Question: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SHITTIEST & BEST OPENING BANDS YOU'VE EVER SEEN?
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DRUNK TED
WORST:
- After the Fire for Van Halen (Oct. 1982 - Syracuse, NY)
- TSAR for the NY Dolls (Aug. 2005 - They actually said these exact words: "Thanks for coming out people! Make sure you stick around for the NY Dolls! They're really good!" As if ANYONE was there to see TSAR!)
- Dokken for Aerosmith (late '80s)
- TSOL opening for Guns & Roses (1987 - This was when TSOL went glam)
- Smoking Popes opening for Goo Goo Dolls (various times in 1996)
- Nirvana for Dinosaur Jr (1991 Tijuana, Mexico - Worst time I ever saw Nirvana, but still was pretty cool!)
- Hellacopters for the Supersuckers (San Diego 1999 - 2 nights)
- Pat Todd and the Rank Outsiders for the Woggles (San Diego Sept. 2005 - Just last week. Still reeling from this one!)
- Yo-Yos for the Backyard Babies (March 2000)
- The Wildhearts for The Darkness (April 2004)
- Dio for Aerosmith (Sept. 1983)
- Saxon for Iron Maiden (1983)
- Guns & Roses for The Rolling Stones (L.A. - 1st of 4 nights when Axl quit the band onstage; this was after he fell off the gigantic stage - 1988 or '89)
- Goo Goo Dolls opening for the Gun Club (San Diego 1989)
JOHN M.
BEST:
- Anthrax for Kiss, S.F. Civic Center, 1984 (Kiss w/o Peter and Ace is NOT Kiss)
- UFO for Aldo Nova, Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, 1982(?)
- Metallica for Twisted Sister, 1984 (Umlaut is right-- any band that uses PINK CYCLONE FENCE for a stage set is NOT Metal)
- Van Halen for Black Sabbath, Oakland Coliseum, 1978
- Metallica for Y&T, Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, 1985 (Y&T in their long silk robe phase)
- The Clash for The Who, Oakland Stadium, 1982
No Worst List.
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JIM H.
WORST:
- 415 (Eric Martin pre-Mr. Big) for Joe Walsh (Oakland Coliseum, 1981)
- Johnny & the Distractions (subbing for the announced U2) for J. Geils Band (Sacramento Mem. Aud, 1982)
- Joan Jett for Robert Plant (Oakland Coliseum, 1988)
BEST:
- UK (w/ Allen Holdsworth & Bill Bruford) for Al DiMeola (Sacramento 1978)
- B52’s for Talking Heads (U.C. Davis, 1979)
- Fabulous Thunderbirds for Tom Petty (Cow Palace, 1981)
- The Clash for The Who (Oakland Stadium, 1982)
- Aztec Camera for Elvis Costello & the Attractions (Greek Theatre, Berkeley 1983)
- Johnny Paycheck for Neil Young (Greek Theatre, Berkeley 1984)
- The Long Ryders for Lone Justice (Keystone Palo Alto, 1985)
- Neville Bros. for Grateful Dead (Kaiser Auditorium, Oakland 1986)
- John Lee Hooker for Van Morrison (Greek Theatre, Berkeley 1986)
- Dirty Dozen Brass Band for Art Ensemble of Chicago (Wolfgang’s, SF 1987)
- X (Dave Alvin era) for David Bowie (Spartan Stadium, San Jose 1987)
- Young Fresh Fellows for NRBQ (The Catalyst, Santa Cruz 1990)
- Nirvana for Dinosaur Jr. (Crest Theater, Sacramento 1991)
WORST & BEST AT THE SAME SHOW:
- Television (best) & Yesterday & Today (worst) for Peter Gabriel - Winterland, 1977 (I realize picking Y&T as a worst may be sacrilege to Umlaut, but consider the crowd - a bunch of stoned Prog Rockers.)
RAYMOND A.
BEST:
- Voivod for Celtic Frost - June 11, 1986 - The Stone S.F.
- Trouble for King Diamond - Aug. 3, 1987 - The Stone S.F.
- Nasty Savage for D.R.I. - March 19, 1989 - The Stone S.F.
Click HERE to submit your Worst / Best Opening Acts. Please do not submit festival lineups.. ONLY Headliner > Opening Band shows are valid for this survey.
Remember, the cardinal sin for any opening act is to pander to an unresponsive crowd by mentioning the headliners.. Such as "Hey, we were partying backstage with (The Headliner) and they can't wait to get out here to ROCK you!" etc. etc.
