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The 50 worst concerts ever

12:29 p.m. · September 3, 2008 · by Andrew Winistorfer

Gigwise, that list-making juggernaut, has compiled a list of 50 of the most disastrous live shows ever. There’s no number system to the list (so no bad concert is number one) but the picks are pretty solid.

Among the list are Woodstock 99, Curtis Mayfield’s tragic gig when he was electrocuted and paralyzed after lighting equipment fell on him, the show during which Dimebag Darrell got murdered, and Altamont.  The list also features weird concerts like that of a Russian pop star who was murdered backstage before going on, Michael Jackson getting set on fire at a Pepsi commercial shoot, and James Hetfield getting roasted (literally).

But my favorite inclusion is the Brian Jonestown Massacre dust-up at the Viper Room when the band was playing for a record contract and couldn’t even make it through their set.

But as usual with Gigwise lists, random British acts pop up with innocuous sets (like Stone Roses, the Kinks,  and Muse) as do bad sets at British fests like Glastonbury (like a Bright Eyes set in 2005 and a 50 Cent gig at Reading in 2004).

For the full list, click here.