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9:30 Coffee Break: Public Meltdowns

Posted at 8:17 AM on November 29, 2010 by Jill Riley (22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

"Newly reformed" Kanye West is at it again. A 10 minute rant last Wednesday night at The Bowery Ballroom during a performance of his new album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy included the rapper's thoughts on the Taylor Swift incident, Matt Lauer, physical abuse, the psyche of the blogger, and of course his most infamous comment about former president George W. Bush. This has got us thinking about some of the music world's most fantastic public meltdowns.

Help us create a set of music featuring artists who lost the plot in public.

Songs played:
Kanye West (feat. Justin Vernon) "Lost in the World"
Wavves "King of the Beach"
George Jones "White Lightning"
Bjork "Army of Me"
Ryam Adams "Magick"

Comments (22)

"Power" or "Runaway" by the King of Rants himself, Kanye West. Naturally, we should honor the man who inspired today's Coffee Break.

Posted by Cat | November 29, 2010 9:10 AM

Fiona Apple lost it at a concert once upon a time

Pete Townshend clobbered Abbie Hoffman with his guitar at Woodstock

Axl Rose is perennially nuts

Posted by lou | November 29, 2010 9:12 AM

Johnny Cash had babbling drugged induced melt down on his national TV show. I can't remember the specifics, but it's painful to watch.

Posted by Tj | November 29, 2010 9:14 AM

bob dylan

see: http://www.avclub.com/austin/articles/its-alright-ma-im-only-crazy-bob-dylans-best-onsta,31235/

Posted by beth | November 29, 2010 9:15 AM

Wavves had a famous meltdown onstage last year, but his career seems to have recovered from it just fine. "King of the Beach" is sort of a hit for him now.
Ray Davies of the Kinks apparently overdosed or had a nervous breakdown onstage during his weird theatrical "Preservation Act One" days, and had to be taken from the stage to the hospital while in clown makeup. He has that great song, "All of My Friends Were There," (on "Are the Village Green Preservation Society") about making a fool of oneself onstage.

Posted by Will C. | November 29, 2010 9:17 AM

How about Ryan Adams? Those of us who were at the First Ave show back in the day know about his meltdowns all too well. Plus there was that whole kicking out a fan who jokingly asked him to play "Summer of '69"...

Posted by Kari | November 29, 2010 9:17 AM

So Kanye had this meltdown on Wednesday and then Thursday morning got up and lip-synced his way through the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? What a weird turnaround. But that's Kanye for you.

This is a tough topic, the only meltdowns I can think of off the top of my head are from artists I don't want to hear from.

Posted by Brandon | November 29, 2010 9:18 AM

Ryan Adams had some meltdowns in a couple of his previous twin cities shows, so anything by him would be apropos.

Posted by Jon | November 29, 2010 9:19 AM

Brittany Spears has had SEVERAL meltdowns

Vanilla Ice trashed a set on the Surreal Life

Keith Richards claimed he snorted his father's ashes, then said he didn't, then said he did

Courtney Love
Jessica Simpson

Posted by SLA | November 29, 2010 9:20 AM

Axl Rose, Ryan Adams, and Glen Danzig come to mind. Yeah, Danzig didn't even make it to the concert before he lost it, but it was certainly an event worthy of inclusion here!

Posted by Jess | November 29, 2010 9:21 AM

How about Peace Frog by the Doors? Or anything by XTC.

Posted by Erin | November 29, 2010 9:22 AM

Someone must mention:

Courtney Love - Lollapalooza 1994 or anytime before or after Kurt's death. Anything from her would be awesome.

Ian Curtis - his epileptic attacks are legendary during his concerts. Pls play "Shadowplay"

The Who's drummer always drummed high, what was his name Keith Moon!

Finally, The Rolling Stones at altamont telling the bikers Death Angels not to clubber the audience is another classic.

Cheers.

Posted by Terro | November 29, 2010 9:25 AM

I extremely doubt you'll play this, but it's so fitting:

John Mayer, "My Stupid Mouth"

Posted by April | November 29, 2010 9:27 AM

I've heard about Fiona Apple going off on more than one occasion about the sound quality at her shows.

Amy Winehouse is, of course, troubled.

Brian Wilson took the crazy rock star deal to amazing heights. A 30,000 dollar Arabian tent room for taking drugs, a sand pit in the house so he could always be at the beach. OUCH!

Jim Morrison was arrested for indecent exposure on stage. It's still up in the air as to if he really did get the cat out of the bag on that one. Even if he didn't, I'm sure he was up to many more antics that night.

Posted by Patrick | November 29, 2010 9:27 AM

The Beatles - "more popular than Jesus"

Posted by P2 | November 29, 2010 9:27 AM

James Brown (the school bus incident)

Jim Morrison/The Doors- (I have a great bootleg of a wasted Morrison jamming with Hendrix at the Scene Club in NY.- not very radio friendly)

"Califonia Uber Alles"- Dead Kennedys (there's a live version in which Jello goes off!)

Brittney Spears, Joaquim Phoenix

Not musically related but the Michael Richards incident...

Posted by Seamus | November 29, 2010 9:31 AM

Not exactly a Current artist, but a good rant:
Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready To Make Nice"

Posted by Michelle | November 29, 2010 9:34 AM

bjork!

she freaked out and attacked a papparazi at an airport...understandablely.

maybe it's oh so quiet?

Posted by kim | November 29, 2010 9:34 AM

Don't forget the Sex Pistols. They always broke down live and in person. HAHA

Posted by Ram | November 29, 2010 9:39 AM

Howabout a song *about* a public meltdown - It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

Posted by Sarah | November 29, 2010 9:42 AM

I'd like to hear from winehouse... Maybe you know I'm no good.... She's just such a wreck all over..but still gotta love her voice.

Posted by caity | November 29, 2010 9:46 AM

nina simone was legendary, especially in her later years, of going totally diva at concerts--coming on hours late, freaking out and yelling at audience members for being disrespectful and leaving the stage but then coming back an hour later.

but everyone forgave her because she was the one and only nina simone and if anyone deserved to be a diva, she did...

Posted by sherwin | November 29, 2010 9:50 AM

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