It’s necessary to do not forget that seeing your favourite band reside doesn’t at all times imply getting to listen to their most well-known songs reside. Live shows are solely so lengthy, and lots of well-known bands merely don’t have the time to play all of their greatest songs. For some followers, discovering out which songs might be performed at a given live performance is sort of as large of a draw because the acts themselves.

Nevertheless, there are some well-known songs you may virtually assure you’ll by no means hear reside. Whereas it’s uncommon for the most important acts to straight-up refuse to play their greatest hits, these artists have causes for diving a bit deeper into their catalogs and skipping that tune you thought was assured to make the setlist.

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10 “Residing Loving Maid (She’s Only a Girl)” by Led Zeppelin

There are fairly just a few songs Led Zeppelin by no means—or not often—performed reside. For probably the most half, that’s as a result of these songs have been too advanced to be performed reside or just weren’t well-liked sufficient to make the shortlist for the band’s aggressive reside setlists. “Residing Loving Maid (She’s Only a Girl)” is without doubt one of the few songs the band skipped solely as a result of one among them hated it.

Regardless of being successful from the band’s beloved Led Zeppelin II album, guitarist Jimmy Web page was by no means keen on the observe. It’s been reported that Web page felt it was a throwaway tune, although some imagine it might have been written about one of many band’s most adamant groupies and ultimately grew to become one thing of a sore topic for the group.^[1]

9 “Hit Me with Your Finest Shot” by Pat Benatar

“Hit Me with Your Finest Shot” is one among Pat Benatar’s hottest songs and the observe that helped make her a world singing sensation. Nevertheless, in 2022, Benatar shocked many when she revealed that she had determined to not sing the tune throughout her reside reveals.

Why? In line with Benatar, her refusal to proceed performing the tune reside is a type of protest in opposition to the rise of mass taking pictures incidents in america. Whereas the tune and its title usually are not particularly about gun violence, Benatar suggests the observe’s “tongue-in-cheek” affiliation with firearms is powerful sufficient to make her uncomfortable with singing it as freely and as usually as she has prior to now.^[2]

9 “(You Gotta) Struggle for Your Proper (To Get together!)” by the Beastie Boys

“(You Gotta) Struggle for Your Proper (To Get together!)” is extra than simply the most important hit from The Beastie Boy’s breakout 1986 album Licensed to Sick; it’s arguably the observe that many individuals take into consideration once they hear the band’s identify. In line with the Beastie Boys, that’s a giant a part of the explanation why they stopped enjoying it reside.

The Beastie Boys have mentioned that “Struggle for Your Proper” was meant to be a parody of frat boy-like tradition however ended up being embraced by the very folks the tune was meant to mock. Because the band’s type shortly grew to become much more creatively formidable, their breakout tune began to really feel like a good greater relic. They didn’t even play it throughout their last reside present.^[3]

7 “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” by Eminem

Eminem’s 2002 observe “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” grew to become a considerably stunning hit on condition that it options almost 5 minutes of Eminem airing his grievances towards his mother and father (particularly his mother). Many related to the observe simply as they shortly related to the singer who grew to become well-known for placing a lot of his trauma into his music. But Eminem doesn’t play “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” at reside reveals anymore and reportedly hasn’t since 2013.

There is no such thing as a thriller as to why. In his 2013 tune “Headlights,” the rapper mentions that he doesn’t play “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” at reside reveals and doesn’t even like listening to it on the radio. Provided that “Headlights” offers with Eminemen’s need to forgive his late mother, he doesn’t appear to really feel as robust about “Cleanin’ Out My Closet’s” lyrics as he did when he wrote the observe.^[4]

6 “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan

There are fairly just a few songs that Bob Dylan has by no means performed reside, hasn’t performed reside in a very long time, or solely performs reside with a notable diploma of reluctance. But, “Hurricane” often is the most notable tune Dylan seemingly refuses to play reside as of late. Dylan’s legendary protest tune about boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter is taken into account one of many artist’s biggest tracks, however he hasn’t performed it reside for the reason that Nineteen Seventies.

It’s not clear why this one hasn’t transitioned into Dylan’s fashionable period. Some say the authorized issues involving the tune hindered the spirit of the observe, whereas some have recommended that it’s simply a kind of songs Dylan has moved on from. Nonetheless, others argue that the lengthy, story-driven nature of the observe merely doesn’t make it a super reside observe.^[5]

5 “Like a Virgin” by Madonna

As the primary single from the 1984 album of the identical identify, “Like a Virgin” put Madonna on the trail to changing into one of many greatest and most influential pop stars ever. It’s thought-about by many to be one among Madonna’s finest songs and a observe that nearly completely summarizes what made the performer so totally different and distinctive at the moment. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t anticipate to listen to Madonna sing it reside anytime quickly.

In line with Madonna, that is simply a kind of songs from the early a part of her profession that she simply needs to maneuver on from just because it has gotten a lot play over the a long time. Whereas she doesn’t appear to hate the tune as a lot as different musicians hate their breakout hits—and will play it once more for the appropriate amount of cash/alternative—it’s a serious lacking piece from her reside setlist.^[6]

4 “It’s a Lengthy Solution to the High (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” by AC/DC

If “It’s a Lengthy Solution to the High (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” isn’t AC/DC’s finest tune, it actually belongs close to the highest of that record. It’s that form of epic rock ballad that so many bands chase however few ever discover. It additionally completely summarizes the spirit of AC/DC and their music. But the band hasn’t performed it reside since 1979.

Merely—however sadly—put, the tune was closely impressed by AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott’s way of life and experiences (in addition to the band’s experiences up till that time). When Scott died in 1980, new singer Brian Johnson felt it will be disrespectful to Johnson to proceed enjoying the tune reside. That’s comprehensible, however it’s exhausting to disclaim this is able to be an unimaginable reside tune.^[7]

3 “Shiny Glad Individuals” by R.E.M.

1991’s “Shiny Glad Individuals” wasn’t REM’s breakout tune, however it actually helped the band attain new ranges of mainstream success. Even at the moment, although, the poppy, upbeat observe wasn’t precisely consultant of the group’s different work. That’s a giant a part of the explanation why they’ve solely performed it reside a few occasions and can possible by no means achieve this once more.

R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe has known as “Shiny Glad Individuals” a “fruity pop tune written for youngsters.” The band reportedly created the tune in a rush and easily doesn’t appear to love all of it that a lot. Maybe extra importantly, they don’t imagine it represents who they’re or the form of music they sometimes aspire to make.^[8]

2 “Eat It,” “Fats,” and All His Different Michael Jackson Parodies by Bizarre Al” Yankovic

Whereas comic singer “Bizarre Al” Yankovic has at all times been well-liked, the performer’s longevity has been outstanding. He’s arguably extra well-liked now than he has ever been earlier than and continues to be churning out hits and promoting out reveals. In case you do go to a kind of reveals, although, don’t anticipate to listen to “Fats,” “Eat It,” or any of Yankovic’s different well-liked Michael Jackson parodies.

In 2019, Yankovic advised Billboard that he determined to retire his Jackson parodies following the discharge of Leaving Neverland, an HBO documentary that shed new gentle on Jackson’s historical past of sexual abuse allegations. Yankovic says that he didn’t need to make folks really feel uncomfortable by singing Jackson parody songs at the moment, although he hasn’t dominated out the opportunity of bringing them again in some unspecified time in the future.^[9]

1 “Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones

“Brown Sugar” is without doubt one of the biggest examples of an upbeat tune with surprisingly darkish lyrics. The tune is a rollicking, racially-driven assortment of controversial matters that embrace slavery, drug use, and varied sexual acts. After being a staple of the Stones’ excursions for years, the band introduced they’d not play “Brown Sugar” throughout their U.S. excursions because of the varied controversies surrounding its lyrics.

The band appears a bit cut up on the choice. Mick Jagger has modified among the tune’s lyrics prior to now and has beforehand acknowledged he wouldn’t write a observe like that right this moment. Keith Richards appears to really feel that the tune is a biting commentary on the horrors of slavery and hopes that it’ll ultimately make it again onto the worldwide setlist.^[10]

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