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.

Hang on, someone is complaining a Green Day gig wasn't family friendly for those down front?

Hang on, someone is complaining a Green Day gig wasn't family friendly for those down front?

It wasn't right down at the front to be clear, but regardless at any gig I'd expect people to not stand on people & young teens who are fainting in the hot weather (this was even between bands)

NIN and Jane’s addiction we’re dire for different reasons. JA were just poor, NIN were just going through the motions and played too few of their big songs for what was siloed to be their farewell tour.

Best music was probably Paul Heaton, what a voice.

Special mention for Wheatus who were so late to the gig (their van broke down) that they went in with no sound check/warm up/support and were awesome.

Comedy I’ve always been lucky, seen so many and they’ve all be epic. Bill Bailey last year was a blast. Best ever though is Tim Minchin before he hit the real big time.

Worst: Whitney Houston (shrieking that would have made a bat's ears bleed.)

Brilliant: so many. Robbie Williams, Beautiful South, Basement Jaxx, Paul Young (back in the mid 80's, and sober), Feargal Sharkey, Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, The Proclaimers, Phill Jupitus, Robin Ince, the Barenaked Ladies.

Best: the relatively unknown John Pilkington and the Atlantic Wave Band, in a small pub many years ago. He now performs with Tradish, and is based in Denmark, but I still hope to see him/them play again.

saw Anita Harris at Twinwood a couple of years ago, she had lost loads of money and gone back to work Absolutely embarrassed by how bad she was and loads left to go to other stages

Worst: Paul McCartney solo tour (about 10 years ago?). Best: Rick Astley, this year and last year, bloody amazing!

How many stars can you spot?

INXS, totally dire, I'm just pleased I was given the ticket, otherwise I would have felt robbed.

Why were INXS so bad? I thought Michael Hutchence would have been a good shout live.

I loved INXS live.

Worst - Elton John, 1990's. Arrogant, late, a few songs interspersed with a shit load of piano.

Best:
Sir Ian McKellan & Patrick Stewart in Waiting for Godot.
The Finn Brothers
21 Pilots, believe it or not - they worked their arses off, and the show itself was amazing.
AC/DC - although the crowd was a little 'lively', especially afterwards. God help you if you got caught up in it on a Japanese motorbike. . .
And best of all - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, last year in Christchurch. Out of this world amazing - something like three hours, 100% the whole time.

Frankie goes to Hollywood back in around 1984. Absolutely dire. Holly Johnston voice was like a cat had its bollocks caught in a clamp. Halfway through The power of love my eardrums threatened suicide and I left. Dreadful.

Bad Manners didn't even make it onstage a couple of years ago due to Buster Bloodvessel being comatose with drink. Never did get our money back, despite best efforts.

I took my mum to see Shirley Bassey some 30 years ago. After croaking out three songs she burst into tears and ran off the stage....and never returned! Did get refunded for that though.

I’ve been going to gigs for almost 40 years and most of them have been wonderful experiences.
Sade and Everything But The Girl were flawless but a bit uninvolving, I felt I may as well have put the records on in the comfort of my own home.
Paul Weller was a bit flat at The Royal Albert Hall - every time it felt like he was getting the crowd going he’d sing something dirgy and lose the mood plus the acoustics aren’t great there for pop music imo.
China Crisis back in the day were pretty awful, really weak vocals, obviously been boosted in the studio for the album.
Sting appeared under rehearsed and seemed to think it was okay to produce a lacklustre set because his fans would forgive him anything.
Worst though, although not technically a bad gig just a non gig, was Michael Jackson who failed to show up to a Wembley gig in 1992 due to illness but only after 72000 people had made the journey there (many flying half way round the world to see him) sat through the supports and waited and waited having been assured several times he’d be on stage soon. I thought there’d be a riot.

My worst has to be Rianna. Went through the motions, no interaction with the crowd mimed most of it and when she did sing live she was shit.

Robbie Williams at milton Keynes bowl a few years ago was brilliant and really chatted to the crowd.

I've seen pink twice both times phenomenal! Most recently at Wembley and I totally agree with a pp about her support acts. Vance joy was boring and his voice hurt my ears. Bang bang romeo though were brilliant and I'd probably pay to go see them.

Ya cant beat Pink though...true performer

Robbie always gives it his all but the best of his that I've seen were the first one at Milton Keynes in 2005 (?) and the Take That tour he did - though he was miles better than TT imo.

And yeah have seen Bruce Springsteen twice and he always delivers.

Coldplay are fantastic live too.

Kasabian are someone I rarely listen to at home but are also great live - they've got some real belters.

I've certainly seen more great acts than bad. Hell, I even enjoy local bands playing in pubs - I love live music.

Goaway that could have been when her child died i cant remember the exact year

Hells bells. INXS live were incredible.

Best had to be Kasabian, Paul Heaton and Jacqueline Abbott and Snow Patrol at a very small gig in Edinburgh.
I’ve been lucky enough to not see any truly terrible bands but Paul Weller was disappointing. Musically and vocally great but very dull, no interaction and new songs only.

Went to the Leeds fest many years ago and was extremely disappointed with Echo and the Bunnymen, who were touting their comeback album at the time. They just mumbled their way through their new stuff, wouldn't play any of the old hits, and there was no attempt to have a bit of audience banter. Ian McCulloch's voice was so muffled he sounded like he'd been zipped into a sleeping bag and thrown into a pond.

Bob Dylan sadly cannot sing live. It was devastating. He also sang different words to Tamborine Man.

The Stone Roses were also a disappointment because Ian Brown also cannot sing live.

As a contrast to others, I saw Oasis in ‘94 and they were fantastic. I have been to the pub with Noel and Liam as part of a competition prize when they were very new. Noel was lovely and Liam was an arrogant knob.

Another vote for Rick Astley-old and new!

Best music was Bryan Adams and best comedy was Steve Coogan's "The Man Who Thinks He Is It" tour in 1998

Worst music was Meat Loaf (he collapsed on stage at the Wembley Arena in 2003 - I suppose not his fault but he should have just cancelled it rather than going on stage whilst ill) and worst comedy was Steve Coogan's "Alan Partridge and other characters" tour in 2008 (so disappointed - had been looking forward to it for months, but it was dire - finishing with a ten minute song about being a 'c-word')

Agree with everyone who said Paul Weller. I stood through a whole gig of him singing not a single song I knew - no Jam or StyleCouncil hits, and he just came across as very arrogant - a real 'take it or leave it' attitude.

Have also suffered a fair few Shane McGowan experiences, with him coming on so late they'd done half the gig without him, and him then lying on the stage unable to stand.

Saw Space recently at a daytime family-friendly festival, where Tommy Smith basically swore every other word continuously throughout the part of the set I stayed for before deciding to take dd to something more appropriate.

AC/DC were superb, For Those About to Rock Tour. My mum was waiting for me outside and had to be calmed down when the canons went off.

Bryan Adams was fab.

Eric Clapton was so boring so was Paul Weller.

I'd love to see Bruce Springsteen.

Bob Dylan sadly cannot sing live. It was devastating. He also sang different words to Tamborine Man
Bob Dylan cant sing recorded or with auto tune. This cant be a suprise! You go to see Bob Dylan, the activist, the poet the legend....but not the singer.
Everyone has known this since probably before 1965!
It's not a suprise.