A Fun Thread--worst gear failure on a gig?

[JPetrucci DT]

had some kids hold the connecters in teh wall cuz they were crap and i was out soloing while the kids by accident had the plug come in and then out and then back in of the wall and my bass palyer got shocked along wit the kid who held the plug.... i didnt find out about it till later that nite but they were all right not a big shock

 

[kbaim]

I played a few of my instrumental songs at my mother's funeral last year, including one I wrote for her in her final days.

My blue dawn Luke did some popping and clicking. No backup guitar either, though I had considered it.

What a blur that was, I do remember being oddly at peace and commenting just before i started playing that "I feel like I've been playing guitar my entire life for this very moment".

Btw Jon really took care of me and my guitar after that incident. My gratitude to the folks up in SLO runs deeply.

 

[Bungo]

We let off some thunder flashes at the end of our gig. We had them inside 2 old metal dustbins - trouble was they were a bit rusty and we were planted "double " charges!

That reminds me of another gig many years back, where somebody had got hold of a smoke machine and thought it would be good to use for 'atmosphere'! Needless to say within seconds of turning it on the entire place was filled with smoke, floor to ceiling. You literally couldn't see an inch in front of your face.

It wasn't really very rock and roll as we stopped playing whilst all doors and windows were opened in an attempt to clear it all out!

 

[PugNinjas]

Speaking of smoke machines.....


Years ago I was in a band that managed to land a gig at a gentleman's club on Foxy Boxing Night We were just starting out to play gigs and we were psyched. All seemed to be going well, we drank for free and were even blessed with sharing a dressing room with the female "entertainers"

We got up onstage and open with VH's Poundcake, drill and all, and the cranked the smoke machine. At first it looked awesome, the sound of the drill and smoke pouring out but somehow the smoke machine stayed on way too long. When we finished the song, my singer was covered in this filth and my left arm was as well. We noticed this as we were trying to gasp for clean air . It seems someone moved the location of this machine right before we went on, it was also the first time the owner used it. My singer and I were standing almost directly above the vent where the machine was and paid the price

Such is rock - n roll


Pug

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

And another story now I come to remember it!

I did a gig at Stoke Country Place in Stoke Poges. A posh looking country club, hardly where they would book a noisy rock band!

Anyhow, we managed to set of the intruder alarm whilst we were setting up, but that was just the start of the evening!

It was decided that this was the perfect gig to test out the use of pyro's for the first time. We set them off after the AC/DC tune 'Shook me all night long' and the smoke started to rise into the ceiling. It hung there for a minute or two and then the country clubs fire alarm went off! If this wasnt bad enough, the building was connected to a childrens care home next door, and it was evacuated! 3 Fire engines turned up! Fireman were waving torches about as we played on!

 

[freelok freek]

Let's see. . . It was at the TRIANGLE in Greenville ,Ohio (the place R Derringer wrote Rock-n-roll hoochie koo about) and they had a wet t-shirt contest. None of the band or crew had the insight to what COULD happen. Needless to say, they spray a great deal of cold water to "amplify" the goodies. The bouncers are manning the spray bottles and have very little concern for the thousands of dollars of equipment surrounding them. This all takes place in between the !st and 2nd sets. What a surprise to come back out with the carpet stage "squishy" and all my guitars DRIPPING. I was very happy. The show must go on. . . . Besides the DC current shocking the sh*t out of all of us, it really looked cool when the first blast of power hit the puddles in our stage monitors, kinda like a video on MTV! Uh. . . needless to say, if it was on the stage, it was wet. And yes, power failure(s) P.A. stage power . . ect, but not always at the same time. Very little permanent damage however. It was interesting but the crowd was understanding. Always have drop clothes or tarps available. . .even indoors.

I can relate with the fire alarm story as well!

I have had many embarrassing things happen on stage and I have learned to do my best to laugh it off. The audience doesn't want to see you p*ssed off or throw a temper tantrum. They are there to enjoy theirselves. It's better to laugh with them than to be laughed at!

 

[edensdad]

about 10 years ago I had a tube peavey amp catch serious fire.

I used to trip over my guitar cord alot, but I don't like to admit it

 

[beej]

I've had the odd thing break, but nothing spectacular.

But I do remember the time I decided to not drink so much at gigs. Got absolutely pissed (there were free shots being passed around) and had trouble keeping up. Eventually I went for a solo and leaned towards the edge of the small stage. That was the last thing I remember.

I came too later on ... by then the evening was over and the crowd gone (Nice work Jay.) Aparently the guys kept playing on without me!

 

[Smellybum]

tried to be cool and change guitars half way through a song so I'd have my floyd for the solo (it was the 80's) - when I picked up the replacement guitar couldn't find the cable i'd taken out..........doh!