Memorable TV Performances

Memorable TV Performances: Alice In Chains on Letterman

maxresdefault.jpg

Back in 1996 on the heels of Alice In Chains doing MTV’s Unplugged, they were asked to perform on the Late Show with David Letterman. Their performance this evening was one of those spine tingling ones. Performing the songs “Again” and “We Die Young” in a bit of a medley, you could tell that David Letterman was very impressed with not only the band but the performance as well. Watch and see for yourself. This not only proves how great Alice In Chains is but also, how magical Layne Staley was as a vocalist and frontman.

 

Alice In Chains- Again/We Die Young:

Memorable TV Performances: Faith No More on Saturday Night Live

MV5BYTdiY2UwOTgtYmU1Mi00ZmFkLWFmNzAtY2FlNjU3ODIxZDgyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjUyNDk2ODc@._V1_SY1000_SX1000_AL_.jpg

Let’s take a trip back to 1990, when John Goodman was hosting Saturday Night Live for his second time and the musical guest for the evening was Faith No More. The band played two songs from The Real Thing, “Epic” and “From Out Of Nowhere.” Their performance on SNL is one of my all time favorites. Mike Patton really went off that night too, as you’ll see when you watch the below clips.

 

Faith No More- Epic:

Faith No More- From Out Of Nowhere:

Memorable TV Performances: Nine Inch Nails on the 1999 VMA’s

03 - Nine Inch Nails

Back in 1999, Nine Inch Nails performed on the MTV Video Music Awards. It was pretty unexpected, especially since NIN never performed on TV. Quick Side Note, It wouldn’t happen again until 2013 when Trent and company performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Which actually is the first time the band has ever performed on a late night talk show. The performance of “The Fragile” on the VMA’s was something hauntingly beautiful,  dark and one of the best VMA performances. Plus it featured my all time favorite line up Nine Inch Nails has ever had.

 

Nine Inch Nails- The Fragile on the 1999 MTV VMA’s:

Memorable TV Performances: Beastie Boys on Letterman

beastie-boys-logo

Oh 1994, you were such a great year for music. So many legendary albums and songs came out at this time. And the live shows and performances are some of the most remembered as well. This topic of memorable TV performances has countless numbers of great bands performing great songs on late night shows. One of my all time favorites is when the Beastie Boys performed “Sabotage” on the Late Show with David Letterman. Letterman had always been a big supporter of rock bands and heavier bands, and this performance from Mike D, Ad-Rock, and MCA was legendary.

Check It Out!

Beastie Boys- Sabotage (on David Letterman 1994):

Memorable TV Performances: Rollins Band on Saturday Night Live

611yCidDk5L._UX691_The other day I was thinking about all the great live performances I’ve seen on TV. There were so many awesome moments on shows like Saturday Night Live, MTV, scattered awards shows like the Grammy’s, MTV Awards, American Music Awards, etc. The list goes on. I thought this category would be really fun to look back on these great performances and go back to a time when rock music was at the forefront of the world.

Let’s start this off with something out of left field. Back in 1997 on Saturday Night Live when Pamela Anderson was hosting, I believe it was to promote the movie Barb Wire, Rollins Band was the music guest. They performed “Starve” off the very underrated album Come In and Burn. The entire band absolutely crushed their performance and I’m sure left those in the audience a little scared.

 

Rollins Band- Starve (on Saturday Night Live):