Mismatched Bills?

Ever see a show and think "Man, this a mismatched bill?"

Consider this: I interviewed both Steve Blaze and Ronny Munroe about the "new" Lillian Axe last week. Toward the end of the conversation, Blaze casually slips in that Lillian will be touring with Enuff Z'nuff this September. I was more than taken aback. I dig both Lillian Axe and Enuff Z'nuff but I would never in a million years have put them together on a bill. Still, I think it could be cool. Plus, the bands have two different fan bases, so the exposure factor could be good. Of course, some pairings might not work. I was trying to think of a historic, mismatched bill, but couldn't. But I know you can. So, share your stories. Ever attend a crazy, mismatched bill? How was the crowd reaction?

By the way, both Lillian Axe and Enuff Z'nuff are playing Rock n' America in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma next weekend but that show isn't part of the tour. Lillian Axe will also still be fronted by Derrick LeFevre at Rock n' America...Ronny Munroe takes over in August. My Lillian Axe interview will post soon on Noisecreep.

Comments

[John]

When Judas Priest played British Steel Whitesnake opened for them and those bands just didnt match. Whitesnake blew them outta the water!

[JT]

Hendrix opened for the Monkees.

Seriously.

You can't possibly get more mis-matched than that.

[Mike]

When Guns opened for Maiden back in '88 comes to mind. The Gunners stole the show!

[Kiki Chrome]

Lol! JT, the Hendrix/Monkees one was the first thing that came to my mind too! :D Whoever booked that must've had no idea what Hendrix was like.

Strangest match I ever SAW was a show in Wellington in 2008, where Poison opened for Whitesnake and Ozzy Osbourne. The Whitesnake/Poison connection I get, but most of the crowd was there to see Ozzy, so it was definitely a strange fit. The previous night, we'd also seen Lordi, Alice Cooper and Kiss - which was also a slightly disjointed lineup, but seemed to mesh a bit better.

I know that I've heard people say that Poison have lost a bit of their edge on their US tours, but I didn't see any of that. Seriously though, you can't really compare Poison and Ozzy (because they're very different shows, very different styles, different atmosphere), but Poison wiped the floor with Whitesnake! I'd venture a guess that I was one of maybe three or four people who were actually there to see Poison, but they got that crowd really pumping!... and then Coverdale came out and after a couple of songs a whole lot of people seemed to go to the bar. It wasn't even close. The next day, wandering around the city, all I heard in conversations were people saying "Welll... I went to see Ozzy/Whitesnake, but, MAN!!! Poison!!! They were awesome!!! Who knew?" I kept joking to my boyfriend that I should go and get a T-shirt printed up that read: "Poison. I told you so."

:)

[chip]

I saw Alice in Chains (touring in support of their first album) open for Extreme (touring in support of Pornograffitti) at the Akron Agora. I had already "discovered" AIC and really liked them but this was definitely the oddest bill I've ever seen.

[damnp78]

A few years prior I was at a tribute show featuring "Cowboys From Hell", an obvious Pantera tribute band. Headlining the bill was a Poison/ Motley Crue tribute band that billed themselves as both... Hollyweird & Wild Side ???... As strange as this pairing was it was actually a great show.

[MEWIZEMGIC]

I'd like to add the 2010 Rocklahoma Lineup.

Main Stage Friday
Adelitas Way 3:30 PM
Saving Abel 5:00 PM
Buckcherry 6:30 PM
Three Days Grace 8:15 PM
Godsmack 10:30 PM

Main Stage Saurday
Burn Halo 3:30 PM
Fuel 5:00 PM
Saliva 6:30 PM
Cinderella 8:15 PM
ZZ Top 10:00 PM

Main Stage
Aranda 3:30 PM
Sevendust 5:15 PM
Theory of a Deadman 6:30 PM
Chevelle 8:15 PM
Tesla 10:00 PM

By far the strangest mix and worst lineup out of the four years I attended.

[Bryon]

A couple of strange pair-ups come to mind...

Pantera opening up for Skid Row on the Slave to the Grind Tour (1992).

Queensryche opening up for Metallica on the ...And Justice for All tour (1988)

[Brian Basher]

What about Blind Melon opening for Danger Danger back in the day!!!

[kari]

Interesting question indeed? My brain isn't awake just yet to think back in my archive of shows, however I'll add that I'm NOT IMPRESSED with Steve's decision to put Lillian on a bill with Enuf Z Nuff. I'm actually quite SHOCKED! Enuf z Nuff has always sucked and I highly doubt they will be of any draw in any city. Lillian SMOKES Enuf Z Nuff on any given day.

[reptileblvd]

I think Lillian Axe & Enuff Z'Nuff will be a great show.

Hendrix and the Monkees is the worst pairing ever but I would have like to be at that show.

[Bob]

right up there with the Hendrix/Monkees bill is a tour in the late 60s where The Who opened for Herman's Hermits. As for a show I was at, i think the year was 1986. the headliner was Emerson, Lake and Powell. the opener was supposed to be Yngwie malmsteen which was odd enough to begin with, but Yngwie couldn't make it, so the substitute opener was The Art Of Noise. Now that was bizarre!

[Bryon]

One more... on the 1984 Van Halen tour, a rockabilly band called The Velcros opened. They started off with Great Balls of Fire and then played 2 more before getting loudly booed off stage. Not quite sure what the promoter was thinking on that one.

[Bob]

wow Bryon! What venue was that at? I saw VH on that tour in New Jersey, and Autograph was the opener.

[Brian L]

Wang Chung opening for the CARS

[grngry]

I thought Clutch opening for Coheed and Cambria was a pretty odd match. The Coheed people seemed not to know who Clutch was at all.

[anso df]

i saw Soundgarden open for Skid Row on Slave to the Grind Tour.

[TomTom]

Bob ,
Is the show in 86' the one that was played at the old
Capital Center ? I had tickets as well but didn't go because Yngwie cancelled ?

[Bryon]

@Bob,

The venue was Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Maybe Autograph was out of commission for that night, or perhaps they didn't do any of the Canadian dates. Either way, it was the only time I've ever seen a band get booed offstage.

[Bob]

TomTom, if memory serves, I believe the show was at the Meadowlands, although I could be wrong. it was, <gulp>, almost 25 years ago. :) Anyway, we still went to the show even though we knew that Yngwie had canceled. the Art of Noise got booed pretty heavily, but they still played their set. Emerson, Lake and Powell were amazing so it was still a great night, albeit an odd one at the start.