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Top "Drunks at Gigs" stories
- Thread starter kesslari
- Start date
LOL!!! that's hilarious. That drunk guy gets around because I swear he has done that at a few of my gigs here in Washington and in NJ.
nah he's in the uk at the moment he likes to call out songs which people dont know and i think his name is eric he was at our last gig
We had a gig just before xmas at a local bar. Everytime we play there some drunk seems to fall over onto us - fortunatly it's a pretty good natured place, so no real problems.
Last time it was a girl celebrating her 21st birthday - her mum helped her up, took her outside, then brought her back 15 minutes later.
This time a drunk guy was doing the usual "you guys are awesome", and decided to start rocking out in front of the monitors (there's no raised stage). He trips and goes down HEAD FIRST onto a stone floor - fortunatly there's a bit of carpet in the area the band play - the rest of the place is just bare stone. He REALLY landed hard - and didn't get up!! We just kept playing, and stared at him not sure what to do. After what seemed like an age (but was probably just a few seconds), he opened his eyes and someone from the audience dragged him up - apparently he was REALLY hurting, but went back to the bar and kept on drinking...
best of all someone got the whole thing on video!!!! I've not seen it yet, but it's going to be a youtube classic!
Last time it was a girl celebrating her 21st birthday - her mum helped her up, took her outside, then brought her back 15 minutes later.
This time a drunk guy was doing the usual "you guys are awesome", and decided to start rocking out in front of the monitors (there's no raised stage). He trips and goes down HEAD FIRST onto a stone floor - fortunatly there's a bit of carpet in the area the band play - the rest of the place is just bare stone. He REALLY landed hard - and didn't get up!! We just kept playing, and stared at him not sure what to do. After what seemed like an age (but was probably just a few seconds), he opened his eyes and someone from the audience dragged him up - apparently he was REALLY hurting, but went back to the bar and kept on drinking...
best of all someone got the whole thing on video!!!! I've not seen it yet, but it's going to be a youtube classic!
Played at a bikie bar (the place got burnt down a few years later by some bikies) once and we didn't really know what to expect... we played funk and disco, no AC/DC or Deep Purple... anyway, everything seemed to be going fine till this waaaay to drunk bloke was standing directly in front of us holding his beer and struggling to stay vertical. About 2-3 mins later mid-song he just passed out standing up and fell into our foldback and our vocalist's music stand, knocking it into my bass and scratching it. His mates came over and dragged him outside...
Half an hour later the same guy was standing in the same spot with a beer in hand once more and the exact same thing happened. Into the wedge, into the stand, more scratches. I nearly went Sid Vicious on him except it was a bikie bar and the scratches weren't all that bad in the end, pretty small.
Half an hour later the same guy was standing in the same spot with a beer in hand once more and the exact same thing happened. Into the wedge, into the stand, more scratches. I nearly went Sid Vicious on him except it was a bikie bar and the scratches weren't all that bad in the end, pretty small.
I've got a few more, but just one more for now...
Played a gig for Agfest (annual farming show) and they hold a big party afterwards. There was something like 800 people through on the gate and we were the only band (playing covers). Anyways, we played on the back of a truck and got setup, only to be told we were starting two hours later and could we play an extra set... so before even the first set I'd had 6-8 beers... had to leave the stage at the 8th song cause my bladder was in physical pain from about the 3rd song. I went to the men's and I literally p***ed for the entire next song, which they played acoustic.
So by the time the fifth set came around I was pretty smashed, especially after the joint some random female sat down and shared with me during one of the breaks (maybe had 18 beers by this stage too). We start playing "Smoke on the Water" and I cannot for the life of me remember what the key was, so I start playing G, but being so drunk my ear is out entirely, so I move up to A, but that sounds worse, then keep going up the neck chromatically trying to find the right note... about a minute of doing this I look up and the rest of the band have been screaming at me "IT'S IN G!!! G!!!" So I go back to G and all of the sudden I realise my mistake.
Then during the song (everyone there is smashed by this point) our singer, who was a bit of a Cassanova, yells out "Let's see some titties!!!" and within about 5 seconds there are about 7 pairs of breasts bouncing around at the front of the stage, guys fondling them etc (we got all of this on film too, lol). Then he yells "Let's see some underwear!!" And before he's barely finished the sentence 4 bras are up on stage. Then a few girls came up on stage and had a dance for a few songs, minus said bras... didn't go quite to the panties, but the next day noone had come to claim said underwear, and I was very hungover...
Played a gig for Agfest (annual farming show) and they hold a big party afterwards. There was something like 800 people through on the gate and we were the only band (playing covers). Anyways, we played on the back of a truck and got setup, only to be told we were starting two hours later and could we play an extra set... so before even the first set I'd had 6-8 beers... had to leave the stage at the 8th song cause my bladder was in physical pain from about the 3rd song. I went to the men's and I literally p***ed for the entire next song, which they played acoustic.
So by the time the fifth set came around I was pretty smashed, especially after the joint some random female sat down and shared with me during one of the breaks (maybe had 18 beers by this stage too). We start playing "Smoke on the Water" and I cannot for the life of me remember what the key was, so I start playing G, but being so drunk my ear is out entirely, so I move up to A, but that sounds worse, then keep going up the neck chromatically trying to find the right note... about a minute of doing this I look up and the rest of the band have been screaming at me "IT'S IN G!!! G!!!" So I go back to G and all of the sudden I realise my mistake.
Then during the song (everyone there is smashed by this point) our singer, who was a bit of a Cassanova, yells out "Let's see some titties!!!" and within about 5 seconds there are about 7 pairs of breasts bouncing around at the front of the stage, guys fondling them etc (we got all of this on film too, lol). Then he yells "Let's see some underwear!!" And before he's barely finished the sentence 4 bras are up on stage. Then a few girls came up on stage and had a dance for a few songs, minus said bras... didn't go quite to the panties, but the next day noone had come to claim said underwear, and I was very hungover...
Attachments
Another one, playing at a pretty formal wedding reception, everyone is tuxedoed and gowned up to the hilt.
We finish a song, it was something that we did a big ending on D, and as a joke I played a triplet feel D D D (up ocatve) D# D# D# - just like the end of "Killing in the Name", as a bit of fun between my bandmates. The bride's brother, pissed as a fart, comes running up and yells over and over again "PLAY THAT PLAY THAT!!" so we managed to mangle a verse or two and stop, then go back to our setlist as noone seemed to care and we were having fun with the gig.
Half an hour later the bride's brother and the groom come back, both hammered, insisting we play it again. the guitarist and drummer (both 50 and 40 respectively) both knew the song, but our vocalist didn't, so she just made some stuff up. Then the groom and bride's bro grabbed the mic and screamed into it at the top of their lungs "F****************** YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!" - most of their guests weren't very impressed at all, especially the respective couple's parents, but it was by far one of the most hilarious moments at a gig.
We finish a song, it was something that we did a big ending on D, and as a joke I played a triplet feel D D D (up ocatve) D# D# D# - just like the end of "Killing in the Name", as a bit of fun between my bandmates. The bride's brother, pissed as a fart, comes running up and yells over and over again "PLAY THAT PLAY THAT!!" so we managed to mangle a verse or two and stop, then go back to our setlist as noone seemed to care and we were having fun with the gig.
Half an hour later the bride's brother and the groom come back, both hammered, insisting we play it again. the guitarist and drummer (both 50 and 40 respectively) both knew the song, but our vocalist didn't, so she just made some stuff up. Then the groom and bride's bro grabbed the mic and screamed into it at the top of their lungs "F****************** YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!" - most of their guests weren't very impressed at all, especially the respective couple's parents, but it was by far one of the most hilarious moments at a gig.
Just happened ... :scowl:
Dec 26th just the other day, gig at one of our normal haunts but our regular drummer can't make the gig so we use the sub we have used before.
Now being just after the holiday I guess everyone is ready to cut loose and on top of that it's about 75 degreee and everyone is out to party and the place is packed.
It's so hot in the place that our singer is about to melt in her long sleeve top lucky for her the Jagermeister girl was passing out tank tops so at the break she changes into one. Well now the guy who has been drinking hard for the 1st set gets VERY intrested and is literally standing just at the end of her mic and will not go away (there is no stage we are right on the floor) and the guitar player and I are watching the situation carefully.
We should have been watching the drummer (remember he is a sub) because by the middle of set 2 his timing starts to be off and he needs to stop the set to go take a bladder break. HE IS WASTED!!! and he comes back from his little break with more beer
By the 3rd set he can hardly sit up much less play, so we stop again and he knocks a water glass over and it's all over our cords and under foot. The bar owner wants the water up so no one gets fried on stage and I go out with the drummer with a few choice words and coffee. When I come back in I notice the mic stand is in the wrong place and the owner tells me yeah sorry my mop hit it.
Then I see the result of the mic stand fall, in the form of a Shure 58 pattern imbedded on to the front of my Jazz Bass
Well by now drunk dude bothering the singer is passed out in a chair and drummer can only marginally play better but it's still bad ... no very bad. I just want this nightmare to end.
Worst part for the now ex sub drummer is I've arranged this gig to be an audtion for him as we know of a band needing a drummer and they came out to hear him play ... they are now in no way interested after witnessing this fiasco!
... We finished the night and got two more bookings out of it but but jeez dealing with drunks!
Dec 26th just the other day, gig at one of our normal haunts but our regular drummer can't make the gig so we use the sub we have used before.
Now being just after the holiday I guess everyone is ready to cut loose and on top of that it's about 75 degreee and everyone is out to party and the place is packed.
It's so hot in the place that our singer is about to melt in her long sleeve top lucky for her the Jagermeister girl was passing out tank tops so at the break she changes into one. Well now the guy who has been drinking hard for the 1st set gets VERY intrested and is literally standing just at the end of her mic and will not go away (there is no stage we are right on the floor) and the guitar player and I are watching the situation carefully.
We should have been watching the drummer (remember he is a sub) because by the middle of set 2 his timing starts to be off and he needs to stop the set to go take a bladder break. HE IS WASTED!!! and he comes back from his little break with more beer
By the 3rd set he can hardly sit up much less play, so we stop again and he knocks a water glass over and it's all over our cords and under foot. The bar owner wants the water up so no one gets fried on stage and I go out with the drummer with a few choice words and coffee. When I come back in I notice the mic stand is in the wrong place and the owner tells me yeah sorry my mop hit it.
Then I see the result of the mic stand fall, in the form of a Shure 58 pattern imbedded on to the front of my Jazz Bass
Well by now drunk dude bothering the singer is passed out in a chair and drummer can only marginally play better but it's still bad ... no very bad. I just want this nightmare to end.
Worst part for the now ex sub drummer is I've arranged this gig to be an audtion for him as we know of a band needing a drummer and they came out to hear him play ... they are now in no way interested after witnessing this fiasco!
... We finished the night and got two more bookings out of it but but jeez dealing with drunks!
Nah ... just ice water all that night
I look at it this way $#it's gonna happen, the bass is made to be played so I drag it about everywhere I play. It's got other marks on it from being used over the years so this is just one more to add to the story. You can't "relic" this stuff it's real.
... BTW it was my 73 Jazz
I look at it this way $#it's gonna happen, the bass is made to be played so I drag it about everywhere I play. It's got other marks on it from being used over the years so this is just one more to add to the story. You can't "relic" this stuff it's real.
... BTW it was my 73 Jazz
this wasnt my gig. it was one of my uncles gigs, and i was just there to listen to them. they were doin "Bands on the Beach". now, if anyone has ever been to The Shell on the boardwalk at Pensacola Beach, youll know the stage and further understand it. ill explain some though. the stage is at the base of a boardwalk, and there is a giant shell at the back of the stage. great for the band, since you can turn your amps around to hear better, and just have it bounce off the shell for the audience. in front of the stage is a relatively open area, for people to walk and dance, whatever.
but anyways. im sittin about 3-4 rows from the stage on the benches. suddenly to guys walk up and just sit on the front bench. they look like theyve been out there at the beach to long that day, kinda red from the sun. but other than that, look fine. then the one with the short hair goes off to get a drink or somethin. the guy with curly hair is left behind to listen and slurp on his drink. he sits there for a few minutes. he then finds out that the woman sittin next to me(my grandmother) is the rhythm guitarists mother. he then proceeds to prise him to my grandmother. after his two minutes of praise, he gets up to stand in the open area between the benches and the stage. he then yells that they are the greatest band hes ever heard at the lead singer for 10 minutes. he stumbles around for a while in his drunken state. still slurpin on his drink. after a while of stumbling, he does some air guitar to the solo the lead guitarist is havin at. when hes shredded the strings of his air guitar, he stumbles a little more. finally he takes to the classic AC/DC stance of satan fingers and head nod. the best part is that hes not on beat and is doin it to the Allman Brothers. after a few more songs, they take a break, and get ready for the second set. he then wonders around and slurs praise to ever member of the band, buys a t-shirt and then praises them some more. his buddy has still yet to return. the second set begins and he goes back to stumblin around and doin the AC/DC stance. finally after a while, his buddy comes back and sits down. his buddy watches him for about half a song, then goes up to him grabs his arm and hauls him away. great show, and it was kinda funny to watch the guy too.
but anyways. im sittin about 3-4 rows from the stage on the benches. suddenly to guys walk up and just sit on the front bench. they look like theyve been out there at the beach to long that day, kinda red from the sun. but other than that, look fine. then the one with the short hair goes off to get a drink or somethin. the guy with curly hair is left behind to listen and slurp on his drink. he sits there for a few minutes. he then finds out that the woman sittin next to me(my grandmother) is the rhythm guitarists mother. he then proceeds to prise him to my grandmother. after his two minutes of praise, he gets up to stand in the open area between the benches and the stage. he then yells that they are the greatest band hes ever heard at the lead singer for 10 minutes. he stumbles around for a while in his drunken state. still slurpin on his drink. after a while of stumbling, he does some air guitar to the solo the lead guitarist is havin at. when hes shredded the strings of his air guitar, he stumbles a little more. finally he takes to the classic AC/DC stance of satan fingers and head nod. the best part is that hes not on beat and is doin it to the Allman Brothers. after a few more songs, they take a break, and get ready for the second set. he then wonders around and slurs praise to ever member of the band, buys a t-shirt and then praises them some more. his buddy has still yet to return. the second set begins and he goes back to stumblin around and doin the AC/DC stance. finally after a while, his buddy comes back and sits down. his buddy watches him for about half a song, then goes up to him grabs his arm and hauls him away. great show, and it was kinda funny to watch the guy too.
Here's a good one, involving yours truly:
My old band was on tour back in '98 and playing the club Trees in Dallas. It was a good sized club and there were about 300 people there. My band and the band we were touring with had arrived at the club way too early...around 4 in the afternoon...to find the friendliest staff in all of my touring experience and after loading our gear in, immediately began helping ourselves to the free food, beer and booze being offered. By 7:00, we were all pretty wasted. A bunch of us decided it would be a good idea to crawl off into the backstage area to sleep it off on the many available couches before the show but the remaining few...myself included...decided it would be a good idea to just power through it and keep right on going. My band was going onstage around midnight and by that time, I could barely see straight. After the first song, I was literally just standing onstage in a complete stupor, feeding back at max volume and giggling to myself. I had noticed that members of the opening band and members of our crew...those who made the decision to sleep pre-show instead of becoming sloppy messes themselves...were lining the front of the stage with plastic cups filled with beer. "Yeah...beer!" I recall thinking as I picked one up and knocked it back. Another bad idea in a seemingly endless string. I instantly had to puke. I walked to the front of the stage and took aim at one of the empties on the floor. My aim (and luck) seemed to be extremely good because I managed to not only hit the cup but fill it to its brim with what looked like fresh beer. I swear...it had a foamy head on it and everything. The funniest part of this came when one of my bandmates, thinking it was a fresh beer, picked it up and chugged it in front of a few hundred horrified fans. The place went completely nuts, I somehow managed to finish the show and needless to say, I didn't get stuck driving that night!
My old band was on tour back in '98 and playing the club Trees in Dallas. It was a good sized club and there were about 300 people there. My band and the band we were touring with had arrived at the club way too early...around 4 in the afternoon...to find the friendliest staff in all of my touring experience and after loading our gear in, immediately began helping ourselves to the free food, beer and booze being offered. By 7:00, we were all pretty wasted. A bunch of us decided it would be a good idea to crawl off into the backstage area to sleep it off on the many available couches before the show but the remaining few...myself included...decided it would be a good idea to just power through it and keep right on going. My band was going onstage around midnight and by that time, I could barely see straight. After the first song, I was literally just standing onstage in a complete stupor, feeding back at max volume and giggling to myself. I had noticed that members of the opening band and members of our crew...those who made the decision to sleep pre-show instead of becoming sloppy messes themselves...were lining the front of the stage with plastic cups filled with beer. "Yeah...beer!" I recall thinking as I picked one up and knocked it back. Another bad idea in a seemingly endless string. I instantly had to puke. I walked to the front of the stage and took aim at one of the empties on the floor. My aim (and luck) seemed to be extremely good because I managed to not only hit the cup but fill it to its brim with what looked like fresh beer. I swear...it had a foamy head on it and everything. The funniest part of this came when one of my bandmates, thinking it was a fresh beer, picked it up and chugged it in front of a few hundred horrified fans. The place went completely nuts, I somehow managed to finish the show and needless to say, I didn't get stuck driving that night!
Here's a good one, involving yours truly:
My old band was on tour back in '98 and playing the club Trees in Dallas. It was a good sized club and there were about 300 people there. My band and the band we were touring with had arrived at the club way too early...around 4 in the afternoon...to find the friendliest staff in all of my touring experience and after loading our gear in, immediately began helping ourselves to the free food, beer and booze being offered. By 7:00, we were all pretty wasted. A bunch of us decided it would be a good idea to crawl off into the backstage area to sleep it off on the many available couches before the show but the remaining few...myself included...decided it would be a good idea to just power through it and keep right on going. My band was going onstage around midnight and by that time, I could barely see straight. After the first song, I was literally just standing onstage in a complete stupor, feeding back and giggling to myself. I had noticed that members of the opening band and members of our crew...those who made the decision to sleep pre-show instead of becoming sloppy messes themselves...were lining the front of the stage with plastic cups filled with beer. "Yeah...beer!" I recall thinking as I picked one up and knocked it back. Bad idea. I now had to puke. I walked to the front of the stage and took aim at one of the empties on the floor. My aim (and luck) seemed to be extremely good because I managed to not only hit the cup but fill it to its brim with what looked like fresh beer. I swear...it had a foamy head on it and everything. The funniest part of this came when one of my bandmates, thinking it was a fresh beer, picked it up and chugged it in front of a few hundred horrified fans. The place went completely nuts, I somehow managed to finish the show and needless to say, I didn't get stuck driving that night!
That is absolutely horrible.
We had a good one this past Halloween... LONG story lol. My band The Red Limit had a gig with 1 other band at a local venue called the Canadian Brewhouse. The owner of said bar as well as the promoter both have a "problem" with our singer, so we didn't exactly anticipate a smooth night, but it went more sideways than we could have imagined... Anyway, the drinking started in full force at about 7, right after we finished setting up, and my band was to play 2nd that night so we weren't up until about 11... The rest of the band took off to do their own thing for a few hours while me, my girlfriend and a couple of our friends stuck around. Each band had a $100 bar tab, and by about 8:30, we demolished both (!) bands' tabs. We were having a good time but the sloppy drunk didn't kick in until right before showtime, which is also when the technical problems started - our keyboardist couldn't plug his keyboard in, my mic wasn't working, and our lead singer's mic would keep cutting in and out... And besides all that, our sound was just terrible, both on stage and in the audience. We instantly thought sabotage.
So after about 2 songs of getting madder by the minute, I decided to storm off stage and head toward the exit. The tequila and anger was really flowing at this point, so when I made it to the front door, instead of using my hands to open it, like any good angry drunk I decided to kick it... shattering the glass and instantly attracting every single bouncer in the place. The next hour was the biggest gong show I've ever seen - drunk angry bouncers trying to control an angry drunk mob. Some of our fans were as angry as we were and got in the bouncers' faces with us, so long story short, I'm just glad we made it out of there without anyone getting killed. We still got paid but I think we're all banned for life from that place. I would normally feel bad about trashing a venue, but between the promoter's and bar manager's BS and the soundguy, I can't help but laugh at how ridiculous it all was... Good times.
So after about 2 songs of getting madder by the minute, I decided to storm off stage and head toward the exit. The tequila and anger was really flowing at this point, so when I made it to the front door, instead of using my hands to open it, like any good angry drunk I decided to kick it... shattering the glass and instantly attracting every single bouncer in the place. The next hour was the biggest gong show I've ever seen - drunk angry bouncers trying to control an angry drunk mob. Some of our fans were as angry as we were and got in the bouncers' faces with us, so long story short, I'm just glad we made it out of there without anyone getting killed. We still got paid but I think we're all banned for life from that place. I would normally feel bad about trashing a venue, but between the promoter's and bar manager's BS and the soundguy, I can't help but laugh at how ridiculous it all was... Good times.
This one is more of a result of a drunk in proximity to a gig.
I went to see my friends band play the other night. As the opening band is playing I thought it was a good idea to go grab a bite to eat. I ventured outside with a friend and was lucky enough to find a thai food place about 2 storefronts down. We walk inside and the place is dead empty, with the exception of these 2 guys sitting up front drinking. They seemed normal enough, excpet half of this guys crack is exposed, hilarious!
So we order and our food comes, we're eating, almost finished, and one of the drunks stumbles up to our table, I invite him to sit down and he starts talking to us about how he's from denmark. His friend makes his way to the table and we're all just talking a little bit. Well the guy with the exposed crack decides to climb over the table to tell his friend something, exposing even more crack right out on the now empty table. We invited them back to the gig, hoping some more hilarity would ensue, and they said they were comiong, but I dont think that guy was able to get his crack out the door.
I went to see my friends band play the other night. As the opening band is playing I thought it was a good idea to go grab a bite to eat. I ventured outside with a friend and was lucky enough to find a thai food place about 2 storefronts down. We walk inside and the place is dead empty, with the exception of these 2 guys sitting up front drinking. They seemed normal enough, excpet half of this guys crack is exposed, hilarious!
So we order and our food comes, we're eating, almost finished, and one of the drunks stumbles up to our table, I invite him to sit down and he starts talking to us about how he's from denmark. His friend makes his way to the table and we're all just talking a little bit. Well the guy with the exposed crack decides to climb over the table to tell his friend something, exposing even more crack right out on the now empty table. We invited them back to the gig, hoping some more hilarity would ensue, and they said they were comiong, but I dont think that guy was able to get his crack out the door.
I've forgotten more drunk stories than I can count, but a couple still stand out:
We were playing a usual haunt when a couple of girls come up to the stage leading an elderly gentlemen. They said the guy would pay us $100 if he could sing with us. We were going to blow them off - except that the guy pulled the $100 out of his pocket and gave it to us! The problem? The guy was Russian - and didn't know any of our songs, nor we any of his. Sadly, we gave him his $100 back.
On another occasion at the same bar, a guy stumbled in that had worked at a company with me a couple of years prior. Comes up to me after the set - fully loaded - and proceeds to tell me how he had started his own company and was now filthy rich. To prove his point, he pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket and gave it to me right there on the spot. To my delight, he did something stupid after we had started our next set and got thrown out of the bar - leaving his bragging money behind, of course.
-- Dan --
We were playing a usual haunt when a couple of girls come up to the stage leading an elderly gentlemen. They said the guy would pay us $100 if he could sing with us. We were going to blow them off - except that the guy pulled the $100 out of his pocket and gave it to us! The problem? The guy was Russian - and didn't know any of our songs, nor we any of his. Sadly, we gave him his $100 back.
On another occasion at the same bar, a guy stumbled in that had worked at a company with me a couple of years prior. Comes up to me after the set - fully loaded - and proceeds to tell me how he had started his own company and was now filthy rich. To prove his point, he pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket and gave it to me right there on the spot. To my delight, he did something stupid after we had started our next set and got thrown out of the bar - leaving his bragging money behind, of course.
-- Dan --
