When the choice of support band just feels wrong

[Rayge]

The greatest mismatch that I saw, definitely Yes supporting Janis Joplin in 1970, runner-up (OK they were on the same label/management or something like that) The Police supporting Spirit (the Randy Ed and Fuzzy power trio version) in the late 1970s.

[Tom Waits For No One]

I saw The Cramps supporting The Police, same deal as Yes/Janice with record label.

[Charlie O.]

I have to say, a number of those mentioned (Rockpile/Van, Yes/Janis, Cramps/Police, Steely Dan/Slade) as well as some not yet mentioned (Hendrix/Monkees, Steve Miller/Miles Davis/Grateful Dead, Holy Modal Rounders/Pink Floyd) are bills I personally would love to have been present for.

Maybe I'm just weird.

[cheifwhat]

First time I saw Van Morrison he was opening for Téléphone, the French band. It was in the amphitheatre in Fréjus. Big crowd of two parts, the foreign tourists who were enthusiastic about Van and the French who were more enthusiastic about Téléphone. They were a kind of French punk band though with clear rock leanings, not knowingly heard them since. Must have been '77 or '78.

I saw Telephone opening for Steve Hillage.

Me too

I hear their performances are dialled in though.

Technotronic supporting Madonna on the Blond Ambition tour at Wembley stadium. She was great. No danger of her being upstaged.

[`]

I hear their performances are dialled in.

No wonder the crowds at their shows always seem a bit disconnected.

[cheifwhat]

I hear their performances are dialled in.

No wonder the crowds at their shows always seem a bit disconnected.

They should have been supported by that great German 80s band Modem Talking

[Six String]

A couple come to mind.
Brownsville Station opening for Johnny Winter. I was down front and there were some people yelling "you suck" during their entire set.

38 Special was called upon to open for the Jeff Beck/Jan Hammer show but to be fair they were a last minute decision because Tommy Bolin was supposed to open but o.d.'d in Miami a few nights before the show. I was really looking forward to Tommy Bolin so not only did I not see him but I saw a crap Southern rock band instead. Beck and Hammer were great.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

Japan, in NYD pre stylish make over mode, supporting Blue Oyster Cult in 78'
It's fair to say the crowd were less keen on the support act than i was.

[The Prof]

No one mentioned The Jam opening up for Blue Oyster Cult yet?
The Jam opening up for Blue Oyster Cult.

[Tom Waits For No One]

No one mentioned The Jam opening up for Blue Oyster Cult yet?
The Jam opening up for Blue Oyster Cult.

They was punks though weren't they...

[bobzilla77]

I saw SWANS in 1988 and the opener was Living Colour, who we sadly missed.

A friend of mine saw them (SWANS) a year later with LA hair metal wannabes Pretty Boy Floyd as their support.

I believe SWANS were not one of those Sonic Youth type bands that surrounded themselves with like minded individuals all the time.

[bobzilla77]

TSOL probably had no choice BUT to play the hardcore circuit even after they went wallet-chain -Hollywood- metal. They didn't have the fan base to play the metal clubs yet so they kept getting on bills with the likes of DOA and 7 Seconds, and those audiences couldn't stand it. I saw 7 Seconds' audience in Cincy totally abuse the shit out of them. However they held their own and finished the set, the defiance at the punk rockers rejecting them was maybe kinda punk? It sucked but they were not there to take shit.

https://youtu.be/Q2VqAH90h6s

[Geezee]

I believe SWANS were not one of those Sonic Youth type bands that surrounded themselves with like minded individuals all the time.

Although a good example might be Sonic Youth opening for Neil Young - I was a bit too young for that tour but from everything I've heard the Young fans did not exactly take to Thurston and co. I've been on one or two Sonic Youth gigs as well where they selected openers who were on the avant-garde spectrum which have not gone down well with fans who were there to see Teenage Riot and Kool Thing.