EP813 The Best & Worst Musical Guests Appearances on Saturday Night Live!

Before YouTube…even before MTV there were very few places to see your favorite artists perform. However, there was once show that you could count on to bring you the latest musical acts in all their (sometimes) ragged glory and that was NBC’s Saturday Night LIVE. On this week’s Podcast we will discuss some of the best and some of the worst musical performances from the shows 40+ years

 

Topics covered:

 

What we did this week:

 

Lily:

Pittsburgh Kevin: Dee Dee King, Kirk Hammett, 

Loudini: hot takes, venom 2 &3, youtube list

 

*Saturday Night Live* (SNL) is a long-running American sketch comedy and variety show that debuted on NBC on October 11, 1975. Created by Lorne Michaels, the show quickly became a groundbreaking platform for satire, political commentary, and improvisational comedy. Known for its iconic cold opens, "Weekend Update" segment, and rotating cast of guest hosts and musical acts, *SNL* has been a launchpad for many prominent comedians and actors, including Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, Tina Fey, and Will Ferrell.

 

The original cast, known as the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players," included Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, and Jane Curtin. Their skits and characters became cultural touchstones, establishing *SNL*’s reputation for irreverent humor and social commentary. Over the decades, *SNL* has continued to push boundaries, often addressing topical issues and politics, especially through impersonations of public figures like U.S. presidents.

 

As of today, *SNL* remains one of the most influential shows in television history, celebrated for its impact on comedy, politics, and pop culture. With over 40 seasons, it has won numerous Emmy Awards and influenced generations of comedians and writers. Its continued appeal lies in its ability to adapt to the times, often capturing the essence of contemporary issues and personalities through a humorous lens.

### Best Rock Musical Guests on SNL

1. **The Rolling Stones (1978)**  

   * Songs: “Beast of Burden,” “Respectable,” “Shattered”  

   * Host: Steve Martin  

   * The Stones performed tracks from *Some Girls* with legendary moments like Mick Jagger’s interaction with Ron Wood. 

 

2. **Nirvana (1992)**  

   * Songs: “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Territorial Pissings”  

   * Host: Rob Morrow  

   * Known for their intense energy, they ended by smashing their instruments. 

 

3. **Elvis Costello (1977)**  

   * Songs: “Less Than Zero” (abruptly switched to “Radio Radio”)  

   * Host: Miskel Spillman  

   * Costello’s last-minute song switch was a defiant act that got him temporarily banned. 

 

4. **Paul McCartney with Nirvana (2012)**  

   * Song: “Cut Me Some Slack”  

   * Host: Martin Short  

   * McCartney’s memorable collaboration with surviving Nirvana members marked a rock reunion. 

 

5. **Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1994)**  

   * Song: “You Don’t Know How It Feels”  

   * Host: Martin Lawrence  

   * Petty’s first performance after Kurt Cobain’s passing, with Dave Grohl on drums. 

 

6. **Neil Young (1989)**  

   * Song: “Rockin’ in the Free World”  

   * Host: Candice Bergen  

   * Young delivered a grungy, no-frills performance highlighting social issues. 

 

7. **Radiohead (2000)**  

   * Song: “The National Anthem”  

   * Host: Kate Hudson  

   * Radiohead performed with a full horn section, delivering a powerful, surreal vibe. 

 

8. **Pearl Jam (1992)**  

   * Songs: “Alive,” “Porch”  

   * Host: Sharon Stone  

   * The band brought the energy of grunge to the SNL stage, with Eddie Vedder's signature charisma. 

 

9. **The White Stripes (2002)**  

   * Songs: “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground,” “We’re Going to Be Friends”  

   * Host: John McCain  

   * Their raw garage-rock sound captured the audience’s attention in a minimalist setup. 

 

10. **Rage Against the Machine (1996)**  

    * Song: “Bulls on Parade”  

    * Host: Steve Forbes  

    * Rage’s protest statement (displaying an inverted flag) got them banned mid-show. 

 

### Worst Rock Musical Guests on SNL

1. **The Replacements (1986)**  

   * Songs: “Bastards of Young,” “Kiss Me on the Bus”  

   * Host: Harry Dean Stanton  

   * Known for their rowdy, intoxicated performance, they stumbled through their set and were banned. 

 

2. **Fear (1981)**  

   * Songs: “Beef Bologna,” “New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones”  

   * Host: Donald Pleasence  

   * Chaos ensued as hardcore fans joined in, with stage-diving and property damage. 

 

3. **Ashlee Simpson (2004)**  

   * Songs: “Pieces of Me,” attempted “Autobiography”  

   * Host: Jude Law  

   * Her infamous lip-sync fail led to awkward dancing and audience backlash. 

 

4. **Sinead O'Connor (1992)**  

   * Song: “War”  

   * Host: Tim Robbins  

   * O'Connor shocked viewers by tearing up a photo of the Pope, facing years of backlash. 

 

5. **Kanye West (2018)**  

   * Songs: “I Love It,” “Ghost Town”  

   * Host: Adam Driver  

   * West’s off-script political rant post-performance overshadowed his music, leaving viewers baffled. 

 

6. **Justin Bieber (2013)**  

   * Song: “As Long as You Love Me,” “Nothing Like Us”  

   * Host: Justin Bieber  

   * Both music and comedy were negatively reviewed, with critics calling it “cringeworthy.” 

 

7. **Frank Zappa (1978)**  

   * Songs: “Dancin’ Fool,” “The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing”  

   * Host: Frank Zappa  

   * His deadpan delivery and critique of SNL’s humor created an uncomfortable atmosphere. 

 

8. **System of a Down (2005)**  

   * Songs: “B.Y.O.B.,” “Aerials”  

   * Host: Johnny Knoxville  

   * The performance was intense, but they faced backlash for the explicitly political lyrics. 

 

9. **Faith No More (1990)**  

   * Songs: “Epic,” “From Out of Nowhere”  

   * Host: Fred Savage  

   * Mike Patton’s antics were divisive, from scaling speakers to dramatic, confusing movements. 

 

10. **Kanye West (2016)**  

    * Song: “Ultralight Beam,” “Highlights”  

    * Host: Melissa McCarthy  

    * Viewers noted awkward transitions and an over-the-top presentation that distracted from the music. 

Several notable musicians and bands have been banned from *Saturday Night Live* over the years, usually due to on-air antics or breaking show protocol. Here are some of the most famous bans:

 

1. **Elvis Costello** (1977) - Costello was initially scheduled to perform "Less Than Zero," but abruptly switched to "Radio Radio" without prior approval, a song critical of corporate control in media. This led to an 11-year ban, although he returned in 1989.

 

2. **The Replacements** (1986) - Known for their unpredictable performances, the band appeared visibly intoxicated, swapped clothes, and performed sloppy renditions of “Bastards of Young” and “Kiss Me on the Bus.” They were banned after the performance, although frontman Paul Westerberg later returned solo.

 

3. **Fear** (1981) - This hardcore punk band, brought in by John Belushi, caused chaos onstage with moshing fans who damaged the studio. The performance led to an immediate ban.

 

4. **Sinead O'Connor** (1992) - During an a cappella performance of Bob Marley’s “War,” she tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II to protest abuse in the Catholic Church. This act caused an uproar, and O'Connor was banned from the show.

 

5. **Cypress Hill** (1993) - Known for their pro-cannabis stance, the band lit up a joint on stage during their set and destroyed some equipment, which led to a lifetime ban.

 

6. **Rage Against the Machine** (1996) - The band displayed inverted American flags on their amplifiers as a protest against host Steve Forbes, a billionaire politician. The flags were removed, but the incident still led to the band’s ban.

 

These incidents have contributed to some of *SNL*’s most infamous moments, resulting in these artists being barred from returning to the show.

 

New & Notable:

Lily: Skumlove; Ride Or Die

Pittsburgh Kevin: Infernox; Trigger Finger

Loudini: Crazy Lixx; Little Miss Dangerous