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.

Here for the duration, sadly I agree about Kylie! Saw her Showgirl tour and the massive costumes just seemed to distract her from the singing!
I also walked out of one of the last Blue concerts before they split as Lee Ryan had allegedly damaged his voice so wasn't singing yet he'd been on breakfast TV that morning singing his solo single!

Lisa Scott-Lee. I hadn’t planned to see her; it was a club PA and she was a last-minute replacement for someone else (can’t remember who now!) Granted, she’s not someone you’d expect to be a great singer, but given that Steps are known as a fun and lively band, you’d have thought she’d be engaging and upbeat. Unfortunately she was like someone doing a bad impression of a pop star; a failed auditionee for Butlins.

I’ve now seen Steps twice and they’re great fun - I think she’s just someone who works as a band member but isn’t up to it as a soloist. (Weird fact - I ended up working with her mother several years later!)

Lee Ryan is such a knob he gives me the heebie geebies.

Oasis. Their last ever gig, in Cardiff. Utter shite.

696 posts and no one mentions Black Sabbath with Ian Gillan on vocals in 1983 ?
Wow
Gillian is one of my GOAT,dead or alive!!!
I've seen him several times and always been fabulous.

The Fall were the worst band I've ever seen live (Whitley Bay, mid-nineties) and also the best live band (or one of, anyway) at Brighton some years later.

I can absolutely believe this Apart from anything else, presumably the band members had completely changed (several dozen times) between these gigs.

Would love to have seen them, but never did.

@StillCoughingandLaughing did you see the series where she tried to become a solo artist. I wish I could watch that again. She was delusional about her appeal.

I’d also like to add Oasis just before the big time. They were good (esp Noel) but Liam already acted like a total cock.
James also acted like knobheads. Made a big thing about not playing Sit Down at the end and wouldn’t do an encore. One of them then shagged someone from my school.

Worst - lost prophets, before the Ian Watkins thing happened. No energy, just sounded like I was listening to a CD.

I have to agree with PPs about Gary Numan, I never had any interest in him but he was one of the acts in a one day music event I was given free tickets for. He was absolutely brilliant, he engaged the audience and oozed charisma.

One of my happiest memories was when Black Lace (I know!!) played at our freshers ball when I started Uni back in 1992. We were all singing along to agadoo and I am the music man without any shame and it was the most fun night ever.

I'm glad I've read some of these, I won't waste my money going to see some of them.

Biggest disappointment was Michael Bolton. Loved him for years. He was rude and basically rubbish.

Best surprise act that was great was Peter Andre at a westlife concert and he was amazing.

Dylan Moran - flashes of brilliance, but on the whole rambling and incoherent.

Derek Jacobi - an abysmal MacBeth.

Consistently fab - Ed Byrne, Dara O'Brien, Alun Cochrane, Kate Fox.

The BEST I ever saw was Kylie. Oh man, I fell in love both times.
She comes on dead on time, sings all the songs you want to hear, chats with the audience and totally respects them and appreciates the time and money they spent getting there.
I do want her to be truly happy - but a tiny part of me is pleased and hopeful every time she becomes single....because I know that can only happen if she's with me

tattygran , what did you think The Proclaimers were going to do then other than stand and sing , that is their act . I’ve seen them several times and they’ve always been good , granted they don’t do much audience interaction but then that’s just them being them IYSWIM . They were very good putting a heckler in his place at one venue , I thought they were going to hit him !

Madonna at Murrayfield in 2012 was woeful. She was late, cut out hits so she could fit in new stuff nobody wanted to hear, was carried by her dancers and most likely miming. The support was a DJ. I felt totally ripped off. She was rightly booed.

The Who at the SECC a few years back, doing Quadrophenia. I went under duress and was bored shitless. One of the most overrated bands of all time.

Coldplay headlining T in the Park - so incredibly boring. A band whose popularity completely escapes me.

Radiohead at Glasgow SECC around 2004. Spectactularly boring, they were touring a duff album and didn't mix it up with any hits. Put me off them for life.

When I was at school in the late 1970s I went to see Pat Phoenix (better known as Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street) in the Daphne du Maurier play My Cousin Rachel. Pure ham -- it was hard not to laugh out loud at inopportune moments.

Worst - the play 'Stones in Their Pockets'. I spent over two hours waiting to be entertained - nope, didn't happen...
Mike Harding - we'd seen him several times and he'd been great; then he took a break to be a serious folk-singer - so when he returned to stand-up we booked to see him again -- he was crap..!! He was trying to remember his old routines - but had obviously not bothered to relearn them, and kept forgetting his words and trying to cover up by laughing - it was such a disappointment.

Best - Bill Bailey, I've seen him twice and he was wonderful both times; the incomparable Victoria Wood - DD took me for my b'day, and we seriously doubted whether we'd be able to walk home because we'd laughed so much..! And the wonderfully witty Fascinating Aida.

For anyone who read the whole thread, BF saw Tony Slattery and said he was very sweet, seemed grateful to have an audience and told interesting stories
Aww, I just love him so much.

Ray Lamontagne - venue was awesome. And intimate, Ray has a wonderful voice but absolutely no stage presence. Don't think he even acknowledged that the audience was there. Could have had a similar experience listening to his music at home (with less hassle). Dr Brian cox was dreadful on tour this year - again no stage presence and his voice is monotone. I was incredibly disappointed

what does 'dialling it in' mean?!

Going through the motions, not really 'there' as such. (I think it's 'phoning it in' actually)

Another vote for RHCP a couple of years ago. Played their new, not very good album in its entirety and just looked like they couldn’t be arsed. I was so disappointed as had wanted to see them for years but could never go. I’ll never go again either.

One Direction in Edinburgh. They were just going through the motions and obviously tired - Zayne even said 'Hello Manchester'!!!

Another vote for Marti Pellow in Evita - brilliant stage show but his singing was painful. Everyone else, including the chorus, showed him up. He had been brilliant a few years previously though in Chicago

Madonna (twice!), Billy Idol, Bill Bailey, Reginald D Hunter - all shite and going through the motions

@Rassy
Was that 1D at Murrayfield a few years ago?

Yes, yes to the feral crowd at Eminem, MK in 2004. I spent half the gig huddled in a ball for protection! 50 Cent was the support and was absolutely dire.
At DC’s request went to Gorillaz in Birmingham year. Zero atmosphere, new material and poor sound. One of only two concerts I’ve left early, also at DC’s request.
Saw Muse earlier this year in Bristol and they were incredible. Went not expecting much, and had the best night.
For comedy, Sarah Millican. Just not funny. Saw Ricky Gervais years ago and he came across as rude, arrogant and just a bit of a knob really. Greg Davies on the other hand, hilarious!

Oh actually, can I add another to the brilliant list please¿ How could I forget Seasick Steve? A great raconteur, entertainer and musician. Wonderful.