Top 30 Best and Worst Live Performances of All Time

BEST: Metallica

Monsters in Moscow (1991)

What’s your idea of a big concert crowd? 10,000? 100,000? Try a million. When Metallica and other notable bands performed at Moscow’s Tushino Airfield in 1991, they reportedly drew as many as 1.6 million spectators. While an official headcount might not be possible, we can absolutely verify that this concert was one for the ages. Performing during the final months of the Soviet Union, the metal legends brought out headbanging hits like “Fade to Black” and the recently released “Enter Sandman.” The band is on another level, and the crowd absorbs their energy and sends it right back. Whether performing a raging set for more than a million people or with the San Francisco Symphony, there’s no one quite like Metallica.

WORST: Green Day

“The 2nd iHeartRadio Music Festival” (2012)

Even if someone's anger is justified, seeing them act out on it publicly is nothing short of uncomfortable. Green Day was mid-song at the iHeartRadio Festival in 2012 when their lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, suddenly snapped after assuming that their time was being cut short. He stopped performing and launched into an expletive-ridden rant, complete with pulling rank and calling out newer artists. When they inevitably ran out of time, Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt smashed their instruments and walked off. The spectacle was so intense that the band issued an apology and an announcement that Armstrong was going to rehab. It was a dark moment, but luckily, they were able to reconcile with the event just a few years later.

BEST: Michael Jackson

Bucharest National Stadium (1992)

Michael Jackson was known as the “King of Pop,” not only for his amazing singing and songwriting, but also for how he could command a crowd. There’s no better example of this than this sold-out concert at Bucharest National Stadium in Romania. Jackson was closing out the European section of his blockbuster “Dangerous World Tour,” which significantly raised the bar for elaborate staging. And while not everyone got a ticket, millions around the world were able to watch it from home. This set a new record for cable TV ratings. Can you think of any pop star who has that kind of pull today? Neither can we.

WORST: Britney Spears

“The 24th MTV Video Music Awards” (2007)

2007 was undoubtedly a rough year for the Princess of Pop. With several different familial issues going on at the time, the MTV Video Music Awards were most likely the last thing on her mind. Still, she showed up to perform her newest hit, “Gimme More” – although by the end, some were asking for the exact opposite. From the beginning, her lack of energy was apparent, and even appeared to be half-heartedly lip syncing. It was clear she was just going through the motions, resulting in a completely out-of-character performance. She was slated by critics and her peers, and while she was able to recover professionally, it became an unfortunate representation of the personal and mental struggles she was facing.

BEST: Daft Punk

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (2006)

Who would’ve thought it would take two robots to make everyone feel human? In 2006, famed French house duo Daft Punk made the Sahara dance set the place to be at that year’s festival. While they weren’t headlining, this performance was so good, it became the stuff of legend. In the packed tent, the duo gave their grooviest hits even more bounce through seamless blending and clever remixing ideas. If you had heard of Daft Punk before, this was your chance to hear your old favorites with a fresh spin. And if you were completely new to them, well, there’s no way you weren’t walking away a fan.

WORST: Oasis

Whisky a Go Go (1994)

They’re as well known for their dramatics as they are for their sheer musical ability. It's no secret that the Gallaghers, the brothers behind Oasis, have an explosive relationship. That's been apparent since their first tour, when one infamous concert nearly caused them to call it quits. Liam had indulged in some chemical encouragement prior to the show, and by the time he hit the stage, it was clear just how intoxicated he was. The result was a truly chaotic night, where the singer reportedly mocked the audience and even struck his older brother with his tambourine. While the crowd didn't seem too mad, the same couldn't be said for Noel, who ended up being so upset that he temporarily quit the band.

BEST: Radiohead

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (2006)

Radiohead is one of those bands that you owe it to yourself to see. But if you got the chance to see them at Bonnaroo in 2006, consider yourself extremely fortunate. The English art-rockers delivered a set full of incredible songs, both old and yet-to-be-released. Not only did fans get to hear amazing live versions of classic songs like “There There” and “Paranoid Android,” but they also got to hear songs from “In Rainbows” a year before it was out. Guitarist Jonny Greenwood has referred to this show as being his favorite American festival experience. And frontman Thom Yorke has also sung its praises. An awesome Radiohead show? No surprises.

WORST: Roseanne Barr

Jack Murphy Stadium (1990)

It's no secret that comedians push boundaries to get laughs, but there's a time and place for everything and during “The Star-Spangled Banner” isn't one of those times. While kicking off a game between the San Diego Padres and the Cincinnati Reds, she was tasked with singing the anthem. As soon as she took the mic, things went wrong. She immediately began screaming the lyrics, later claiming it was because she couldn't hear herself. As if that wasn't enough, she topped off the rendition with vulgar gestures, in an attempt to parody the players. However, it only served to make her look even more disrespectful. The backlash was severe, with even the president at the time, George H.W. Bush, calling it a disgrace.

BEST: Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (2012)

Coachella tends to be full of surprises. But no one could have predicted what would happen during Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s headlining set. The West Coast hip-hop legends performed hits like “Nuthin’ but a “G” Thang” and “The Next Episode” with the same energy as in the ‘90s. They also brought out numerous all-star guests to perform some of their own biggest hits, including 50 Cent, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, oh, and Tupac Shakur. A hologram projection of the late rapper brought his presence to Coachella and turned an already-great show into a classic one.

WORST: Kanye West

“Saturday Night Live” (2008)

He's known for his eclectic shows, but for this one, he bit off a little more than he could chew. In the original version of “Love Lockdown,” Kanye utilized autotune to help with the sound. When it came time to perform the piece on “Saturday Night Live,” he attempted to emulate that by singing through a vocoder. It didn't translate well to a live setting, with the autotune only being apparent some of the time and his higher notes being cut out and replaced entirely by a random female vocal. A decade later, another SNL appearance in which he wore Trump merchandise and expressed support for the divisive politician was also problematic.

BEST: Prince

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (2008)

Attendees of the 2008 Coachella festival had even more reason to celebrate when a surprise headliner was announced: a rockstar by the name of Prince. Buzz about a possible Prince Coachella performance had been circulating for years. But a dream became a reality with this performance, which got everyone talking. Not only did Prince provide sensational renditions of songs from his own catalog, but he also performed brilliant covers of songs from artists like Radiohead, The Beatles, and the B-52s. There wasn’t any kind of song that Prince couldn’t make into his own, and there'll never be another artist quite like him.

WORST: Caroline Marcil

Quebec Coliseum (2005)

It's one thing to sing the National Anthem poorly; it's another thing entirely to not know it at all. When Caroline Marcil stepped up to perform at a 2005 hockey game, it was clear how nervous she was. That became more apparent when she had to restart twice due to her forgetting the lyrics. She was determined to finish, even with the crowd already viciously booing her. She left to get the lyrics, and when she returned, she immediately slipped and fell. That ended up being the final straw. When she left the ice again, she didn’t return. While it was a disaster, what makes it worse is that her voice sounded fine, meaning she could’ve pulled it off had she known the words.

BEST: Bruce Springsteen

Parc de la Courneuve (1985)

With his “Born in the U.S.A. Tour,” Bruce Springsteen went from being the next great rockstar to one of the best rockstars period. With more than 100 shows all over the world, he kept the energy going every single night. And his newly toned physique was surely a boost in that regard, too. We have to give the best of this tour to his first of two dates at Paris’s Parc de la Courneuve. Springsteen and the E Street Band both performed at the top of their game, and the crowd was absolutely ecstatic, as were we. With this performance, you should understand exactly why they call him “The Boss.”

WORST: Kesha

“Saturday Night Live” (2010)

While she completely rebranded herself in recent years, she used to have an entirely different image. Known for her party girl aesthetic, Kesha's early work embodied the culture of the early 2010s. Supporters were excited to see her bring that energy to “Saturday Night Live” in 2010, and she did but it quickly proved to be too much. Between decking herself out in glow-in-the-dark paint for one number and featuring dancing astronauts in another, both numbers became visual overload. It ended up overshadowing her voice in the process, and left her with a reputation that took years to shake. Given her new independence and image as an artist, we can only hope that she'll one day get a chance to fully redeem herself.

BEST: U2

Koševo Stadium (1997)

U2 is as known for spreading awareness as they are for making music. And they made quite a statement when they became the first internationally known act to perform a concert in Sarajevo, following the end of the Bosnian War. Though the war had ended a couple years prior, memories of the tragedies lingered, and it was uncertain whether a big concert like this could be pulled off. However, Bono and company were more than up to the task. Anthems like “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Pride (In the Name of Love)” became even more epic thanks to crowd sing-alongs. And they performed a stunning version of “Miss Sarajevo” for the encore. The region was still healing, but this concert helped to maintain hope.

WORST: Metallica & Guns N’ Roses

Olympic Stadium (1992)

Two legendary bands on tour together, what could possibly go wrong? The fans of Metallica and Guns N’ Roses learned that firsthand after a 1992 incident in Montreal, Canada. Things started off rough with the former, wherein a pyrotechnic issue caused James Hetfield to be burned. This forced them to call their set early so he could get medical attention and things only went further downhill. The audience waited over two hours for Guns N’ Roses to appear. When they did, technical problems of their own caused them to call it quits after nine songs. The tipping point came when Axl Rose made an inflammatory comment about quitting, causing a riot to break out that resulted in over $600,000 of damage to the venue.

BEST: The Who

Isle of Wight Festival (1970)

Any band can produce an album. It takes some serious dedication to be able to execute an entire opera, which is exactly what The Who did with “Tommy.” Performing for the second consecutive time at this festival on England’s Isle of Wight, the band’s ambition paid off. Not only were fans thrilled to hear standouts from “Tommy” like “Pinball Wizard,” but they also got other knockouts, like “My Generation” and “Substitute,” as well as some outstanding covers. This concert was thankfully preserved as both a live album and a concert film. So, even if you weren’t there, you can still feel like you were.

WORST: Mariah Carey

“Dick Clark's New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” (2016)

When someone is known for their voice, seeing them falter feels even worse. Mariah Carey has been lauded for her vocals since the beginning of her career, leading to high expectations when she was confirmed for “Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin 'Eve” 2016. Instead, they were treated to pure chaos. Her ear monitor wasn't working, leading to her becoming frustrated and letting the audience sing instead. When the problems continued into “We Belong Together,” she stopped singing and let the backing track take the lead. Carey accused the event of deliberately sabotaging her, which they vehemently denied. No matter whose fault it was, it was clear that the true losers of the situation were the viewers themselves.

BEST: Nirvana

Reading Festival (1992)

Anyone who doubted whether Nirvana was the real deal was set right by this performance. The grunge legends headlined England’s Reading Festival and showed just how much the musical landscape had changed for the better with them in it. Though they had performed at the fest the previous year, their star had skyrocketed since the release of “Nevermind.” And this performance proved the hype was worth it. As with their “MTV Unplugged” performance, Kurt Cobain proved why he was such a revered figure, and every version of every song here sounds fantastic. And the band showed a great sense of humor, starting off “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by playing Boston’s “More Than a Feeling.” It wasn't just a feeling. Nirvana really was that good.

WORST: Milli Vanilli

Lake Compounce (1989)

Some artists can bounce back from a bad show and others lose everything. In the late 1980s, Milli Vanilli quickly became household names, even winning a Grammy in 1990. Their blossoming career ended nearly as soon as it began, after a failed backing track during a 1989 Lake Compounce performance revealed that the act wasn't singing live. Although they got away with it at the moment, it was later scrutinized again after the duo admitted to not supplying their own vocals in the music. The concert and the video footage accompanying it was the ultimate proof, resulting in the two returning their Best New Artist award and the duo being dropped by their label. They weren't able to recover, making the scandal their permanent legacy.

BEST: Beyoncé

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (2018)

Beyoncé fans were disappointed when the pop icon had to cancel her headlining performance at the 2017 Coachella festival due to her pregnancy. While she had performed at Glastonbury Festival in 2011 while eight weeks pregnant, the risk was just too great this time around. However, she appeared at the following year’s fest, and she absolutely showed out. With powerhouse performances of songs throughout her catalog, including several with her famed group Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé showed exactly why she’s known as “Queen Bey.” And there were incredible outfits, choreography, and unbelievable energy all around. Beychella was a night to remember. And while there have been plenty of great shows throughout its years, this is arguably Coachella’s single-best show.

WORST: Creed

Allstate Arena (2002)

You know a show is bad when all footage of it has been essentially wiped from the Internet. However, the memory of this Creed concert lives on. That night in 2002, fans weren't expecting anything out of the ordinary much less Scott Stapp being unable to perform. The vocalist, who'd been battling alcoholism following a car accident, had supposedly been so drunk that nobody could understand him. After a few songs, the issue became so apparent that they were forced to stop. Naturally, this upset the audience so much so that a few even ended up suing them for failing to finish. While the case was dismissed, the backlash was so severe that the band had to apologize for Stapp's actions.

BEST: The Beatles

Shea Stadium (1965)

We all know that the Beatles are beloved. But if you want an idea of just how intense this fandom was, watch footage of them playing at Shea Stadium in Queens. The Fab Four kicked off their second U.S. tour in truly spectacular fashion. And the crowd of more than 55,000 were so ecstatic, the band had trouble hearing themselves over the screaming. But, ever the professionals, they were still able to pull off a brilliant performance. While there are still bands around today who can pack stadiums, there aren’t many who can inspire passion on the same level as the Beatles.

WORST: Red Hot Chili Peppers

“Saturday Night Live” (1992)

While “Saturday Night Live” can help boost a musician's career, it can also inadvertently expose some of the cracks in an act. When the Red Hot Chili Peppers accepted the gig, they were on top of the world but that certainly didn't make them immune to a rough set on the long-running sketch show. Their guitarist, John Frusciante, had been struggling privately for some time, leading him to develop an addiction and fight with his bandmates. That came through during their live performance, where he appeared to deliberately play the whole thing off-key throwing everyone else off in the process. Anthony Kiedis even accused him of doing poorly on purpose, leading to the group becoming even more fractured at their peak.

BEST: Led Zeppelin

Royal Albert Hall (1970)

There are some venues that are considered holy grails among musicians. London’s Royal Albert Hall is one of them. Dating back to the Victorian Era, this concert hall has hosted everything from ballet to opera to rock concerts. Specifically, it hosted Led Zeppelin at the prime of their career. On tour for “Led Zeppelin II,” the band proved they were more than worthy of the hallowed space with their unrelenting energy and first-rate musicianship. This concert was preserved and remastered on DVD in 2003. With this concert, you’ll see why the names “Robert Plant” and “Jimmy Page” are held in such high regard.

WORST: Fergie

“2018 NBA All-Star Game” (2018)

There are some things an artist just can't come back from, especially in the age of the Internet. Fergie is known for her non-conventional vocals. While they sound great in her own music and in her collaborations with the Black Eyed Peas, it doesn't always work well in a live setting. This became apparent during her rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, where she threw her own twist onto it. Needless to say, it didn't go over well. Her unnecessary runs and random dynamic changes confused everyone, from the viewers to the players themselves. It quickly became known as one of the worst covers of the hit, with Roseanne Barr even claiming her infamous performance was better in comparison.

BEST: Jimi Hendrix

Woodstock Music & Art Fair (1969)

Woodstock is one of those historic events that’s as important as people say it is. And Jimi Hendrix’s performance there is in an absolute class of its own. The guitar legend became a generational icon with his headline performance. So much about this performance has become part of pop culture lore, from Hendrix’s fringed jacket and red bandana to his courageous rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” But Hendrix could perform any song in any outfit, and his genius would still shine through. With all due respect to anyone who’s ever picked up an electric guitar since this performance, there’s no topping Hendrix.

WORST: Ashlee Simpson

“Saturday Night Live” (2004)

This was a masterclass in how to lose everything in just a few seconds. In the 2000s, Ashlee Simpson was a rising star, even scoring a spot as the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live.” Her first number went just fine, but when it came time for her second, things went off the rails. Just as she was about to begin, a vocal track from the first song began to play instead and the band went along with it, causing Simpson to be even more lost. In a moment of panic, she attempted to dance it off, before running off stage. While she had a legitimate health issue that explained the lip syncing, the damage to her reputation was already done.

BEST: Queen

Live Aid (1985)

Many renowned artists performed at Wembley Stadium for the Live Aid benefit concert in 1985, including David Bowie, The Who, and Paul McCartney. However, there’s one performance that stands not only as the greatest of Live Aid, but also arguably the greatest performance in recorded musical history. Queen performed for a mere twenty-one minutes. But they did more with that time than most bands do with their entire careers. Every single moment, from “Bohemian Rhapsody” to “We Are the Champions” was transcendent, and frontman Freddie Mercury and his white tank top shone brightest of all. The Queen legend lives on to this day, and this performance is a major reason why.

WORST: Led Zeppelin

“Live Aid” (1985)

It hurts to see legends struggle on stage. When Led Zeppelin initially quit, people were desperate for a reunion, so when fans heard they would be returning for a set at Live Aid, they were ecstatic. The day of the show, three replacement members were there instead, including famed drummer Phil Collins. Unfortunately, this ended up hindering them, rather than helping them. He appeared not to know the tracks and played what he wanted, while Jimmy Page struggled with an out-of-tune guitar. Robert Plant's voice had also changed considerably since their heyday, and to top it off, they were having sound issues. It was such a mess that Page himself described it as an atrocity while putting the blame solely on their substitute drummer.

What’s the best and worst concert you’ve ever been to? Let us know in the comments.