Late Show with David Letterman

MEMORABLE TV PERFORMANCES: ADAM SANDLER (NEIL YOUNG)- LIKE A HURRICANE ON LETTERMAN

Let’s travel back to 2009. Warner Brothers Records was putting together a compilation album to celebrate their 50th anniversary. A bunch of different artists and bands were chosen to cover a myriad of bands and artists that have been on the label. There are some really interesting choices on this album as to what song was picked and who is doing what. For example Mastodon does a rad version of ZZ Top’s “Just Got Paid.” The one that I really want to highlight is Adam Sandler taking on “Like A Hurricane” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse. As a big Neil fan since I was a little kid as well as an Adam Sandler fan, this was quite the great one to hear. Adam is quite underrated as a singer and guitarist and he really does a great job on this. To promote the album, Adam was a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2009 and performed this on the show. What a tremendous performance it is. Enjoy this one!!

Adam Sandler (Neil Young)- Like A Hurricane (Live on Late Show w/ David Letterman, 2009):

Memorable TV Performances: Interpol- PDA on Letterman 2002

There are a lot of bands out there that I enjoy that would probably surprise a bunch of you that read Audioeclectica. One of which is Interpol. Now, when they first arrived on the scene I was not into it and I wrote them off as a Joy Division wannabe type band but, then I saw them around the time of their first album and my attitude about them changed. Yes, they have some very similar moments that you would find in a Joy Division song but, Interpol brought something more to it. Their debut album, Turn On The Bright Lights is a terrific debut album and the song “PDA” to this day always seems to perk me up. Which now brings me to Interpol’s late night TV performance debut on the Late Show with David Letterman back in 2002. It’s crazy to think that this song and performance is over 20 years old now and the song still sounds great! Enjoy!

Interpol- PDA (Live on the Late Show with David Letterman- 2002):

Memorable TV Performances: White Zombie on David Letterman 1995
See White Zombie "Blow the Roof Off" 'Letterman' With "More Human" in 1995 | Revolver

Travel back to 1995 with me and revisit the time White Zombie was on the Late Show with David Letterman. While out promoting their album, Astro-Creep 2000, White Zombie payed a visit to the Letterman show and performed “More Human Than Human.” They were joined by Paul Schaffer as well who provided the keyboard parts. It’s a very fun performance and it looks like the band was enjoying it, especially David Letterman at the end. What’s even cooler is that, White Zombie returned to the Letterman show a few months later and performed again. This time they chose “Super Charger Heaven.” I still believe that if White Zombie were to reunite, they could put out one hell of a good album.

More Human Than Human:


Super-Charger Heaven:

Memorable TV Performances: Rage Against The Machine on Letterman 1999
Rage Against The Machine - Guerilla Radio (Live on Letterman).mpg - YouTube

Way back in 1999, in the pouring rain of New York, Rage Against The Machine took the stage in the street for an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. During this evening, they performed a mini concert for a slew of fans while promoting their Unsung Masterpiece that is The Battle Of Los Angeles. Here’s Rage performing “Guerilla Radio.”

Rage Against The Machine- Guerilla Radio on Letterman:


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):