late, delayed, and/or cancelled concerts - your stories here

Unperson, I don't know about Flav, but I'm pretty sure Ice-T and Chuck D don't do drugs.

Which answers the other question of what are so many of these artists doing backstage. It's drugs.

If I was tired from touring and had a room full of food, booze, and drugs, not to mention potential sexual partners, I wouldn't want to go out on stage either, tbh

For a sec I read this as that was what Sebastian Bach did throughout the evening.

So did I

Hahaha. Sebastian Bach's dangling participle.

xp OTOH surely these artists would be cognizant of the fact that they'd got this room full of food, booze, drugs, and potential sexual partners from performing live and therefore not do anything to jeopardise that by getting a reputation for being a rubbish live act?

Had tickets to see PJ Harvey in Manchester in 1998. Got to the venue and learned she'd canceled because she had laryngitis. I've always wondered what that gig would've been like.

Bubba Sparxxx delayed a show to take a mid-set dookie

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/bubba-sparxxx-astoria-london-9271783.html

PJ Harvey in Toronto in 1998 was great! The band all played in a line across the stage (including drums) instead of the typical line-up.

OTOH surely these artists would be cognizant of the fact that they'd got this room full of food, booze, drugs, and potential sexual partners from performing live and therefore not do anything to jeopardise that by getting a reputation for being a rubbish live act?

I am aware of someone who was in a lineup of the L3m0nheads at a time when they were at a level to get booked on a big touring festival, but playing in mid-afternoon, not at headline times. After a few dates this person suggested to Ev4n D4ndo that since this was a 14-and-up event, and many of the audience were teenagers who were spending saved pocket money on the only live music experience they would have all year, that if he waited until after they played to get fucked up, Ev4n would still have 12 hours to do drugs backstage with international rock star pals AND could give the paying kids a good experience for their first concert ever.

The next day, a note was slid under the musician's hotel room door informing them their services were no longer required in the band.

(NB that they had not proposed moderation or sobriety during previous touring at night in licensed venues, it was specifically because of the audience / daytime slot.)

Saw the Sugarcubes once where they announced Bjork was sick and wouldn't be performing. The rest of them played at most a half hour set and then left (no refund). It was a perfect opportunity for Einar to take command and show what he can do lead-wise, but I guess they'd have had to rehearse that for it to come off.

I went to a Belly & Catherine Wheel show where after Belly they announced that one of the CW's members' wife had had a miscarriage, and so they had to go back to the UK. They performed "Judy Staring At The Sun" with Tanya, and one or two other songs, then show over.

ad tickets to see PJ Harvey in Manchester in 1998. Got to the venue and learned she'd canceled because she had laryngitis. I've always wondered what that gig would've been like.

― jaymc, Friday, November 20, 2020

I saw U2's world tour opener in Ft Lauderdale in 2001 because PJ Harvey was opening; she had laryngitis.

I went to a local college spring festival with the sole intention of seeing Doug E. Fresh. My consolation prizes were American Hi-Fi and Our Lady Peace. I don't know if Doug E. Fresh in 2001 was anything worth seeing and I definitely didn't know he was a sci-tie. But I had been an elementary school kid named Doug during the height of his popularity. I wonder how many other disappointed Dougs were in the audience that day.

Not an exciting story but showed up to a Lower Dens show in Austin and found they’d cancelled as their gear (or van?) was stolen earlier in the day in San Antonio.

And I don’t remember why - maybe egregiously long opening bands? - but in terms of late I saw Archers Of Loaf start their set after 1am and go til 2 something in Baltimore (at a Korean karaoke, on a school night).

Saw Mayhem on the Grand Declaration Of War tour twenty years ago, but singer Maniac had carved into his arm too deep on the gig before and had ended up in the hospital - the band performed as a trio instead.

In 2012 I had a ticket to see Morrissey play the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, site of the last performance by Buddy Holly. The show was canceled.

I also had a ticket to see Morrissey in Chicago in 2014. He canceled, and I saw Silver Apples play at the Bohemian National Cemetery instead. That worked out for the best.

Got to the venue and learned she'd canceled because she had laryngitis.

Really sorry but I read this as “because she had ladybits”

Andy has a couple, and I will go chronologically.

The first is Dru Down sometime in the summer of 1996, a very exciting time for a hiphop fan. To have any hiphop that wasn't local in Reno at that time was unheard of, so we found out Dru Down was playing a live show (which we were not able to attend because we were only fifteen) and doing a free in-store appearance at the local Sam Goody, which we were in for as soon as we heard about it. He was supposed to arrive for the in-store at 1pm. He finally showed up around 330pm. A lot of unknown guys around asking him for money, which he would give them in twenty dollar bills two or three at a time, and all of whom were insisting that they sign any autographs alongside Dru Down's. It was an odd scene. It didn't come as much of a surprise to learn that the performance later that night at a sketchy club in a very sketchy part of town was shut down when the police were called on account of a mid-performance brandishing of a firearm by one of the performers. It was never confirmed if Dru Down was the one who had pulled the gun, but he was arrested. A quick glance at his Wikipedia indicates that he has followed a similar path in recent years, unfortunately.

The second is the Appleseed Cast in the fall of 2008. And again in the summer of 2011. Both times in Reno. A place that they played consistently and faithfully pretty much since they started touring nationally. And the same thing happened both times and, both times, it was not the band's fault. They got stuck into these loaded bills that had two local openers on the bill, in addition to the act that was touring with Appleseed Cast. And they would end up at the back end of a bill that sadly saw all of the people who come to see their local friend's band and no one else come and go before the headliners had even come on. And all of us who were there for Appleseed Cast didn't get home until near 4am because of it. It always felt like the local acts had somehow managed more of a draw than the headliner, which was confusing and upsetting.

Anyway. Fun thread, if a bit schadenfreude.

Forgot to mention: Appleseed Cast never played Reno again after that 2011 show.

never waste your time going to see hip-hop acts live if you want to see them perform well, or perform certain songs.

This is bullshit. Every DC hip-hop group I saw (in DC, mind you, because the rest of the country ignored them) was on time and were consummate professionals.

Also, De La Soul was on time and on point both times I saw them live (1991, 2017)

I figured from the way the thread started that this would eventually turn into “Black people can’t be on time” but this issue is endemic across the music industry and I’m very glad that British people showed up to give stories about White people doing the exact same thing.

I have a nice one for a hiphop show that I will share here for balance, even if it is not in the spirit of the thread:

Jurassic 5, and the entire crew they brought along with them also in Reno, but in the summer of 1999. No local acts, so all of them were on time and fantastic, despite some sound issues. The other acts on the bill were: Breakestra, Dilated Peoples, and the Beat Junkies. It was great.

I saw Guns N' Roses tour with Skid Row and they were doing a couple of big shows in Indianapolis, which was kind of played up as a big homecoming show (at least locally). This was before the further crazy stuff to follow, but Skid Row played and it was like 3-4 hours until GNR played. They ran the whole movie of Evil Dead during part of the interim on the big screens.

Couple years before I had tickets to see Guns N Roses open for Iron Maiden at Market Square Arena. They dropped off that show and instead I got Waysted as the opening act. Kind of a bummer. (As I side note, I saw GNR at the FarmAid which was Steven Adler's last show. Saw all sorts of people at that gig. Carl Perkins was there. So was Iggy Pop.)

The only time I went out early and actually really good seats for a concert was like 3rd row center for Yes touring for Big Generator, then the show got cancelled. Oh well...

xxpost I've had mixed experience with rap shows, but the idea that they inherently *can't* be great is dumb.

Kendrick Lamar was one of the most incredible live shows I ever saw, and by the time he got to "Swimming Pools (Drank)", he had the entire crowd in a frenzy. took me hours to come down from that high.

Wu-Tang's Enter the Wu-Tang 25th anniversary tour was phenomenal (they were so-so the first time I saw them)

Jay-Z/Kanye "Watch the Throne" was an amazing spectacle great setlist, overall great time.

Jay-Z's solo show that I went to a few years back was great, as was his tour with Beyonce.

GZA/Killer Mike and Yelawolf put on great shows (separate nights) as well.

the only ones that sucked were Mobb Deep (second time), aforementioned Meek Mill, OFWKTA (sound was terrible).

also at OFWKTA a kid behind me saw my Wu-Tang shirt and said "wow Wu-Tang, that was all the way back in the 90s", so I was basically ready to kill anybody in their 20s already before lights went down

oh and duh, I saw ATCQ in 2006 and that was incredible

I was pretty pissed a few years ago for the Decibel tour in NYC (Irving Plaza), which I flew up to see, I was primarily there for Khemmis, Wolves in the Throne Room, and Enslaved, but was really vibing on Khemmis in the weeks prior.

The event page actually was kind enough to list the set times and Myrkur was on first. I wasn't intentionally out to miss her, but I realized the tickets weren't mobile and I needed to print them out, so I had to find a FedEx Office quickly, which meant I was running behind, but I didn't care as I was missing Myrkur's set (or so I thought) and I didn't really know her music.

so I get it done, and I'm getting to the venue, and my heart sinks when 30 minutes into what's supposed to be Myrkur's set, I hear what is obviously Khemmis. they switched slots with zero warning on the event page (really confusing as the post confirming each band's set time had been posted like...merely two hours earlier).

still haven't seen them since. oh well. Wolves and Enslaved were great.

Peter Murphy also infuriated Orlando last year when in February, fans found out only after they'd sat through two opening acts that Peter had bowed out of the show due to pain, so he scheduled a make-up show. Fans showed up, the opening act (Sine) played, and then the announcement was again made that Peter could not perform due to pain. However, David J and his backing band were there and did a Bauhaus set, but refunds were still given.

the vitriol seemed a bit premature, especially when Peter suffered a heart attack months later, insinuating maybe he wasn't faking the pain like Orlandolts thought

Lemonheads story is so brutal

yeah wtf Dando

that dude's concert was cancelled, that's for sure.

lol he's kinda made for this thread

https://www.villagevoice.com/2011/10/10/its-a-shame-about-nostalgia-the-lemonheads-leave-a-sour-taste-at-the-bowery/

(writer kinda seems nasty too though)

lol

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/mystery-surrounds-rocker-evan-dandos-new-zealand-no-show/3JMFDWXLAPET5OQJJEB2LZLWA4/

Some good ones I remember. I saw the Beta Band at ... the peak of whenever anyone cared about the Beta Band. Right before they went on some local construction caused the venue's power to go out and, when it became apparent it was not coming back, they lit a bunch of candles and the band came out to do an acoustic set.

There was a fire alarm when I saw Suicide, and everyone had to evacuate the venue midset. After the all clear we all went back in and the band picked up right where it left off.

I saw Garbage open for U2, and in the middle of the set an amp blew up and while it was getting changed out the band (well, Shirley), led the crowd in Beatles sing-a-longs.

Similarly, I saw the Killers open for Morrissey in a tiny venue, and some time during their set an amp literally burst into flames and stopped the show for a bit.

Del the Funkee Homosapien I saw go on once at 2am, for not that long, which is bullshit. Similar bullshit was Kool Keith, who when I saw him played maybe 20 minutes or so before leaving, leading to angry booing until he came out to play a couple of more songs.

I saw Nine Inch Nails once and clearly the onstage monitors were working but the house PA was not. So for about a whole song or so Trent and crew were doing their intense thing, but to us in the crowd it almost looked like pantomime. Once he learned what was going on he looked super pissed. The band left for a while, and when they came back I could have sworn at least one of them had a bloody nose, and they launched right into "Wish."

lol at pantomime NiN

xp Interesting catalog of technical difficulties. When I saw Shania Twain at the Staples Center, there was an explosion down the street mid-show that knocked out power at the venue. Emergency house lights came up quickly, but not the sound system; Shania had to mark time for a while.

when I saw Terrorizer play at the Brass Mug, the set was temporarily disrupted for a half hour because none other than internet celebrity Balloon Boy and his brothers were at the show, and Balloon Boy got so excited during their set that he took a flying leap and dislodged the huge, expensive PA speaker and knocked it over onto the stage, which send cords a flying and some things broke. took a while for them to get it remounted and set back up.

was to see the Karl Hendricks Trio at galaxy hut in arlington, virginia, but their van broke down and somehow i never managed to see them again before karl died

I don’t know if it was a typo or mockery but years ago I saw the phrase “evan lando of demonheads” and I can’t think of him any other way

massive lols at NiN

I'm sad that the visual in my head is probably funnier than what actually transpired

Showed up to see Roger waters doing the wall a few hours early to the sounds of announcements over the PA saying “the Roger waters show starts promptly at 8...” it started at like 10

I've never seen a hip-hop act come out on time or give a good show. And I've tried upwards of a dozen times. Truly wasn't trying to be a racist ass, just my experience.

I saw Iron Maiden at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC in 2003 - instead of doing their usual massive arena tour, they were doing just a few small theater gigs in the US, including a scheduled four nights at Hammerstein. On the second night, the show I went to, some asshole threw a full cup of beer off the balcony...which landed on/in the soundboard. Good night, New York! (Supposedly the first and third nights went OK, but the fourth was cancelled because it had been double booked by mistake.)

I should say: I'm really glad other people haven't had my bad luck!

The Lemonheads were my first ever concert in 1992 and they were great!

The rockist in me wants to agree about live hip-hop, or at least hip-hop performed by anything other than a full band, a la the Roots or even Black Eyed Peas (who were honestly awesome the one time I saw them live), but thinking back I've seen far too many incredible hip-hop shows over the years, as recently as the final Tribe Called Quest show. Granted, I've seen more than my share of hoarse screaming over shitty backing tracks, too, and perhaps more of that with rap than with whatever the rock equivalent might be, but I wonder if that's just inexperience or technical ineptitude at work. I have a friend who did sound for Cappadonna once, and Cap kept stopping the show, pointing at his mic, and yelling "yo, turn that shit up!" Eventually my friend pointed to the board and gave him a thumbs up, he does a couple of "check, check"s, and then, satisfied, shouts "that's what I'm talking about!" Of course, nothing had really changed, but it made him happy.

Pro-tip: whenever a singer, especially an experienced one, starts blaming the mic, it's almost always the singer's fault. I once saw Motley Crue, and Vince Neil kept pointing to the mic and shaking his head, and I thought to myself, no, dude, it's you. *You* sound like shit. My friend recalls a time he saw Janet Jackson perform on the Grammy's or some big TV gig, and as she starts singing she does the "point to the mic" thing. As my friend points out, there is no way she had less than the best audio and tech and sound guys money can buy for one of these big award shows. No one else was having a problem. She probably just missed or skipped the sound check or something, because better or at least more confident singers can better deal with shit on the fly. I've seen far too many people seamlessly swap out a mic or correct a problem without ever bringing real attention to it.

My friend likes to tell me about an infamous Offspring show he saw here on some bill. Someone threw a bottle or shoe or something onto the stage, and the idiot singer goaded the crowd on with an "is that the best you can do!?!" And the crowd proceeded to belt the Offspring with everything and anything that wasn't nailed down: bottles, grass clumps, etc., until the band had to leave the stage early.

He coulda done what Cobain did with hurled shoes

http://www.alternativenation.net/dave-grohl-reveals-kurt-cobain-peed-little-girl-shoe/

At my first ever concert in 1982 the B-52's - opening for The Who - got pelted with beer cups and left the stage after about 20 min. The tour was sponsored by Schlitz so that must have been the beer the B-52's wound up stinking of. I've seen two aborted RHCP shows, one in '86 when about 30 min in the show was halted by the venue, apparently due to the frenzied-ness of the crowd; the second an outdoor show in '87 which was terminated about halfway through because of noise regulations.

Saw a (very good) local NYC band break up onstage after a squabble.

I read a review of a live Nine Inch Nails show circa Downward Spiral and the critic described it as “what your grandparents think a rock show looks like” so I’m enjoying the image conjured by that, and silent to boot.

I saw Chris 2 weeks before he died

I was in the crowd when this happened:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XERf28QoJRo

XP Your rave about that show was what made me want to go!

Oh really? Damn!

It was really good

A band I was in was lucky enough to play a couple of shows with Dillinger Escape Plan in 2002. So, sadly not with Dimitri or Adam but it was pretty incredible to witness them close up, they played Grateful Dead, Cure and Radiohead riffs in soundcheck.

Dimitri was the one who sold me my DEP shirt. Which doesn't fit cis I'm fat now

Yeah, however I *did* see the first Dillinger show with Greg, which was at CMJ 2001 and it was bananas.

Like this HULKING meathead-looking dude comes out and the vibe felt like “what is this shit” and iirc as soon as they started he picked up a monitor and threw it into the crowd and it was game on

Puciato is a gym membership personified