JUMANJI!

My nomination? Dylan forgetting the words to “Like a Rolling Stone” at the Isle of Wight concert in 1970. (You can hear it on “Self Portrait.”) How many times do you think he had sung that one before?!

Here’s an obscure one from Melanie, the ’70s singer who’s best known for her novelty hit, the roller-skating song “Brand New Key” (though she should be remembered for other much better songs). During her live double-album performance at Carnegie Hall, she forgets the words to “Animal Crackers.” But I guess that doesn’t really surprise anyone too much.

When Pearl Jam played in Milwaukee this summer, Eddie forgot some of the words to “Elderly Woman…” and started mumbling until he got back on track, so during the “hearts and thoughts” line, he sang “rocker’s grace they fade, fade away”. A wonderful moment.

Another Springsteen mistake; he forgets the words to “Spirit in the Night” on the Live in Barcelona DVD. Takes him a couple minutes to work it out. Funny.

In the Concert For Bangladesh Ringo has trouble remembering the words to It Don’t Come Easy and mumbles something unintelligible until he gets to a part that he does remember.

Eddie Vedder used to screw up the lyrics to Even Flow all the time. Just listen to any of the ‘98 or 2000 bootlegs. Immortality is another song he’s screwed up many a time.

Take it easy on Norah. Everyone has a brain fart every now and then.

Not that any of you will be suprised, but Phish used to botch their lyrics semi-regularly. Shocker, I know. Brain farts happen.

I went to a Coldplay show back in 2003 in Nijmegen(The Netherlands), and Chris Martin forgot the lyrics during God Put A Smile Upon Your Face, he went “Shit!” and started over. That was pretty funny.

any dead show from after ‘91 contained forgotten lyrics

The The
Matt forgot the words to ‘Into the Blue and into the Fire’ at their Brisbane Australia show in 1989 .
I forgive him though , It was his first world tour

And I forgot to add ,
The The were probably the most under appreciated band ( solo artist ) ever !

Eddie Vedder definately has a tendency to screw up on occasion, but he likes to blame it on Stone or Mike. Also, when you draw from a library as extensive as Pearl Jam’s, with a different set every night, who can blame him.

I dunno, but I wonder how many people have messed up R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”?

Plus, I don’t care if Norah is stupid or on drugs or whatever, I still want to make sweet sweet love to her ass.

Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip tends to just make up new lyrics every time he sings a song, which I guess explains why there are all of us Hip bootleg hunters out there.

When I saw Ron Sexsmith, he wanted to sing a Stevie Nicks cover and dedicate it to a close friend, but ended up having to start it about 4 times before he could remember the lead-in.

And I love Dave Grohl on some late night TV talk show, trying to play Stairway To Heaven, but having to get prompts from audience members from time to time so he could continue.

The Chili Peppers in ‘02 or ‘03 just sat on their f*cking speakers the whole time mumbling incoherently into the mic.

I’m gonna have to listen to that Dylan one on “Self Portrait!”

I think a lot more artists use teleprompters than you think. I am almost certain I’ve seen one onstage at a U2 concert. And of course Michael Stipe brings lyric sheets onstage with him

I think Paul has never try to lean the words to “Carry That Weight”

How about Michael Stipe? That guy can’t go on stage without his lyrics on a sheet music stand. Anyone remember R.E.M.’s Unplugged episode?

Bobby Weir is famous for messing up lyrics. There are a few live shows where he skips/repeats versus during ‘Truckin’, and in my instances Jerry takes over for him. Blown lyrics were part of most shows, made up for with outstanding music.

Ray Davies/Kinks, i remember when he started Lola a verse to early on SNL!

In Paul McCartney’s live CD he forgets the lyrics to “You Never Give Me Your Money”.

And let’s not forget Robert Goulet forgetting the words to the National Anthem. I know, it’s not rock & roll, but it had to be a major embarassment.

At Pearl Jam’s sunday show in SF this summer Eddie forgot the words to the first song…he said it was a first for him, forgetting the words to the first song of the night. They ended up skipping it and moving on. Still the best live act around, no fooling. The song i think was “sometimes”

i saw dylan last agust and he skipped an entire verse to like a rolling stone

Macy Gray forgetting the words to the national anthem at a basketball game. Macy Gray is actually pretty forgetable.

Sitting behind the stage at the last DMB winter tour, we could read along with Dave’s teleprompter. It was only running for the newest songs off “Stand Up”, but come on, learn your own songs.

At a Pearl Jam show in Saskatoon last September, they tried a cover of The Guess Who’s “Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon”. Musically it was great. Lyrically, it was a struggle for Eddie. He got through the first verse and chorus and then it went to pot after that. In his defense, it was a spur of the moment thing leading into a first encore and Eddie was on his 3rd bottle of wine by then. Entertaining all the same though.

First of all in Reference to the Paul MccCartney comment. Paul did’nt forget the words to you never give me your money. It was part of the act. He did the exact same thing at every stop on his 2002 tour. It’s his attempt at humor. Second, when you write as many songs as say eddie vedder, Mccartney, and absolutely Bob Dylan it is somewhat understandable that there are moments where one might fumble for a line. Don’t bust there balls, how many songs have you written? Cut norah some slack, how newsworthy is a Norah Jones concert anyway?

Donald Fagen keepsthe Steely Dan lyrics on top of his Rhodes during the shows.

you’re pretty angry about this list eh Ric….. shut up man.

Springsteen has messed up a couple of times…once in a show in Philly (I think it was the Rising tour) he was playing a song solo on the piano (I think it was Blinded by the Light) and he simply couldn’t remember how the song began…he’d play a few notes, then stop…then try it again and stop….

CONNOR OBERST, ONLY BECAUSE HIS ASS IS TOO DRUNK TO REMEMBER. WHAT AN OVRERRATED PIECE OF SHIT. WHAT GOOD ARE YOUR NEW AGE DYLAN SONGS OF TEEN ANGST AND LONGING IF YOU CAN’T REMEMEBR THEM?

FUCK BRIGHT EYES.

CONNER OBERST.

WHAT GOOD ARE ALL OF YOUR AMAZING SONGS IF YOU’RE TOO DRUNK TO REMEMBER IT? WORTHLESS.

Find me a Phish show where Trey DOESN’T mess up “Cavern”

how bout brad nowell for sublime? he messed up all the time, lyrics, chords, you name it. almost like he was on drugs…

Dave Matthews has alot of songs to remember, I think they do about 70-80 different ones a tour.

Sting I think uses a teleprompter also.

ABOUT TIME SOME ONE TALKS ABOUT BRAD!!! My favorite Bradley Nowell mess ups are on the “Acoustic” when he messes up a chord on “Boss D.J” and says Fuck or “Garden Grove” and he justs starts skatting and babbling.
“A funky not a junky but I know where to get it, no trouble no fuss, I know why. Its so nice…..”

I don’t mind musiciams messing up lyrics as long as they are drunk or high.

What about Robert Plant messing up the lyrics to STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN at Atlantic’s 40th anniversary concert back in 88.

Saw Feist at the Fillmore last saturday – she forgot all the words to “One Evening.”

Jimmy Buffett is constantly screwing up one song or another. I don’t think I have ever heard him get CSN’s Southern Cross right.

reading this list is great therapy. Makes me feel like less of a fuck up, so thanks to all for that… But I can’t help thinking… could any of us do it any better? I sure as hell couldn’t remember the words to Like a Rolling Stone or It’s the End of the World As We Know It… let alone do it in front of a bar room or concert hall full of people… at least Dylan Stipe and other performers are doing it.
The rest of us are just those cats in Dylan’s rat-race choir… How’s the lyric go? something something ’bout not getting any higher.. twisted by pliers… getting down in the hole we’re in… Sorry, forgot the lyric. Lighten up. Cut some slack. Pick on someone else for a change…

Help her Santana!

Ric, you need a huge.McGuire are you up for it?:)

Eddie Veddar is a screw-up.
De-lish.

liam gallagher seems to have a pretty crummy memory for lyrics at live shows (drunk?), but dylan has to be the master of the live fuck-up. there’s yet another one recorded on the ‘halloween’ ‘64 bootleg – he has to ask the audience for the intro to ‘i don’t believe you (she acts like we never have met)’ maybe it is all part of the act…

How about Robert Plant needing the lyrics sheets for fool in the rain at the HOB Chicago benefit show with Pearl Jam last year.

Well he is alittle fried after all those years with Zep.

Haha…I love Pearl Jam to death, but Eddie does often, well, occasionally considering how many shows they do and songs they have in their catalog, mess up some lyrics and mumble through them until he can get back on track. He always does it to where it’s entertaining though. And on occasion, Mike or Stone will start playing the wrong song, and then stop immediately and apologize with a laugh.

But I do love Pearl Jam…with all of my heart.

Lets just change this list oif the day to “Eddie F-up’s” There are many as PJ played about 100 shows this year. “Soon Forget” in Denver April 2002 was classic with lyrics and playing that ukalalee. 5 mess up due to some fine wine I’m sure. Discuss

Eddie Vedder always screws something up. Whether it is Wishlist or Thumbing My Way, there is always one a show…at least

But, he’s the best ever, so I will forgive him

Step into the wayback machine…in 1987 at a Billy Idol concert in Toronto, he was so drunk that he kept falling down & rolling off the ramp that led from the stage to the drum kit. He messed up a lot of words but it was fun anyway.

michael stype had the low tech teleprompter(zeroxes) for the monster tour

Paul McCartney “Forgot” the words to “You Never Give Your Money” at every show on the Back in the US Tour

ed ved is notorious for this kind of thing. at the second SF show this year, he stopped 30 seconds into the opening song and said ‘i forgot the fuckin’ words.’ the thing is, the unpredictability and the live improv are what makes the show exciting. no one wants to hear the same shit night after night. that’s boring.
also, jerry the gar garcia was cracked out, so he forgot a bunch of words, too.

Bjork olvido parte de la letra de “human behaviour” en el show q realizo en Argentina, pero se cago de risa y siguio como si nada.

Eddie Vedder mumbles so many of his lyrics that you can not understand tham or tell weather he is making them up or not. But that is a whole nother list.

Bobby Weir – aren’t too many shows where he doesn’t flub something (and those that lack flubs usually make up for it in unintelligible yelps). Personal fave was at a Ratdog show at Slim’s when he went blank during a “Standing on the Moon” encore, leaving it to the audience to help him along by singing the lyrics until he got back on track. Granted, SotM is a Garcia/Hunter song, so he wasn’t familiar, and all in all it was good moment. Gotta love Bobby.

I remember Cher forgetting the words to “I got you babe” on David Letterman when she reuinted with Sonny and the two of them performed. It was classic.

How about McCartney flubbing the lines to “We Can Work It Out” on MTV Unplugged in the 90’s?

To a lesser extent Clapton messing up his guitar riff on Unplugged a year later.

This probably doesn’t count, but I find it amusing anyway. Saw Peter Gabriel about 3 or 4 years ago in Milwaukee and he was singing a song from then new album “Up.” Anyway, he’s in the middle of a verse when he stops singing and tried to get his headset off but he’s too late and sneezes into the mic. He then looks at the crowd, shrugs and continues. Also, I remember Tears For Fears botching “Call Me Mellow” on Jimmy Kimmel like a year ago, as well as the lyrics to “Break It Down Again” on their “Happy Ending” tour at least three shows.

Dylan’s Live 1964 disc, when he starts “I Don’t Believe You” and shouts to the audience “Does anybody remember the words to this song?” to which they instantly reply. Dylan then goes into it without missing a beat.

I saw Coldplay in Febuary at the Forum and the flubbed the intro to ‘Til Kingdom Come. Seemed like an honest mistake though and they played it well.

If it’s an artist like Dylan, Spirngseen, Pearl Jam et al, you can’t really be suprised. How many songs have they written over the years?

I can’t believe you made this list though and didn’t mention that guy from Creed who got sued by his fans for being shitfaced on stage and forgetting all of his lyrics. That’s one of the greatest thngs ever.

Does this mean that Norah Jones is just as bored by her droning music as I am?

Ironic that “DeadHorse” is the one who brings up the McCartney gaffe after the subject has already been discussed, resolved, and flogged like a…well, you know. Read previous posts, people.

As for Eddie Vedder, I agree with Andrea. How would you know if he forgot lyrics, anyway? I love Pearl Jam, and Eddie, too; but half the time, I can’t understand a word the guy is saying. They’re the Kingsmen of the new millenium.

Actually, Macy Gray forgot the words to the National Anthem at the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH, during opening ceremonies for an event there in ‘01. I heard it on the readio the next morning–it was so bad, I cringed. Of course, I react similarly to her first single, so that’s nothing new.

woow when you forget the words to the national anthem of the COOLEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, you have problems

I am a die hard pearl jam fan, but I have many bootlegs of Eddie messing up lyrics. what’s more, i have Eddie playing with the surviving door and he screw up roadhouse blues!!! But the bands of that talent are good enough to just go on with the song and continue. (it could be the wine Eddie!!!)

Steven Tyle is always changing the lyrics and singing the same part, excellent.

I got two from this summer in Seattle. First, Graham Nash screwed up the words to “Our House” halfway through it on the CSNY tour. He tried to go on but they were laughing too hard and had to stop and start over. After the song Crosby started making fun of him and Nash flipped him off. Then on Petty’s tour he brought Vedder onto the stage for the encore to sing “American Girl” and Vedder starts singing the 2nd verse first realizes his mistake and looks at Petty as the band plays on and says “I fucked up.” Petty laughs and takes the mic to save him. Great moments.

I saw Motley Crue this pasy July, Vince Niel would sing about 3 words to every line of every song then hold out the microphone to the audience to finish the line because he has no voice left.

oh bono. love him.

madonna forget the lyrics of ray of light during her performance at the mtv video music awards 98,uff,

Jerry Garcia (with a TelePrompTer no less!) blew lines in 75% of the songs after summer ‘92 until his untimely death in Aug ‘95. Comical yet sad.

Fiona Apple always forget the lyrics of “Fast As You Can”!!!
But she doesn’t seem so worry: her footage singing (and forgeting) this particulary music is in her Extra Disc, in the latest album – Extraordinary Machine

John Lennon is an other forgetful artist….

When The Beatles were peforming at a concert John Lennon forgot some of the words to Help!.

Also when John Lennon was doing his Live in New York concert(after the Beatles split) He performed Come together and got half the words wrong. after word he said something about having to learn the right words.

Bono and Springsteen both use teleprompters. Bruce appears to use it the vast majority of the time, whether he’s singing a new tune or Thunder Road. Bono is less reliant on his, but he also is mobile on stage (no guitar) and everyone expects him to f up the lyrics anyway. It’s kind of fun when he makes up a lyrics on stage – makes the song exist now, instead of in their perfect album form from the past.

Kurt Cobain used to mess up parts of songs all the time. An allusion was made to this on “Unplugged in New York” when before performing David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold The World” he told the audience “I guarantee I will screw this song up” to which Dave Grohl replied sarcastically “He never screws anything up.” Also when he improvised the lyris to “Lithium” at the VMAs- “I’m so retarded/I can’t take it anymore”- although he might’ve been messing around… or on drugs.

Madonna forgot the words to “Like A Virgin” when she was promoting the AMERICAN LIFE album on MTV in 2003, and now ironically is performing it fantastically on the CONFESSIONS Tour in 2006. Gotta love it, and her.

Regarding the person who noted Dylan skipping a verse to Like a Rolling Stone – he hasn’t performed all four verses live at one performance in years, so I don’t think that counts as a mistake. But he doesn’t always skip the same verse.

He does, however, often (always?)these days have the lyrics to the songs sitting in front of him on a pedal steel in front of his keyboard.

I saw two fantastic Tom Waits shows last month in Ohio (both shows on the same day – only one song repeated) and he seemed to repeat lines and or verses which he imperfectly remembered on many of the songs, skipping other lines and whole verses. He stopped “I Wish I Was in New Orleans” momentarily to ask the audience where he was in the song – we obliged and he jumped right back in.

Memories may be beautiful and yet…
Streisand still needs a prompter

Tori Amos during her Original Sinsuality/Summer of Sin 2005 Tour used a teleprompter. However, she does have a tendency to improvise and add about 9 new minutes to each song she performs, so there…

The more important question is who are the artists who should forget the words to their songs.

Yes, Eddie Vedder messes up lyrics occasionally but with the extensive catalog they have and the fact that they change up the setlist each nite who can blame him. I think most of the diehards find it quite endearing. As someone else here said they are still the best live act around.
I was at the HOB show last year and I thought Robert Plant having the lyric sheet was quite amusing. And some lucky fan got to take it home too!

When Janis, Jim and Jimi play songs for me here in Hell, they always forget the lyrics….I then make them listen to all of Mick Jagger’s solo albums for punishment…

here’s a classic fuck up from neil young…the song? fuckin’ up. the lyric is supposed to be: “dogs that lick and dogs that bite/hounds that howl through the night” but at a show once he messed it up and sang “hounds that howl and hounds that bite/dogs that lick you through the night”

ewwwwwww!

You can hardly blame Eddie Vedder for screwing up lyrics. The band does have a vast catalog of songs and they do change up the setlist every nite. I think the diehard fans find it endearing. I know I do.

Bono and Vedder always screw up the songs, Bono is specially talented to fuck up every lyric. But who cares, their shows are amazing anyway

No problem, I forgive you, Bono, for all…

a lot of these musicians that have been mentioned (for forgetting lyrics) have NOTHING to prove to anyone. especially any of the beatles, bono, dylan etc. what have most of you critics ever written? i am sure it is nothing anyone remembers!

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