Live television serves as a significant equalizer for musicians, presenting both a unique opportunity and a formidable challenge. A stellar live performance can catapult a fledgling artist’s career to new heights, while a disastrous one can leave an indelible mark on their reputation that may haunt them for years to come. The pressure of performing in front of millions worldwide can weigh heavily on an artist’s psyche. This is amplified by the fact that a live TV setting contrasts sharply with their usual concert atmosphere. Musicians often find themselves on unfamiliar stages, coping with intrusive cameras and less-than-ideal sound conditions, all while attempting to connect with an audience that may not be fully engaged. Consequently, any misstep during a performance can lead to a cringe-worthy moment that is broadcast to millions.

Some artists rise to the occasion, showcasing their resilience and talent, while others spectacularly unravel under the pressure. Our compilation of the 10 Worst Televised Live Performances primarily highlights the latter, interspersed with a few examples of unexpected success.

Green Day’s Epic Breakdown at the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival

During the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong experienced a notorious meltdown that was partly fueled by misjudging the audience’s energy and largely due to his inebriated state. The pop-punk icons struggled to energize a seemingly disinterested crowd, with Armstrong’s off-key singing and slurred speech marring the performance. The tipping point was reached during their rendition of “Basket Case,” where Armstrong angrily exclaimed, “Fuck this shit,” lamenting the remaining minute of their set, and asserting, “I’m not fucking Justin Bieber, you motherfuckers!” The frustration culminated in a dramatic display as Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt smashed their instruments before storming off the stage. Shortly after, Armstrong entered rehab, compelling Green Day to delay their upcoming tour.

Guns N’ Roses’ Unforgettable Off-Key Performance at the 2014 Revolver Golden Gods Awards

Put aside Guns N’ Roses‘ chaotic 2002 VMAs performance; their appearance at the 2014 Revolver Golden Gods Awards was notably worse. During this event, where Axl Rose received the Lifetime Achievement Award, guitarist DJ Ashba set a dismal tone by delivering an out-of-tune rendition of “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Rose’s strained, squeaky vocals further exacerbated the situation, failing to redeem the performance. In retrospect, it’s hardly surprising that Rose sought reconciliation with Slash less than two years post this disastrous display.

Led Zeppelin’s Underwhelming Reunion at Live Aid

When surviving members of Led Zeppelin?Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones?were slated to reunite for the historic Live Aid concert in Philadelphia, expectations soared. However, excitement quickly dissipated as the band, featuring Phil Collins on drums, who had just flown in from the London event, kicked off with “Rock and Roll.” Their lack of preparation was painfully evident; Page’s guitar tone and playing were a jumbled mess, Plant’s voice cracked continuously, and Collins? performance suggested he was unfamiliar with Led Zeppelin’s music. Clearly, it had been a significant time since they had truly rocked and rolled. At least Jones managed to hold down his portion of the performance.

Meat Loaf’s Struggles at the 2011 AFL Grand Final

Known for his powerful voice, Meat Loaf faced significant challenges during his performance at the 2011 Australian Football League Grand Final. Having suffered a heart attack weeks prior and reportedly “spitting blood” during rehearsals, his voice was in dire straits. When performance day arrived, he was forced to stumble through a disjointed 13-minute medley, which at times rendered his lyrics unintelligible before an audience of 100,000. At one point, he desperately called out, “I want to hear some singing!”?a sentiment echoed by the audience, who longed for the iconic vocals they had come to love.

Metallica and Lady Gaga’s Technical Mishap at the 2017 Grammys

The collaboration between Metallica and Lady Gaga during the 2017 Grammy Awards turned into a chaotic spectacle due to unforeseen technical difficulties. Moments before their performance of “Moth Into Flame,” a stagehand accidentally unplugged James Hetfield’s microphone, and the crew could not fix the issue until the song was nearly over. In response, Gaga adeptly roamed the stage and shared her microphone with Hetfield, but the frontman was understandably frustrated by the situation and expressed his ire by kicking over his mic stand and tossing his guitar offstage after the performance concluded. Interestingly, both acts later released rehearsal footage that showcased their undeniable talent, free from technical hitches.

Milli Vanilli’s Lip Syncing Debacle Shakes the Music Industry

The German R&B duo Milli Vanilli skyrocketed to fame with their 1989 album Girl You Know It’s True, which sold six million copies in the U.S. and spawned three consecutive No. 1 hits. However, their promising career came to a screeching halt during a 1989 MTV performance when a malfunction caused their backing track to repeat a lyric from “Girl You Know It’s True.” It was later revealed that members Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus never sang a note on their albums. As a result, the Recording Academy revoked their Best New Artist Grammy, leaving the duo as a cautionary tale within the industry. Although not a rock act per se, Milli Vanilli’s infamous MTV incident had significant ramifications throughout the genre, as reliance on backing tracks became increasingly accepted among rock artists in the years that followed.

Poison’s Chaotic Performance at the 1991 VMAs

In the weeks leading up to Nirvana’s Nevermind release?which would dramatically shift the musical landscape?Poison hastened the decline of hair metal with their disastrous performance at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. While three-quarters of the band appeared relatively lucid, chaotic guitarist C.C. DeVille proved to be a significant liability. Following a false start, the band attempted to play their latest single “Unskinny Bop,” but DeVille instead launched into “Talk Dirty to Me,” cluttering the song with excessive and poorly executed fills. By the time he yanked out his guitar cable, the audience likely felt a sense of relief. After the performance, tensions erupted backstage as Bret Michaels and DeVille engaged in a fistfight, leading to the guitarist’s dismissal.

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Struggles on Saturday Night Live in 1992

The success of Blood Sugar Sex Magik propelled Red Hot Chili Peppers to superstardom, but guitarist John Frusciante found it increasingly difficult to handle the pressures of fame, turning to drugs for solace. Their 1992 performance of “Under the Bridge” on Saturday Night Live reveals a glimpse into Frusciante’s troubled mental state. He altered the song’s iconic guitar intro, seemingly out of spite towards frontman Anthony Kiedis, causing the band to struggle to maintain a cohesive groove throughout the performance. During the climactic outro, Frusciante drenched his guitar in distortion and emitted tuneless wails into the microphone. In his memoir, Scar Tissue, Kiedis vividly described the performance as “getting stabbed in the back and hung out to dry in front of all of America,” while Frusciante retreated to a corner, lost in a dissonant and out-of-tune experiment. Shortly after, Frusciante left the band for the first time.

Slash and the Black Eyed Peas’ Misfire at the 2011 Super Bowl

When reflecting on their worst moments, many individuals can pinpoint a single event. For Slash, that moment might be his 90-second cameo during the Super Bowl XLV halftime show alongside the Black Eyed Peas. The Peas headlined the show and invited the guitarist to join them for a rendition of “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Unfortunately, the performance was riddled with sync issues, making it difficult to appreciate the music beneath Fergie’s less-than-stellar vocals. After interpolating a solo from Velvet Revolver’s “Slither,” Slash exited the stage, likely hoping to erase the disaster from his memory.

Velvet Revolver’s Unfortunate Tribute to Van Halen at Their 2007 Rock Hall Induction

The 2007 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction for Van Halen was marked by awkwardness, as Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and David Lee Roth opted not to attend. This left Velvet Revolver to induct and perform in their stead. Although frontman Scott Weiland was known for his charisma, he was ill-prepared to cover “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” delivering the song in a gruff baritone while attempting to dance like a hyperactive Mick Jagger. Meanwhile, Slash struggled to replicate Van Halen’s intricate riffs and solos. Velvet Revolver concluded their performance with an awkward rendition of “Runaround.” As one YouTube comment aptly noted, “This is what actually killed Eddie.”