Top 30 Worst Live Performances of All Time

#30: Chuck Berry, John Lennon, & Yoko Ono

“The Mike Douglas Show” (1972)

Chuck Berry performing a duet with John Lennon sounds like a pretty amazing idea in theory. Unfortunately, despite the mastery of these two icons, there was one small problem. Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono was also given a microphone. Now, there is certainly a time and place for the avant-garde – and perhaps on a different day with a different band, Ono’s wails would’ve found their place. But hearing Yoko screaming while Berry and Lennon traded vocals was a painful experience – so painful, in fact, that her mic was cut shortly after. Even Chuck looked bemused as soon as she made her first contribution to the song. It was one of the strangest backing vocalist performances in music history.

#29: Christina Aguilera

“Super Bowl XLV” (2011)

Singing the American national anthem is one of the biggest honors that can be given to a performer. However, the repercussions for messing it up can be huge. In other words, if you get the chance to sing “The Star Spangled Banner”... don’t screw it up. Unfortunately for Christina Aguilera, while she started strong, her Super Bowl XLV performance of the anthem quickly spiralled out of control. She forgot lyrics, accidentally rearranged them, and came out with an absolute mess. Aguilera later apologised for her blunder and hoped that people understood that it was a simple mistake, but the media had a field day with it.

#28: Hilary Duff

“MTV's New Year's Eve 2004” (2004)

Lip-syncing has been a part of pop music long before Hilary Duff played MTV’s New Year’s Eve Celebration in 2004. But even though the practice is widely recognised, people still do not like seeing their favorite musician miming. And if there are any audio issues, it can do irreparable harm to a singer’s career. For Duff, she was very obviously lip-syncing from the get-go – but when her backing track started to distort her voice, she ended up looking kinda silly. Hilary did her best to perform through it, but the damage was done.

#27: Katy Perry

Coronation Concert (2023)

Perry found herself at the centre of quite a lot of ridicule and bemusement after she appeared at the 2023 Coronation Concert in honor of King Charles. The performance itself was criticized for Perry’s inability to hit the high notes of her own songs. But listeners couldn’t help but notice how awkward Perry’s choice of song was. Her track “Firework” makes reference to American Independence Day on July 4th, the day that saw the United States break away from the British monarch, King George III. Seems like a pretty peculiar thing to bring to the coronation of a new British king, and it did not go unnoticed on social media.

#26: Oasis

Live at Wembley Stadium (2000)

Oasis were at the peak of their chaotic powers in the year 2000 and that chaos was best summed up with their two Wembley performances that year. The first night was the band at their very best – and the gig was documented on their live release “Familiar to Millions”. The second night was also filmed, but was later considered unusable due to Liam’s inebriation. According to the man himself, he had spent a little too much time at the bar pre-show – and after totally ruining the performance, he vowed to never drink heavily before a concert again.

#25: Greta Van Fleet

“Saturday Night Live” (2019)

Despite getting a lot of hate for being 70s knock-offs, Greta Van Fleet were having a pretty successful 2019 before they appeared on “Saturday Night Live.” But with the exposure of the “SNL” stage came some unexpected side-effects. Their performance was awkward, nervous, and showcased the band’s limitations. Vocalist Josh Kiszka took the brunt of the criticism for his underwhelming vocals and poor stage presence. In fact, it was so derivative that some people mistook it at first for a comedy sketch … which tells you everything you need to know. Their gimmick, as it turns out, did not go down well with the masses.

#24: Poison

“The 8th MTV Video Music Awards” (1991)

This performance was … interesting … to say the least. Despite seemingly being at the peak of their powers as a live act, guitarist CC Deville had consumed a little too much alcohol before the show. By the time their slot came, Deville was a mess, so much so that he launched into the wrong song. They were supposed to play “Unskinny Bop” but CC decided to play “Talk Dirty to Me” instead. He then proceeded to accidentally unplug his guitar mid-performance before capping it all off with a scuffle with singer Brett Michaels. He was booted from the band shortly after - ending their classic era.

#23: Guns N’ Roses

The Warfield (2006)

We could have very easily gone for GNR’s shambolic 2014 Golden Gods Awards performance of “Sweet Child o’ Mine” here. But for our money, no performance summed up Guns N’ Roses’ live problems more than their 2006 show at The Warfield. After coming on stage two hours late, Axl Rose proceeded to pause the performance to hurl his in-ear monitors at a fan who was complaining about his conduct. He then got the fan in question kicked out of the gig – something he was no stranger to doing in the past. Without question, he’s one of rock and roll’s most unruly divas.

#22: Limp Bizkit

Woodstock 1999

Is it right to blame Limp Bizkit for all of the problems that took place at Woodstock ‘99? Probably not. But they certainly had a hand in the chaos that unfolded. After calling on the crowd to break everything through their classic song “Break Stuff,” Fred Durst and co. basically incited a riot. The peace and love of the festival’s 1969 counterpart was totally lost this time around. Durst even crowd-surfed on top of a piece of wood that had been pulled off a barrier by a member of the audience. Despite calls to try and calm the audience, Limp Bizkit did the opposite. Sure, they were made into scapegoats by the media – but they certainly didn’t help matters.

#21: Black Eyed Peas feat. Slash

“Super Bowl XLV” (2011)

Did anyone really need to see a collaboration between the Black Eyed Peas and Slash? Well, perhaps it would’ve worked better under different circumstances. But when Fergie decided to try her hand at singing “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” the results were disastrous. Not only were the drums out of sync with Slash’s iconic riff … but Fergie’s vocal delivery sounded like something out of a local karaoke bar ... and not in a charming way. Definitely not a performance worthy of a stage like the Super Bowl halftime show – and it was instantly heralded as one of the worst moments in halftime history.

#20: Sex Pistols

Winterland Ballroom (1978)

Some groups go out with a bang, and others go out with a whimper. During the Sex Pistols’ infamous 1978 United States tour, they ran into a series of issues. Things eventually reached a boiling point while at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. Right before the encore, Johnny Rotten announced they’d only be doing one song, a cover of the Stooges’ “No Fun.” What followed was an oddly accurate performance, where a jaded Rotten used the lyrics as a representation of his own negative feelings towards the group. After the lackluster cover, Rotten cryptically asked the crowd if they’d ever felt cheated, before storming off, ending the show and his time with the band until their reunion in the late 1990s.

#19: 50 Cent

“The 7th BET Awards” (2007)

Performing at an awards show can be a benefit to an artist’s career, as they get to present their art to a live and televised audience. It seemed like 50 Cent was off to a great start when he descended into the 2007 BET Awards, but it soon became clear something was wrong. He skipped the entire first verse, opting to hop off the stage and do some crowd-work instead. While he was eventually able to recover, the damage was already done. When questioned about it afterwards, the rapper ended up pinning the blame on an aerialist who inadvertently bumped him, throwing him off track. While it was an understandable explanation, it still doesn’t make the near minute of silence mid-performance any less uncomfortable.

#18: The Pussycat Dolls

“The 34th American Music Awards” ( 2006)

Sometimes, all it takes is one performance to reveal a true group dynamic. Headed by Nicole Scherzinger, The Pussycat Dolls were known for their sultry lyrics and dancing. During their appearance at the 2006 American Music Awards, they began their hit Buttons – without one of their members, Melody Thornton. Things had been going wrong already, with one of their chairs toppling over mid-song. Things went from odd to bizarre when Thornton suddenly ran onstage just in time for the final chorus and immediately commanded attention with several vocal runs. The rest of the performance became a battle for the spotlight between the two divas. The timing made it seem like Thornton was crashing her own group, making it evident just how fractured they were.

#17: Madonna

“The 64th Eurovision Song Contest” (2019)

Even the Queen of Pop isn't immune from flopping. An icon like Madonna performing a huge event like Eurovision should've been a highlight, but it ended up being the complete opposite. It wasn't her best vocal showing, with even one of her most iconic hits, “Like a Prayer,” sounding off-key. The addition of divisive political symbols only made things worse. What made things even worse was her team's reaction. Rather than own the underwhelming appearance, they instead uploaded a completely autotuned version to YouTube. People soon saw through the ruse when the real audio was released. In an era where practically everyone has access to a video camera and Internet, we can't help but wonder who they were trying to fool.

#16: Lana Del Rey

“Saturday Night Live” (2012)

Although it's hard to believe now given her huge fanbase, her career nearly died just as it was beginning. Lana Del Rey's sudden ascension to success in the early 2010s led to her getting plenty of opportunities including being the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live.” Things immediately went wrong during her performance of her breakout hit, “Video Games.” Her unique vocal techniques didn't translate well, resulting in a slightly disjointed and seemingly uncontrolled presentation. Her second song, “Blue Jeans,” didn't go much better, resulting in her being deemed one of the worst in the show's history by some on the network. While she was eventually able to overcome the rough set, to this day, she's still reluctant to perform on live TV.

#15: 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.

#14: 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.

#13: 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.

#12: 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.

#11: 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.

#10: 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.

#9: 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.

#8: 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.

#7: 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.

#6: 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.

#5: 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.

#4: 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.

#3: 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.

#2: 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.

#1: 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.

Which of these live performances made you cringe the hardest? Let us know in the comments below.