Audience Vs Artist: The Biggest Heckles And Stage Invasions

We take a look at the times when the crowd become part of the show, from stage invasions to physical demonstrations of disapproval. WARNING: swearing AND nudity!

DAPHNE AND CELESTE ANGER THE READING CROWD

Reading Festival fans are not backwards in coming forwards when it comes to letting the artists know what they think. And the crowd weren't having any of it when pop princesses Daphne And Celeste were booked to perform on the Sunday afternoon in 2000, among such hardcore punk rock acts as 'A', Blink-182 and Stereophonics. The pair were given the bum's rush with a variety of flying objects, but gamely stayed on stage for their entire slot, delivering their hit U.G.L.Y. with aplomb.

KANYE GETS "KANYE'D"

Comedian and serial stage invader Lee Nelson got revenge on Yeezy for his famous award ceremony interruptions by rushing the Pyramid Stage during the rapper's Saturday night headliner slot at Glastonbury. Here's how he justified the event...

I Kanye'd Kanye. That was for you @taylorswift13 #Leezus pic.twitter.com/EQJtZUJqhS

— Lee Nelson (@RealLeeNelson) June 28, 2015

COURTEENERS' LIAM FRAY HAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS

The Not Nineteen Forever frontman wasn't happy when some fans took it upon themselves to let off smoke bombs and flare guns at their gig last Christmas. Needless to say, it went off. As Liam tries to find the culprit he takes on some other fans too, telling them: "I can't wait for the three or four little tosspots in the front, or that little crowd there giving me the v's. Get on Twitter tonight and give me as much "fucking shit as you want, 'cause I'll still be here playing for two and a half thousand fucking people singing our songs."

BADLY DRAWN BOY: "YOU'RE SHIT!"

The Northampton Music Festival wasn't the hottest date on the gigging calendar in 2012, but something had rattled Damon Gough's cage that day and he was in a particularly bad mood. The crowd responded in kind with a barrage of foul-mouthed abuse. Not Safe For Work! As one member of the audience complains about the language on display: "There are kids here!"

 

SMITHS FANS GET OVER-EXCITED, 1983

The fan adoration that we see at Morrissey shows these days had its genesis in the early days of The Smiths, of course. The stage was always covered with flowers and Moz would connect with the audience in such a personable way that it was no wonder it got out of hand sometimes. This early show at Derby's Assembly Rooms sees the singer struggle to stay on-mike and on his feet.

ELASTICA AND A NUDE MAN, GLASTONBURY 1995

At the "Britpop Glastonbury", friend of the band Ant Genn decided to pay tribute to Elastica's music in the only way he knew how: by getting naked and invading the stage. Genn went on to front the band The Hours and later admitted he was particularly out of it on that day.

  

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE DON'T GO DOWN TOO WELL AT DOWNLOAD 2007

For some reason, Gerard Way and his crew were not the band of choice for the Download crowd that year, who decided to show their dislike of Welcome To The Black Parade with the traditional volley of detritus. They'd stood through sets by Dragonforce, Wolfmother and Velvet Revolver beforehand, so they had to let out their frustrations some way, we suppose.

IGGY STOPS GLASTONBURY  

The Stooges' headlining set on The Other Stage at Glastonbury in 2007 was full of classic garage hits, but the show came to a standstill once the Igmeister started to invite muddy fans onstage. One went, many followed. It was quite a sight.

50 CENT REALISES HE'S NOT THAT POPULAR AT READING EITHER

Reading again - and this time it's Fiddy and his G-Unit, being told where to go in the form of bottles of wee-wee. And, if you believe the legend, a folding deckchair. 

MORRISSEY GETS HIT ON THE HEAD BY A BOTTLE

A plastic bottle of water, we hasten to add, but this was still disrespectful enough to cause Morrissey to leave the stage immediately, midway through his second song at the Liverpool Arena in November 2009. "Goodbye."

 

BABYSHAMBLES ALBERT HALL GIG ENDS IN SHAMBLES

Stage invasions are nothing unusual at a Pete Doherty show, but this one was within the hallowed environs of the Royal Albert Hall. Halfway through the encore of I Wish, some audience members decided to show their love for the Libertine in the only way they knew how.

PANIC! AT PANIC! AT THE DISCO, READING 2006

Singer Brendon Urie was on the receiving end of a bottle, ironically midway during the song The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage. He was knocked unconscious, but recovered enough to finish the set, triumphant in the face of some idiot who tried to spoil it for everyone.

GREEN DAY MUD SLINGING AT WOODSTOCK 1994

The ill-fated attempt to follow-up the legendary Woodstock festival 25 years after the original resulted in one of the worst gigs ever. Riots, fires and general disruption ruled, but the weather was also pretty rank. Woe betide anyone who tried to play in front of an angry mob up to their knees in mud. Oh no, here's Green Day!

LIAM GALLAGHER THREATENS TO SLAP A FAN

In this throwback Oasis footage from the Supersonic documentary, Liam Gallagher takes on a baying crowd, and focuses on fans that decide to hurl boots and bottles on stage the rocker. Three words: "fucking coconut stall".