When bands who don't like to mime have no choice in the matter...

Blazer · October 15th, 2008, 12:46 PM

In the eighties it was a common practice to have a band over at a chart show and have them do a mimed performance to their hit. Most of the times the artists did their thing without a problem but there were also those who HATED the fact that they had to mime because they felt that it would take away their credibility. Let's start a thread about bands who obviously don't like to mime for chart shows and basically take the piss out of it.

Iron Maiden - "Wasted years"
At this German chartshow, the members take over each other's roles, switch instruments around and just basically have a laugh. The audience and the producers however are not so amused.

The Golden earring - "when the lady smiles"
Preceeded by a small interview about their then upcoming (1984) tour of the USA, the guys perform their hitsingle with the drummer playing flight cases rather than the actual drums because "they were packed and ready to go and it would have been a hassle to unpack them for just this TV show performance"

Level 42 - "Running in the family"
Mark King's way of slapping is so rough on his thumb that he has to put electrical tape around it to keep himself from smashing his thumb to pulp. Given that: there's no need for him to submitting himself to such punishment at a mimed performance and as such, during most of the song his hands are everywhere except on the bass.

Oasis - "Roll with it"
Here the two brothers have switched roles and Leandsinger Liam is playing guitar and Guitarist Noel is out front singing, the rest of the bands is in stiches as the brothers do the best impressions of the other.

Guitfiddler · October 15th, 2008, 01:04 PM

The Golden Earring probably would've sounded better if they'd have recorded the album with the drums still in flight cases too.

All the other instruments for that matter.

jhundt · October 15th, 2008, 01:05 PM

Blazer - my first experience in Holland was as a roadie for a 6-week tour with a West Coast bubble-gum band called "the Rubinoos". We did a few of those shows. The Rubinoos did the fake act very well, it was just show-business for them.

We did a show for Belgium TV with the Bintangs, who were promoting "Snake in the Grass" - what a riot! The drummer drove down in a big old Cadillac convertible and was snot-slingin' drunk by show time... and I think the rest of the band had a few sheets running too.

He kicked over the kick drum halfway through the song, then knocked all the cymbal stands over, and just kept acting like he was playing. The BE TV guys did NOT like it, but I laffed my arse off.

I have been a devoted 'Tangs follower ever since, and I am proud to play one of their cast-off guitars... my blonde '68 Tele. I still have the case with the spray-paint "Bintangs" stencil.

Blazer · October 15th, 2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitfiddler

The Golden Earring probably would've sounded better if they'd have recorded the album with the drums still in flight cases too.

All the other instruments for that matter.

What makes you say that?

Cesar, their drummer was the number one choice for The Who replace Keith Moon after Moon's death, he declined their offer though. But that says alot about his skill as a drummer.

ac15 · October 15th, 2008, 01:41 PM

The best and most infamous example of this (probably also the first), was when Syd Barrett (lead singer of Pink Floyd) was on "Top of the Pops" (UK TV show that featured pop artists) and just stood there with a disturbing, blank stare on his face while the song played. The band said "Syd wasn't into moving his lips that day."

Guitar_Ninja · October 15th, 2008, 01:47 PM

Nirvana from Top of the Pops

I always get a kick out of it.

Big John · October 15th, 2008, 03:01 PM

What better excuse to watch THIS video ?
It's mimed backing but a 'live' mic and Rod is singing as good as he ever did, the two Ronnies are having a blast, the sainted John Peel is pretending to play mandolin ........... and then a game of 'footie' breaks out !

This is a memory filled vid for me, top flight stuff.

Sollophonic · October 15th, 2008, 04:31 PM

The Cure doing "Love Cats" on TOTP. Robert Smith has his 335 turned with the strings facing him and the back facing the audience, and he strums it listlessly.

There have been a couple of bands who mimed without strings on their guitars too. The Clash just refused to perform anywhere they had to mime, full stop.

The ultimate though must be Teardrop Explodes, all who performed on TOTP under the influence of hallucinogenics. I wonder if thats on YouTube?

Togman · October 15th, 2008, 04:47 PM

I can remember another TOTP show where Staus Quo 'performed' with an inflatable Bass player. I think Alan Lancaster was either ill, or had just left the band, so they did the show with this 'stand in'.

ThreePlyGuy · October 15th, 2008, 06:17 PM

Child of the sixties, you have not lived till you do some of those local/regional TV dance show torture mime things. Record people were high on those things back then, Was always a good way to meet babes however!

Big John · October 16th, 2008, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreePlyGuy

Child of the sixties, you have not lived till you do some of those local/regional TV dance show torture mime things. Record people were high on those things back then, Was always a good way to meet babes however!

And most importantly ................. it takes out the 'variable' that is 'band ability', either to actually play, sing or even be 'on the same planet' !!

araT · October 16th, 2008, 05:06 AM

There are some hilarious vids in here, great idea for a thread!

tuuur · October 16th, 2008, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhundt

I have been a devoted 'Tangs follower ever since, and I am proud to play one of their cast-off guitars... my blonde '68 Tele. I still have the case with the spray-paint "Bintangs" stencil.

Man, that's true dutch sixties blues-rock legends memorablia you got there! And from my year of birth to boot.
I'm jealous!

andromeda673 · October 16th, 2008, 08:33 AM

these videos are classic!

EddieN · October 17th, 2008, 07:48 AM

See Public Image Ltd.'s notorious appearance on American Bandstand in 1980. The vid was removed from YouTube but you can download it here - http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2005/1..._american.html

B Valley · October 17th, 2008, 08:38 AM

I remember shows like "Shindig" and "Hullabaloo" with Paul Revere and the Raiders and bands like Jerry and the Pacemakers and Dave Clark Five. All the acts mimed, but I was a little kid and didn't know and didn't care. I just wanted to do what they were doing, because all the girls were screaming for them.
That all changed when The Beatles played on the Ed Sullivan Show. They played live and you knew it. They sounded great and the girls screamed even louder.

October 15th, 2008, 12:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Blazer Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,227	When bands who don't like to mime have no choice in the matter... In the eighties it was a common practice to have a band over at a chart show and have them do a mimed performance to their hit. Most of the times the artists did their thing without a problem but there were also those who HATED the fact that they had to mime because they felt that it would take away their credibility. Let's start a thread about bands who obviously don't like to mime for chart shows and basically take the piss out of it. Iron Maiden - "Wasted years" At this German chartshow, the members take over each other's roles, switch instruments around and just basically have a laugh. The audience and the producers however are not so amused. The Golden earring - "when the lady smiles" Preceeded by a small interview about their then upcoming (1984) tour of the USA, the guys perform their hitsingle with the drummer playing flight cases rather than the actual drums because "they were packed and ready to go and it would have been a hassle to unpack them for just this TV show performance" Level 42 - "Running in the family" Mark King's way of slapping is so rough on his thumb that he has to put electrical tape around it to keep himself from smashing his thumb to pulp. Given that: there's no need for him to submitting himself to such punishment at a mimed performance and as such, during most of the song his hands are everywhere except on the bass. Oasis - "Roll with it" Here the two brothers have switched roles and Leandsinger Liam is playing guitar and Guitarist Noel is out front singing, the rest of the bands is in stiches as the brothers do the best impressions of the other. __________________ "I reject your reality and subsitute my own." - Adam Savage, Mythbusters

October 15th, 2008, 01:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
ac15 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: CHICAGO, IL. Posts: 916	The best and most infamous example of this (probably also the first), was when Syd Barrett (lead singer of Pink Floyd) was on "Top of the Pops" (UK TV show that featured pop artists) and just stood there with a disturbing, blank stare on his face while the song played. The band said "Syd wasn't into moving his lips that day." Last edited by ac15; October 15th, 2008 at 02:22 PM.

October 15th, 2008, 01:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Guitar_Ninja Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Posts: 2,084 7 Photos	Nirvana from Top of the Pops I always get a kick out of it. __________________ "The wisdom of a fool won't set you free"

October 15th, 2008, 03:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Big John Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Suffolk UK Posts: 5,962 38 Photos	What better excuse to watch THIS video ? It's mimed backing but a 'live' mic and Rod is singing as good as he ever did, the two Ronnies are having a blast, the sainted John Peel is pretending to play mandolin ........... and then a game of 'footie' breaks out ! This is a memory filled vid for me, top flight stuff. __________________ If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly !!

October 15th, 2008, 04:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
Togman Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cambridgshire, UK Age: 49 Posts: 404 35 Photos	I can remember another TOTP show where Staus Quo 'performed' with an inflatable Bass player. I think Alan Lancaster was either ill, or had just left the band, so they did the show with this 'stand in'. __________________ Well it ain't the best Guitar i've ever heard, but it sounds just like it....

October 15th, 2008, 01:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Guitfiddler Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: IH-35, Texas Age: 26 Posts: 336	The Golden Earring probably would've sounded better if they'd have recorded the album with the drums still in flight cases too. All the other instruments for that matter.

October 15th, 2008, 01:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
jhundt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Age: 55 Posts: 3,669 10 Photos	Blazer - my first experience in Holland was as a roadie for a 6-week tour with a West Coast bubble-gum band called "the Rubinoos". We did a few of those shows. The Rubinoos did the fake act very well, it was just show-business for them. We did a show for Belgium TV with the Bintangs, who were promoting "Snake in the Grass" - what a riot! The drummer drove down in a big old Cadillac convertible and was snot-slingin' drunk by show time... and I think the rest of the band had a few sheets running too. He kicked over the kick drum halfway through the song, then knocked all the cymbal stands over, and just kept acting like he was playing. The BE TV guys did NOT like it, but I laffed my arse off. I have been a devoted 'Tangs follower ever since, and I am proud to play one of their cast-off guitars... my blonde '68 Tele. I still have the case with the spray-paint "Bintangs" stencil.

October 15th, 2008, 04:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sollophonic Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Skipton, N. Yorkshire, England Age: 45 Posts: 609	The Cure doing "Love Cats" on TOTP. Robert Smith has his 335 turned with the strings facing him and the back facing the audience, and he strums it listlessly. There have been a couple of bands who mimed without strings on their guitars too. The Clash just refused to perform anywhere they had to mime, full stop. The ultimate though must be Teardrop Explodes, all who performed on TOTP under the influence of hallucinogenics. I wonder if thats on YouTube?

October 15th, 2008, 06:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
ThreePlyGuy Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern California/Arizona Posts: 513	Child of the sixties, you have not lived till you do some of those local/regional TV dance show torture mime things. Record people were high on those things back then, Was always a good way to meet babes however! __________________ Good luck with your projects.

October 16th, 2008, 05:06 AM	#12 (permalink)
araT Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sydney, Oz Age: 24 Posts: 1,152 75 Photos	There are some hilarious vids in here, great idea for a thread!

October 16th, 2008, 08:33 AM	#14 (permalink)
andromeda673 Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Port Washington, WI Age: 24 Posts: 446	these videos are classic!

October 17th, 2008, 07:48 AM	#15 (permalink)
EddieN Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tampa Posts: 280	See Public Image Ltd.'s notorious appearance on American Bandstand in 1980. The vid was removed from YouTube but you can download it here - http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2005/1..._american.html

October 17th, 2008, 08:38 AM	#16 (permalink)
B Valley Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2008 Location: Glendale, Az Posts: 1,161	I remember shows like "Shindig" and "Hullabaloo" with Paul Revere and the Raiders and bands like Jerry and the Pacemakers and Dave Clark Five. All the acts mimed, but I was a little kid and didn't know and didn't care. I just wanted to do what they were doing, because all the girls were screaming for them. That all changed when The Beatles played on the Ed Sullivan Show. They played live and you knew it. They sounded great and the girls screamed even louder. __________________ How many guitars is enough? Just one more...