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.

Saw Wet Wet Wet back in 1990 at T In The Park...they were shite.

Another vote for Dylan here. I've seen him four times I think, and much as I love him, he can't sing a note. I suppose that's half the point of him though, you don't go to see him for his wide range.

Also Van Morrison. I love him, but the first time I saw him was in the mid-80s in Derry, and he was clearly hating every minute! He played for about 40 minutes, and didn't speak a single word to the audience, the grumpy shit! However the next time I saw him was in the Ulster hall at Xmas, somebody was bringing him copious pints of Guinness, and he ended up wearing a Santa hat and singing Gloria, it was amazing! He even jigged around the stage at one point, which was quite a sight!

@gwenneh I saw RZ in Glasgow about 7 years ago I think and he was better than I could have ever of hoped! What a showman as well 😍 the Zombie pit terrified the life out of me though 😂

Phil Collins about 20 years ago in Dublin. To be fair, I discovered afterwards the concert came close to being cancelled as he had a cold. He didn't smile throughout, and his 45 min drum solo became tedious after the first ten mins. Probably should have cancelled.

@MetalMidget I saw Therapy? in the early 90s and it's still one of my best ever gigs, and I've been to lots. Yes, they were indoors!

On a smaller scale, The Bionic Rats are always fantastic.

I have to say that the best gig I've ever seen was the stone roses at Heaton park when they made their comeback a few years ago. Had never been that bothered about them but dh loves them, and I was an absolute convert by the end of the night. The atmosphere was incredible, and although technically speaking they weren't brilliant the energy and whole experience was absolutely fantastic.

Van `Morrison is such a grumpy bastard. DH and I have seen him many times and he is so miserable he makes us laugh! Joe Jackson is also a stroppy git but he puts on such a great show I’d forgive him almost anything.

Someone upthread referred to Pixie Lott being terrible in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I had a similar experience seeing Louise Redknapp in the recent tour of Cabernet. She sang amazingly well (much better than I expected) but as soon as she stopped singing she was completely wooden. Luckily the rest of the cast made up for her - it was a terrific production.

Until recently I would have said Peter Gabriel does the best concerts ever. I’ve seen him a few times and he is always brilliant but Adam Lambert and Queen are also amazing live.

Such great stories on here!
@mintich yes it was at Benicassim! Our tent also blew away in a massive dust storm that weekend so wasn't the best festival experience 
@jasmine1971 I would've loved to have seen George Michael - he just seemed like the most generous and talented person, such a shame.
Dying of jealousy of those who saw Nirvana & Blur in the 90s - those were the days!!!

Meatloaf in Liverpool 2000 or 2001. Awfully awful. His daughter did most of the first half, his voice had completely gone. I was so upset.

I loved The Zombies and Colin Blunstone, the lead singer on his own.

Stone Roses. Really poor. I like to think some of that was that it was an open air space and the acoustics weren’t on our side due to wind etc but I suspect they just aren’t great live.

Fleetwood Mac in the 80s. Stevie Nicks was off key and kept wandering off stage. It was boring.
Best though is a tie between Bowie (same year and stadium as Fleetwood Mac) but he was brilliant. Elton John in smallish theatre with just piano and percussion was fabulous.

Eric Clapton. I'm a huge fan , spent a fortune on tickets. He arrived over an hour late - during which time a pathetic back up band attempted to perform . When he finally came on stage he was rude and off hand, like he was doing us a big favour by coming at all. Played a couple of numbers, then got his off siders to play a few and that was it. So disappointing.

Went to watch S Club in their reunion concert as I loved them when I was younger but could never afford tickets.
It was the MOST bizarre and disappointing concert I have ever seen....they didn't even sing many S Club songs mainly covers of other ones!! I was gutted as really looked forward to seeing them perform!

Sound can make or ruin a show, if you’re performing and the sound isn’t right it’s really hard to put on a good show, an ex has had a few where they couldn’t actually hear anything and the choice is carry on, or spend 45 minutes altering the sound.

The worst I have seen was smashing pumpkins, we were side of stage and so we could also see that the entire audience also thought it was crap. A friend had previously seen them in Nottingham, about 500 people have bought tickets for nottingham arena, they played three songs and then stormed off.

Sound can make or ruin a show,
I agree but there are also many other factors.
Showcasing a new album just before or immediately after its release and playing next to nothing familiar is a good way to make a show go down like a lead balloon, ( Paul Weller)so is altering the style if well known songs for no reason.( Jane's Adduction) Having no audience interaction or acknowledgment isnt friendly and doesnt go down well.(HIM)
It doesnt bode well when the audience empties after the support and they are more popular than the headliner!!

Frankie Boyle. All paedophilia and arse rape jokes.
Lee Mack was shit. Putting on a fake local accent to take the piss and getting it badly wrong. Think Doncaster accent in York....very different.
Meatloaf was amazing the first 2 times. The last time I wish I hadn't bothered and wouldn't again. The people I was with loved it but they'd not seen him before
Left an Alison Moyet concert halfway, love the old stuff but she did a few techno/rave ones which were awful

Eddie Izzard was a massive disappointment. It was like he'd memorised a script. No interaction with the audience. He was just going through the motions

Motley Crue with a fucking working rollercoaster on stage!

Now THAT is value for money

I forgot to say Dolly Parton (seen her twice). I don't disagree with the pp who said she does a bit too much religious stuff, but man she puts on a show. Chatty, flirty, funny, self-deprecating. Does all the hits. Plays autoharp, steel guitar, banjo, guitar, penny whistle, piano, fiddle... She does (or did, when I saw her) Little Sparrow a cappella and you could hear a pin drop. Her voice on its own just soared. Spine-tingling.

Agree FruityB re Sarah millican. Haven't bothered with her since.

@DarlingNikita agree with Dolly - saw her a few years back now (maybe 3) and she was on point (at 70 years of age no less) - no religious talk at all so many that was earlier years - her voice was Devine - oh my - and she did all the hits and then some - and her humor and chat was charming - "it takes a lot of money to look this good" - hahaha - I was lucky enough to meet her and was staggered by her humility and gratitude - it was fab - best concert ever

Moral of this story? Don’t see men who can’t sing
I loved seeing Motorhead and Lemmy couldnt sing for toffee 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Lady, yes, I saw her longer ago than that so I guess she's rethought the setlist a bit! She was already doing all the stuff about 'it takes a lot of money to look this cheap', Jolene trying to steal her husband and the coat of many colours her mother made her back then, though, so some things never change , but I won't hear a word against her.

"now I'm nosey as to which venue. As in The Point or the O2/Three arena. As you well know the difference is mental!"
@PotterHead1985 RDS. All but Bruce Springfield had the stage orientated the same way so I dont think it was that. The sound at Metallica was poor. Elton was just a dull performance!!

Eddie Izzard was a massive disappointment. It was like he'd memorised a script.

Ironic that he first made his name as "improvising" his material ...