5 of the Most Controversial Live Performances in Rock and Roll History

What is rock music, if not rebellious and controversial at its core? While many live rock performances go off without a hitch, these five controversial live rock performances got their respective bands in some hot water. Let’s dive in!

1. The Who’s Keith Moon Got Burned in 1967

Keith Moon was no stranger to controversial moments onstage. For The Who’s first American TV debut, he wanted the band to really leave their mark. Moon allegedly bribed a stage crew member at CBS to pack his drum kit with way more gunpowder than usual. (Yes, there was a “usual” amount of gunpowder in his drum kit at most of The Who’s live performances.)

As the band performed “My Generation”, Moon’s drum kit exploded with such ferocity that it temporarily cut visibility to the camera. The shrapnel ended up slicing up Moon’s forearm and lit Pete Townshend’s hair on fire. Bette Davis even fainted backstage. Overall, it was a stupid move, but we won’t try to say it wasn’t memorable.

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2. Jim Morrison Didn’t Censor Himself on Live TV in 1967

The Ed Sullivan Show was pretty heavily censored during the series’ heyday. The Doors’ Jim Morrison couldn’t have cared less. He was told to sensor the lyric “Girl, we couldn’t get much higher” before performing “Light My Fire” on the live TV show. He absolutely did not do that, and The Doors’ Robby Krieger couldn’t help but smirk on stage when Morrison made the drug reference. They were subsequently blacklisted from the show.

3. Fear Caused $20,000 Worth of Damage on SNL in 1981

Saturday Night Live has featured quite a few controversial music acts. It’s the nature of live unedited TV, after all. In 1981, the rock band Fear made an appearance at the behest of fan John Belushi. 

Mainstream audiences definitely weren’t ready for Fear’s particular brand of punk rock. Fear ended up destroying the stage during their live set and caused approximately $20,000 worth of damage to the stage. We’re not sure what SNL was thinking; what would you expect by having Ian Mackaye on stage? Still, the performance was killer.

4. Janet Jackson Had a Wardrobe Malfunction in 2004

This performance was more on the pop/hip-hop side of rock music, but it’s worth a mention simply for how unfair the backlash was to Janet Jackson. While performing at the Superbowl in 2004, Janet Jackson’s nipple pasty was ripped off by Justin Timberlake on live television. Allegedly, there was supposed to be a bright red brassiere underneath; only the brassiere was nowhere to be seen.

The backlash from fans, radio stations, and the FCC was ridiculous, considering that Jackson was the victim of the situation. The FCC tried to fine CBS $550,000 for the debacle, though that was later voided.

5. System of a Down Dropped the F-Bomb on SNL in 2005

This was one of the most controversial live rock performances in 2005, and it got System Of A Down banned from SNL. While performing a rendition of “B.Y.O.B.”, the band decided not to censor a single lyric. The performance occurred when the Iraq War first began, and SOAD decided to protest the United States’ involvement in the war by swearing the house down. It was a great performance and an apt form of protest, but the stunt got the band banned from the show indefinitely.

Photo by Wilson Lindsay/Michael Ochs Archives

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