me afterwards to beat me up.

This is true. I promise.

Anyway he ended up in the bar afterwards so I challenged him on his appalling behaviour, which he initially tried to defend as “satire”. It wasn’t until I pointed out in very simple terms that he might want to think about the fact he may well have encouraged people to beat up a rape victim for not laughing at a rape joke that he apologised.

On the same bill was Rhod Gilbert who was also in the bar and overheard our conversation, and took the time to come over to me and say he totally supported what I’d said. That made me feel a little better.

@FutureMrsD funny how your post came directly under mine. You didn’t happen to be at Hyde Park last month also? He was just terrible!

No, this was about ten years ago in New York state. I wondered if it was a one-off or if this is how his voice was all the time. Haven't wanted to risk seeing him again to find out.

Toni Brixton.

Either she has no voice and much of her material is studio padding, or when I saw her, someone should have fired the sound person.

We saw P!nk at Wembley this year and she was amazing. Her main support act was Vance Joy who was dire. He changed his guitar for every song and even the one he is well known for I didn't know!. Bang Bang Romeo who were her lesser support act were great and I wish they could've been on for longer. P!nk (of course) was fabulous.

Sterophonics at the 02, just bloody awful, so bad i left early. Also had to sit throught Ronan Keating at Wembley with a friend, the atmosphere was like a school assembley, only saving grace was that my ticket was free

Braxton ....

Pixie Lott in Breakfast at Tiffanys at The Curve Theatre in Leicester was really bad as well. She has a great voice, but she's not a good actress and she didn't really give the songs her all. Disappointing.

@notacooldad yes!! When she came into the audience and made us all crouch down then went metal to Little Baby Swastika! I can’t wait to lose my voice again!

A good up and coming band I saw recently is Cancel Tomorrow.

@riotlady it was several years ago now. I actually saw them twice, it's got to be 10 years ago or more.

Destiny’s child - only on an hour and had 6 costume changes. Think they only did 5 songs

Pearl Jam years ago. It was a boring mess.

I saw Nirvana at Reading many years ago & it was awful. Kurt Cobain didn't know which planet he was on. A lot of pissed of people left during that set.

Worst headliners - blink 182 a few years ago after the bad neighbourhood album. So unbelievably disappointed. The all American rejects were in just before them and they completely stole the show
Green Day two years ago. Belsonic festival... sound was awful. You could hear them better in the toilets than you could at the stage. Was heartbroken. I’d seen them a few years beforehand and they blew me away.
Back up bands... the blackout. Only cheers they got “this is our last song” “paramore is up next” my friends little brother was with us. He was a fan when they started. By the time they played their third song he had joined us begging them to get off the stage. Security needed up getting involved because they just wouldn’t leave the stage

Best live performance is as a toss up. I’ve seen paramore 6 times and they just get better each time. Nickelback have been outstanding both times I’ve seen them. My step dad was reviewing the gig and as someone who hates nickelback, said he was impressed and put on an amazing show

Sorry but the ex boyband member screaming with fear on the pantomime flying carpet wins the thread 😂

My worst was Blur at the height of their 90s fame. Me and my best mate could not wait to meet and dance with an entire venue full of doe eyed indie boys, we were beside ourselves. Gutted and slightly frightened to find that the whole audience were yobs and none of them owned an Adidas tracky top. Fkin waste of money.

Best was Crowded House at the Greek Theatre in LA, and First Aid Kit at the Edinburgh Usher Hall.

My step dad was reviewing the gig and as someone who hates nickelback, said he was impressed and put on an amazing show

I had a similar experience seeing Craig David at a festival. Wouldn't say I hate him, but definitely not a fan and my expectations were low. He was a weird choice for the festival line up and the crowd weren't warm to him at all - loads of people who didn't seem to know any of his songs. Most of the front rows were just standing still, staring at him, not singing back or dancing.

A lot of artists (including quite a few mentioned on this thread) would have stormed off at that reaction. I have got to say that he was incredibly professional, put on a great set and played as if the crowd were totally with him. I was really impressed.