Best TV performances you've seen

On David Letterman's 10th anniversary special, Bob Dylan did Rolling Stone and it was awesome. He had the band of course but also Steve Vai, Chrissie Hynde on guitars, Carol King on piano and Mavis Staples, Kathy Griffen, KD lang and Emmy Lou on background vocals.

I have never seen a more intense performance of that song. Anyone remember.
Also there was some kind of special that was on similar to the letterman where one of the band members was Todd Rundgren on piano. Does anyone remember this and what was the program. I always thought it was a letterman special but I've never been able to find it.

 

The who doing "a quick one" on rock and roll circus is another

 

Elvis Costello switching to "Radio Radio" on SNL. I was jumping up and down.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=HLLgZ6MpbEM

Neil Young on SNL 1989.

 

Michael Jackson's performance on Motown 25 was incredible.My nieces and nephews were trying to moonwalk the next day.

 

I'll add Pearl Jam Alive on SNL.

Eurythmics at the Grammys.

jerol

 

+1 for Neil Young on SNL!
kicked @#ss!!

oh and Nick Cave on Later with Jools Holland singing "there she goes my beautiful world"

pure energy!!

 

If I'm recalling it correctly, the other song they did was "No More." And it was awesome as well.

 

Two that always come to mind are of artists that aren't even in my top pile:

Shelia E - I think it was the Grammy's doing The Glamorous Life
Diana Ross and Jamariqui - doing Upside Down on a British awards show

 

Al Green performing "Here I Am" on Soul Train

 

I saw a Prince performance at some British awards show on YouTube (Prince is notoriously ruthless with taking down anything on YouTube, and unfortunately this is one of them), and it blew me away. He did a medley of hits with Sheila E., and it literally burned the house down.

 

Queen at Live Aid, and I don't even like Queen!!!

 

Never saw that clip. Just brilliant.

 

A great up-tempo rendition of "No Matter What" by Badfinger from a Granada-based tv show called Set of 6. The other five songs they perform on the show are great too!

 

The Sound of Jazz ,hard to beat that

 

Check out Prince channeling Hendrix on SNL a few years ago:
http://pann.nate.com/video/208491903

 

Goodness...so many to mention. But a very special one happened on German TV in 1983 in a show, that usually featured mimed performances. But in that episode they had Stephen Stills there doing a very unique live duett with the guitar player from TRIO, a popular german wave band, known in England for their hit "Da Da Da".

 

That's the one I was going to say.

Nirvana Unplugged was huge in every way, I'd add.

 

One that comes to mind: Gregg Allman on the Flo and Eddie Show 1979. Acoustic Come and Go Blues.

 

The Who doing My Generation on the Smothers Brothers show is the ultimate TV appearance in rock.

 

Yeah I must have seen it live in a hotel room when traveling to grandmas as a kid because I remember seeing it happen

 

Free world was great -

 

Great choice! I would add:



Get off Nick's lawn!