IanBest Onstage Meltdowns
August 30th 2010 03:06
Apparently, fame, fortune and adoring fans just aren't enough for some entertainers!
As reported on Metromix, here are some of the top onstage meltdowns of all time. Read the full article here
When and where: Dec. 29, 2002, at the Allstate Arena in Chicago
Circumstances: There are bad performances. There are sub-par performances. But shows that are so god-awful fans later bring lawsuits against you? During a notoriously sloppy Chicago set, Creed lead singer Scott Stapp often left stage, flubbed lyrics and rolled around on the floor. He claimed it was dramatic rock theater, a “personal gesture.” Four fans thought it was a joke and sued for the price of tickets and parking, claiming he was so messed up on drugs and medication he was “unable to sing the lyrics of a single Creed song.”
Did it damage their image? A judge dismissed the lawsuit, saving Creed from what could have ballooned to a $2 million class-action suit. But Stapp’s unfortunate behavior has become a part of the band’s legacy.
When and where: July 21, 1989, at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut
Circumstances: Euro-pop pretty boys Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus were cruising in 1989, enjoying massive sales of their debut album and eventually scoring a Grammy for Best New Artist. But when the vocal track started skipping during this performance, repeating “Girl you know it’s…” over and over again, the group’s manufactured façade was exposed for all to see.
Did it damage their image? The lip sync incident basically ended Milli Vanilli and made them VH1 fodder for the rest of time. Their Grammy was revoked, they were dropped from their label, and even became the subject of a class-action lawsuit giving rebates to "defrauded" fans who bought the duo's music.
When and where: July 2, 1991 at Riverport Amphitheater (now Verizon Wireless Amphitheater) in Maryland Heights, Mo.
Circumstances: The temperamental Guns N’ Roses singer has had more than his fair share of onstage tantrums, but none was more explosive than the one he pitched on an early stop of the band’s Use Your Illusion tour. Spotting a fan illegally videotaping GNR’s performance, Rose first dove into the crowd in an attempt to confront the fan himself. Then, when that failed, he returned to the stage and announced that, due to “lame-ass security,” the show was over. As soon as his bandmates followed Rose off the stage, a riot broke out, destroying much of the band’s gear and the brand-new venue’s seating and sending some 60 concertgoers to the hospital.
Did it damage his image? Only in St. Louis, where Rose was convicted of assault and property damage and Guns N' Roses were banned from making any future appearances. Outside St. Louis, Rose’s eccentric, reclusive behavior in the 16 years since the tour has done far more to alienate fans.
When and where: October 23, 2004, on “Saturday Night Live”
Circumstances: The pop princess didn’t exactly have a lot of musical credibility leading up to this late-night performance, but her lip-synching gaffe certainly expended any that she may have had. After playing “Pieces of Me” during the first musical break, Simpson and her band came out to perform again, but when they started, the vocals for “Pieces of Me” played again. She acted confused, hopped around, and walked offstage 35 seconds into the song.
Did it damage her image? Simpson claimed she didn’t know what to do and “thought I’d do a hoe-down.” She hasn’t really been taken seriously since.
When and where: January 28, 1970 at Madison Square Garden
Circumstances: In addition to the more celebrated Jimi Hendrix Experience, the iconic ‘60s blues-rock guitarist also performed with a trio called Band of Gyspys. They were slated to appear as part of an anti-Vietnam War concert called the Winter Festival for Peace, but delays between other bands’ sets pushed the Gypsys’ time slot to 3 a.m. The troubled Hendrix, who would be dead within a year, took the stage under the obvious influence of booze or drugs or both and stumbled through two songs before muttering something about “that's what happens when earth [expletive] with space” and being helped off the stage. The Gypsys disbanded soon after.
Did it damage his image? Many fans were upset at the time by Hendrix’s erratic performance, as well as some vulgar comments he directed towards a female fan. But in retrospect, it’s hard to feel anything but pity for the doomed guitar god.
As reported on Metromix, here are some of the top onstage meltdowns of all time. Read the full article here
Creed
Circumstances: There are bad performances. There are sub-par performances. But shows that are so god-awful fans later bring lawsuits against you? During a notoriously sloppy Chicago set, Creed lead singer Scott Stapp often left stage, flubbed lyrics and rolled around on the floor. He claimed it was dramatic rock theater, a “personal gesture.” Four fans thought it was a joke and sued for the price of tickets and parking, claiming he was so messed up on drugs and medication he was “unable to sing the lyrics of a single Creed song.”
Did it damage their image? A judge dismissed the lawsuit, saving Creed from what could have ballooned to a $2 million class-action suit. But Stapp’s unfortunate behavior has become a part of the band’s legacy.
Milli Vanilli
Circumstances: Euro-pop pretty boys Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus were cruising in 1989, enjoying massive sales of their debut album and eventually scoring a Grammy for Best New Artist. But when the vocal track started skipping during this performance, repeating “Girl you know it’s…” over and over again, the group’s manufactured façade was exposed for all to see.
Did it damage their image? The lip sync incident basically ended Milli Vanilli and made them VH1 fodder for the rest of time. Their Grammy was revoked, they were dropped from their label, and even became the subject of a class-action lawsuit giving rebates to "defrauded" fans who bought the duo's music.
Axl Rose
Circumstances: The temperamental Guns N’ Roses singer has had more than his fair share of onstage tantrums, but none was more explosive than the one he pitched on an early stop of the band’s Use Your Illusion tour. Spotting a fan illegally videotaping GNR’s performance, Rose first dove into the crowd in an attempt to confront the fan himself. Then, when that failed, he returned to the stage and announced that, due to “lame-ass security,” the show was over. As soon as his bandmates followed Rose off the stage, a riot broke out, destroying much of the band’s gear and the brand-new venue’s seating and sending some 60 concertgoers to the hospital.
Did it damage his image? Only in St. Louis, where Rose was convicted of assault and property damage and Guns N' Roses were banned from making any future appearances. Outside St. Louis, Rose’s eccentric, reclusive behavior in the 16 years since the tour has done far more to alienate fans.
Ashlee Simpson
Circumstances: The pop princess didn’t exactly have a lot of musical credibility leading up to this late-night performance, but her lip-synching gaffe certainly expended any that she may have had. After playing “Pieces of Me” during the first musical break, Simpson and her band came out to perform again, but when they started, the vocals for “Pieces of Me” played again. She acted confused, hopped around, and walked offstage 35 seconds into the song.
Did it damage her image? Simpson claimed she didn’t know what to do and “thought I’d do a hoe-down.” She hasn’t really been taken seriously since.
Jimi Hendrix
Circumstances: In addition to the more celebrated Jimi Hendrix Experience, the iconic ‘60s blues-rock guitarist also performed with a trio called Band of Gyspys. They were slated to appear as part of an anti-Vietnam War concert called the Winter Festival for Peace, but delays between other bands’ sets pushed the Gypsys’ time slot to 3 a.m. The troubled Hendrix, who would be dead within a year, took the stage under the obvious influence of booze or drugs or both and stumbled through two songs before muttering something about “that's what happens when earth [expletive] with space” and being helped off the stage. The Gypsys disbanded soon after.
Did it damage his image? Many fans were upset at the time by Hendrix’s erratic performance, as well as some vulgar comments he directed towards a female fan. But in retrospect, it’s hard to feel anything but pity for the doomed guitar god.
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