Best Ever Live Performance Moments
Sometimes everything simply works like magic. There are moments when perfect synergy, mood, and situation combine to create an outstanding musical performance.
It’s like when Peter Cetera returned to perform with Chicago or Steve Perry returned to perform with Journey… except it never occurred. But these incredible events did.
I’ve had the good fortune to see a handful of those instances live. I witnessed Robert Plant captivate a throng with Immigrant Song. I saw Ozzy Osborne do an incredible rendition of War Pigs. Rush delivered a flawless performance as Tom Sawyer. Metallica killed it on One in 1989. Stevie Nicks’ stunning version of Gold Dust Woman left me speechless. Others came close, but those three stand out in my memory from my personal concert experiences. Here are a few images that, via intensity or enthusiasm, brilliantly captured the moment.
Neil Young – My, My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) Farm Aid 1985
I debated between several versions of this song and its modification Hey, Hey My My (Into the Black), but chose this one from Farm Aid 1985 since it is the most memorable. Historically, I was not a huge Neil Young fan, but as I get older, I find his music more and more intriguing, and evidently, I am becoming a big fan because there are two Neil Young songs on this list, so stay around.
Why it’s on the list: Neil Young’s intensity and the crowd going nuts for everything.
Queen – Radio GaGa – Live Aid – 1985
It’s sometimes more than simply a song. What can you say about the guy Freddie Mercury? The charisma, skill, and command of the audience are all present. There are numerous classic Queen moments, but this one sticks out as one of the best. On this day in 1985, Queen was flawless, with tens of thousands of fans soaking up every gesture of Freddie Mercury.
Queen was going through a rough patch at the moment. They were uneasy, even squabbling behind the scenes. On that star-studded day, no one paid attention to them… until… until Freddie Mercury strolled onto the stage and seized the show with the very first song of their performance. Radio GaGa was not one of Queen’s finest songs, but thanks to this performance, it may be one of their most famous. On a day when Phil Collins performed on three continents, Def Leppard’s drummer returned after losing an arm, and LED FREAKIN’ ZEPPELIN reassembled, Queen stole the show. Take note of that!
Why it’s on the list: When many people think of “legendary concert moments” this is precisely the one playing in their heads.
Prince – Purple Rain – American Music Awards 1985
Take a supremely talented artist like Prince, who has a mastery of charisma and performance then put him on an awards show at the peak of his talented powers and you get an unforgettable performance that is still talked about over thirty years later. We have sang (pun intended) the praises of Prince many times at When It Was Cool but… well… see for yourself.
Why it’s on the list: An absolute master’s course in captivating a crowd.
Jimi Hendrix – Set’s Guitar on Fire – Monterey Pop Festival June 1967
If you’ve ever seen a video of Jimi Hendrix’s Hey Joe, chances are it’s from the Monterrey Pop festival, since the most widely shared version of the song is from that event. That night, Jimi Hendrix was on fire, and towards the end of the concert, he went all rock & roll on his guitar, lighting it on fire and shattering it to bits. It remains one of the most iconic spectacles in music history. This is not the first time Jimi Hendrix has been on the list.
Why it’s on the list: Iconic rock and roll imagery.
Fleetwood Mac – Silver Springs – The Dance 1997
After years apart and successful (commercially and critically) solo careers for Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac reunited in 1997 for a wonderful television special dubbed “The Dance.” The show was so well-received that Fleetwood Mac reassembled for another run of sold-out concerts across the world for several years.
Silver Springs, a Stevie Nicks song, was nestled among the popular parade of tunes. The music was wonderful and nicely played, however something happened throughout the performance. It’s one of those moments that just happened. Former lovers Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham perform on stage together for the first time in many years. Stevie is looking at Lindsey. Lindsey soon catches on. Stevie emotionally and forcefully screams the agonising words straight to Lindsey, who responds with his impassioned guitar. An incredible event that they tried to reproduce several times over the years, but never as well as the first time.
Why it’s on the list: The closing several minutes of the song are an organic and emotional masterpiece.
Neil Young – Keep on Rockin’ In the Free World – Saturday Night Live 1989
I vividly recall this performance. I was a senior in high school at the time, and I recall everyone talking about it. I’ve always liked songs with “cheerleader” choruses interspersed with sombre lyrics. A group of intoxicated fools chanting your awesome chorus entirely clueless to the content of the music is the ideal “I gotcha” from an artist. Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen is a fantastic example. Politicians and sports fans have long roared and shook their beers in response to “Born in the USA,” a song lamenting America’s post-Vietnam disaster. With a cheerleading chorus and some of the harshest words you’ll ever hear, this song strikes the same chord. Continue to rock, indeed.
Why it’s on the list: Because Neil Young is rocking like a maniac and the SNL crowd is exactly the people that deserve this kind of song. Remember- when this aired people had no idea “grunge” was a thing that was still coming. If you thought Nirvana launched grunge, I’d argue Neil Young did it right here on this night a year and a half before Smells Like Teen Spirit hit the airwaves.
Rush – YYZ- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2002
Of course, I’m going to add Rush. But I have some proof to back this up. Spin magazine’s website also featured this one in their list of the greatest concert performances- here. But believe me when I say that 60,000 Brazilians are singing along… to an instrumental tune. How often does that occur? Check it out for yourself. Rush is truly hitting their stride now.
Why it’s on the list: 60,000 individuals are so into an instrumental music that they have to sing along with it.
Jimi Hendrix – Star Spangled Banner – Woodstock – 1969
This moment in rock and roll history has been imitated several times throughout the years. While the casual viewer may dismiss it as “noise” and “freestyling,” it was actually a well-orchestrated symphony opposing the Vietnam War. The “noise” that appeared at random was really explosives and screams.
Why is it on the list: One of the most memorable rock & roll moments of all time. This video has since been deleted from YouTube.
George Michael & Elton John – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me – Chicago, IL 1991
Despite how much I enjoy this song, I hesitated to place it on my list. However, many people are familiar with this song, which was recorded live in Chicago, Illinois in 1991. The late George Michael’s Cover to Cover tour included the song, and during the event at Wembley Arena in London on March 23, 1991, Michael brought out Elton John as a surprise guest to sing it alongside him. The same incident happened again in Chicago, IL, and because of John’s tremendous reaction, that version became the popular radio version.
Despite how much I like this song, I was hesitant to include it on my list. However, this song, which was recorded live in Chicago, Illinois in 1991, is well-known. The late George Michael’s Cover to Cover tour included the song, and on March 23, 1991, at Wembley Arena in London, Michael brought out Elton John as a surprise guest to sing it alongside him. The same thing happened again in Chicago, IL, and because to John’s incredible reaction, that version became the most popular radio version.
Why it’s on the list: One of the highest charting “concert” moments of all time and the vocals are amazing.
