Stage Antics: 5 of the wildest moments from the glory days of rock and punk

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These genres, such as rock and roll and punk, provide ample opportunity for exuberant performances. The intensity and power of the music make them ideal for such displays. Over time, we’ve become used to witnessing more captivating aspects during live concerts.

It seems to me that, as time goes by, they’ve grown larger, become more dramatic, and feature grandiose scenes, yet there might be something lacking. They are supposed to garner massive followings, but in doing so, they may lose some of their initial impact.

Modern performances seem less instantaneously thrilling, fresh, edgy, and unconventional compared to the past. The most daring behavior often originated from rock and punk artists between the late ’60s and the ’80s. They were known for their spontaneous and impromptu actions, leaving a far more substantial impression due to their immediacy. Here are five outstanding instances showcasing the flair of those era’s icons.

5 of the wildest on-stage antics from rock and punk stars

Iggy Pop

Some people believe it symbolized the impending punk revolution, while others consider it mere stage energy fueled by the audience. The truth might be a mix of both. Regardless, it was an unforgettable incident, brilliantly immortalized on camera. That’s Iggy Pop, and yes, you guessed it right – the peanut butter moment!

At the 1970 Cincinnati Pop Music Festival, The Stooges were scheduled to perform. During their set, Iggy Pop frequently interacted with the audience, but an unusual incident occurred when he reentered the stage after leaving it once. A spectator had given him a tub of peanut butter (which is quite common for musicians to carry along for shows, isn’t it?).

He spread it across his bare torso, tossed a bit to the people nearby, and postured boldly, his eyes gleaming wildly as he gestured and looked into the crowd with his gloved hand adorned in silver. Subsequently, he tumbled back among the spectators once more.

In a thrilling display of energy and skill, chaos reigned on stage as the band delivered an exceptional rendition of “1970”. Iggy Pop’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary, even surpassing his usual self. Without a doubt, this moment ranks among the most electrifying in his and the band’s history.

Ozzy Osbourne

Leaving out a memorable wild moment from Ozzy Osbourne’s career would be an oversight. The incident that comes to mind is when he bit the head off a bat during one of his concerts, which took place at a show in Des Moines, Iowa, during his solo Diary of a Madman Tour in 1982, while supporting his second solo album.

At the concert, an individual known later as Mark Neal carried along a bat that was no longer alive, planning to toss it onto the stage. To be fair, he had a motive for including the bat in his luggage.

In his account of the incident, Osbourne mentioned that he believed it was a plastic bat. While there might be some justification for this assumption, it would still seem unusual in most circumstances. However, considering an Osbourne concert, it may not come off as too strange. Nevertheless, he ended up biting its head, only to find out that it wasn’t fake, causing quite a surprise. As for his feelings about the incident, it is unclear if he regrets it.

In the following three weeks, the notoriety grew, yet he didn’t relish the rabies injections he had to endure. He might have once commented that it was salty, but Osbourne has confessed his dislike for fielding questions about the bat. Escaping such queries remains challenging even today.

Alice Cooper

In terms of spine-tingling, bizarre, startling, or exhilarating scenes performed live, it’s hard to beat Alice Cooper. However, choosing just one instance among the numerous instances is a challenge. Alice Cooper’s stage performances were filled with shocking and memorable moments.

Cooper’s creative influences have come from a variety of dramatic sources: sticking doll heads with swords, electric chair sparks, and a setup for a hanging trick – all of which have provided rich inspiration. While these may veer towards the dramatic, their initial impact when he first employed them was incredibly powerful.

If you consider only one element, it’s the guillotine he incorporated into his stage act in 1973. There is much planning, precautions, deception involved, and when the head drops into the basket, it’s incredibly shocking. It’s no surprise that this guillotine has consistently been a part of his performances throughout the years.

The device, crafted by renowned Canadian illusionist James Randi and inspired by a magic act from magician Will Rock in the 1930s, is what you’ll encounter. In this contraption, the surprising element when initially viewed is that Cooper’s head mysteriously appears inside the basket. I won’t reveal the secrets of the illusion or stagecraft involved, but if you’re intrigued, do catch the live show or find a video online to try and decipher it yourself. There are several amateur interpretations of it on YouTube.

Keith Moon – The Who

The Who have had numerous memorable and eccentric performances on stage. Their destruction of amplifiers and guitars during The Monterey Festival in 1967 is a legendary act that has been copied by them and others ever since. How did they manage it, though? Keith Moon would grab his beer and say.

Shortly following the festival, The Who made an appearance on US television’s The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. During this performance, the band was given free rein, and Moon embraced this liberty wholeheartedly. At his drum set, he collaborated with the studio technicians to set up a small cannon loaded with theatrical flash powder for special effects on stage.

Apart from the Moon itself, it secretly increased the amount of powder significantly, with reports suggesting an increase up to tenfold the initial quantity.

As the second track, “My Generation,” neared its climax, I found myself engulfed in the band’s frenzy, particularly when Moon unleashed a fiery assault on his drum kit. The ensuing blast was monumental, far grander than anticipated. It seemed as if Roger Daltrey may have been privy to some insider knowledge, given his cautious retreat prior to the explosion. Alas, Pete Townshend appeared oblivious, his expression a blend of shock and horror, as his hair suddenly caught fire in the blast’s aftermath.

As a gamer, I’m still convinced the explosion was what led to my early hearing loss. A couple of times, Moon’s drum set would explode, leaving me with some cuts that required medical attention. Incredibly, John Entwistle just kept going as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. With Keith Moon always around, it wasn’t too surprising, I guess.

The Clash

A memorable performance on stage, immortalized for time immemorial, seems fitting to continue the legacy of The Who. If you recall their “London Calling” album, that’s the exact moment I’m referring to. Bassist Paul Simonon destroyed his Fender Precision bass live at the Palladium in New York.

1979 saw an electrifying performance by The Clash, which left the crowd enchanted. Unlike bands that encourage passive viewing and polite applause, The Clash aren’t one of them. However, it appears the venue’s security personnel didn’t get the memo. They persistently asked audience members to stay seated during the show.

Simonon, recognizing the situation, vented his anger towards the security guards through his preferred musical tool on stage. This moment was captured on film by photographer Pennie Smith and eventually featured in the iconic album cover design.

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2025-05-14 13:00