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Worst Concerts You Have Attended ??

I just left a remark about a favorite band of mine back in the day - April Wine - that I saw in concert and was disappointed. Could have been that it was an off night for them, or maybe they were never good in concert. Maybe the lead guitarist had too much to drink? April Wine was not the worst, however. I remember Neil Young in the 1990's who was on his one-man acoustic show type of tour that many artists were taking advantage of (perhaps for financial reasons) during that time. While a friend of I had near front row seats at Desert Sky Pavilion (now Ak-Chin) in Pheonix, the crowd was just roused up into a frenzy by the warm-up band (James) and here comes Neil and his guitar/harmonica. Wow, what a sonic letdown. I remember getting up and leaving and feeling Neil's glaring eyes on us as we ushered out. I think, to this day, he probably still remembers me. We all can remember the great live concerts we attended, but what were the worst and why?
goodlistening64
mitchagain
452 posts
 
The only two bands that I remember walking out on were The Dream Syndicate and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers (both were opening acts that were too loud and talentless). I have a vague memory of walking out on another opening act (Hydra) from my teenage years, but that's going back to far in the memory bank.

The three worst "going through the motions" shows were: Van Morrison, Morrissey and New Order. All three only lasted around 45 minutes; so, they also felt like a double ripoff.
pgaulke60
308 posts
 
Oh, I remember another awfully boring show.  It a James Taylor show in the mid-80's.  I was in college and worked the show.  I kept leaving to go to a friends party then come back hoping it got better.  Never did.  It was just so bloody boring.  
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,428 posts
 
Worst concert I saw was Foghat back in the 70’s.  They didn’t seem to have too much material, so every song droned on and on. Slow Ride was more than a half hour long and I fell asleep during it.   Second worst was Deep Purple when David Coverdale was the singer.  Again, a 5 minute song turned into eternity.  The worst part was a girl overdosed right behind me and her supersize soda went all down my back and she fell over the railing and landed on top of me.  I wanted to say something but her boyfriend was some huge goon.  I said nothing and left the concert early.  
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,638 posts
 
The absolute worst was The Who performing @ the University of Leeds in February of 1970.

DeKay
anton99
54 posts
 
Worst: Aerosmith, Buffalo, NY, September 1978. The opening act, AC/DC, blew 'em off the stage, as they say. But Tyler et al. seemed wasted, indifferent. The sound was awful. Draw the Line, indeed.

Best: The Who, same venue (Buffalo Memorial Auditorium), the very night after the 11 people were killed in Cincinnati. Talk about power. Tight sound, brilliant performance after the horror of the previous night. Changed the way I thought about music. 

Close to best: As MillerCarbon noted, the Born in the USA tour of Springsteen had some great shows. In Tempe, AZ, man, was he on. For a long night, too. 

Another close: Opening show, U2's Joshua Tree Tour, same venue as Springsteen a few years earlier. Never experienced such energy, even if Bono's voice was shot from over practice. He didn't need it, as the crowd sang all the lyrics (yelled them, that is). Two nights later it was back. Still didn't need it, though. Talk about synergy.
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