Worst live gig you ever saw, and where was it?

Moody Blues - Chicago Stadium...1974 maybe? it was so boring we left

Beach Boys - Chicago Stadium I think, maybe The Amphitheater, can't remember - had to be somewhere '75 to '77 - they never showed up - we did get rain checks and went back another night but by those years Denny was too sick (read that as strung out) to sit at his drums for very long - my sister had the same experience in Long Beach in the same time frame - such a shame

James Brown, at Princeton my junior year.

They brought in one big-name act a year to play on campus. That year, it was him--I had a classmate who knew the guy and convinced him to come. Thing is, Brown is the sort of performer that needs a warm-up act, and they didn't book one. The set was very short, and started very late. Also, by the mid-90's when this was happening, Brown was a little past his prime.

--M.

Nirvana, Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. A bad night

Fabulous, Riverside, Newcastle - no support, 28 minute set, two sides of A4 for guest list, first ones walked out after two songs.

Very well known vocalist on an off night - Newcastle City Hall. Walking out started after a few songs. My then partner went down to the bar and spotted an equally well known band having drinks rather than watching someone who was playing a smaller than average gig for someone of his stature in the music business!!

One great night was Ian Gillan at Riverside in Newcastle - Smoke as the encore, Housemartins, Fary Numan, The Mission and Youssou N'Dour at the same venue - again, great nights. Fatboy Slim at Newcastle University - cracking night and a 3 hour set...

I once saw Twister Sister open for Iron Maiden. They were just absolutely terrible. Booed off the stage, stuff thrown at them. Just a train wreck.

"rather than watching someone who was playing a smaller than average gig for someone of his stature in the music business!!"

I'm the reverse, I prefer the smaller more intimate venues - it's almost always a good show for me when I can catch someone like that without having to fight the massive crowds

M.I.A. -- in Providence, RI a couple years ago.

I liked M.I.A.'s records enough, but in person any sort of "music" was drowned out by her atonal cries and very loud gunshot sounds. I wasn't the only person who walked out.

I also prefer the smaller gigs - only acts that I've seen that worked in larger venues were The Rolling Stones, David Lee Roth, The Mission and Paul Young. At one point I used to go to Riverside in Newcastle up to four nights a week and City Hall at least once a month. Did manage to see both Sting and Dire Straits there and if you get some very good software out, you might spot me on the video for Iron Maiden's Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter which was shot at City Hall.

I think my worst ever gig was the opening band for Gong's appearance in Baltimore, Maryland in about 1996. The lyrics were waay too pretentious, rubbing me the wrong way, and all too easy to understand, and the music left me unmoved. We started repeating Spinal Tap lyrics in between songs. I turned my back to the stage for the last half of their set. I even asked Gong's crew at the merch table how long the openers were going to be on because I couldn't take it any more and there was no end in sight. I didn't want to leave the club because I would have lost my spot fairly close to the stage.

Seeing Sweet in Richmond, Virginia, in 1976 was quite a disappointment too, but that was partly my expectations going in to the concert.

Britney Spears - this year in Sydney - can't believe I'm actually admitting that I went. Not sure it would be considered live though seeing as she lip synched her way through