# Bands doing "surprise" covers in concert. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373 "2019-08-08T21:11:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/21 "2019-08-09T02:05:35Z")
At the Heart/Joan Jett concert, as mentioned in OP (different day, obviously). Joan Jett had a surprise cover. She did a cover of the Mary Tyler Moore theme song. It was a Joan Jett rocker. Now waiting for Heart. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/22 "2019-08-09T02:50:13Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > At the Heart/Joan Jett concert, as mentioned in OP (different day, obviously). Joan Jett had a surprise cover. She did a cover of the Mary Tyler Moore theme song. It was a Joan Jett rocker. Now waiting for Heart. Husker Du played it too, as part of this classic video. In the late 1980s, my brother attended an R.E.M. concert whose playlist does not appear on a website that has a compilation of them, going back to day one. It consisted entirely of Top 40 covers, and he's always said that it was hands down the worst concert he ever attended, by anyone. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/23 "2019-08-09T02:53:03Z")
I saw Foetus once, and he covered “I am the Walrus”, and Tad’s “Behemoth”. During the latter I thought Mr. Thirlwell actually might come at me like a spider monkey because I was singing along with him. I was pleasantly surprised by both covers, and that he didn’t actually come at me like a spider monkey. He’s pretty scary in person. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/24 "2019-08-09T05:14:57Z")
Dream Theater used to sometimes surprise audiences by coming out for an encore and covering an _entire album_. Many of these performances were released on CD: _The Number of the Beast_, _Master of Puppets_, _Dark Side of the Moon_, _Made In Japan_… those are off the top of my head, but there are more. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/25 "2019-08-09T05:31:44Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Nirvana covered 5 songs in their Unplugged performance and gave, I think, the iconic performance of each. They did: > > **Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam** - The Vaselines. I know almost no one who listens to their version. > \*\* > The Man Who Sold the World\*\* - David Bowie - I’m sure the original is famous, but I think Nirvana really did increase the fame of this song by a lot. > > **Plateau** AND **Oh, Me - Meat Puppets** - I only know these songs because of Nirvana. > > \*\*Where Did You Sleep Last Night? \*\*- Lead Belly - Kurt Cobain ensured this is the definitive version of this song. Best live/acoustic album ever in the history of anything. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/26 "2019-08-09T05:45:42Z")
When I saw Garbage…the boys played Miserlou when Shirley had to change out of a pair of split pants. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/27 "2019-08-09T05:57:42Z")
Heart have played Zeppelin covers since the they started in the 1960’s. My brother remembers them doing Rock n Roll in the early 1970’s in Spokane. Heart covered STH at the [Zeppelin tribute at the Kennedy Center](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xwb3cf). While cool, I don’t think it counts as a surprise. The Kinks did Twist and Shout as an encore in 1980 in Oakland. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/28 "2019-08-09T06:04:36Z")
Saw 80’s PNW stalwarts Young Fresh Fellows play the Association’s _Never My Love_. At the Commodore in Vancouver Nomeansno surprised me playing a cover of Dayglo Abortion’s _Stupid Songs_ (with Dayglo Murray guest singing). Saw Urge Overkill cover Chuck Berry’s _Maybellene_. Frank Zappa in '84 at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre encored with Culture Club’s _I’ll Tumble For Ya_. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/29 "2019-08-09T06:06:38Z")
Little Stevie opened for U2 in Philly. Bruce showed up for Stand By Me with U2 and Stevie. Harrison’s nephew opened for ELO this year. Him, band and Jeff Lynne did Handle With Care. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/30 "2019-08-09T06:14:37Z")
A couple of years ago, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo played a little bit of Smoke on the Water. I know the guitar riff is a little cliche, but it sounded SO GOOD live. The crowd went apeshit (myself and DH included :o). ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/31 "2019-08-09T12:31:03Z")
Springsteen has done some really good covers, in my opinion. He opened some Australian shows in 2014 with [Highway To Hell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3AzXGXnGcs). Great move to get the local crowd on your side, and it’s just a fun song. [You Never Can Tell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Ds-FXGGQg) - This one is just fun to watch them all working it out on stage. Not _the_ best cover ever done, but considering that they seemed to pull it all together in a couple of minutes, not bad at all. And I just love the big grin on Bruce’s face. From that same Australian tour - [Stayin’ Alive](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n1GT-VjjVs). Yes, really And another one they put together on the fly - [Shake, Rattle and Roll](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtTbMjMSGtQ) I think the E Street Band is still, at its heart, a really good bar band, and when they’re just having fun it really shows. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/32 "2019-08-09T14:05:27Z")
I saw the Plant and Page tour when they stopped in Chicago, hell when was that? Mid 90s somewhere? They covered “Break On Through” by the Doors, which came as a surprise to me. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/33 "2019-08-09T14:07:31Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > … > I was fairly ambivalent about the first two, and rolled my eye’s a bit when STH started (only because I think it is an overplayed song), but Nancy is a terrific guitarist and Ann a great singer and played the flute, which added an extra bit of authenticity. I overall liked it, even though it went on forever. > > … Do yourself a favor and look up their version of this from the Zeppelin Kennedy Center Honors program. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/34 "2019-08-09T14:08:32Z")
[Mr. Big does "Smoke on the Water](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBTDgsLb7Vs)" with the drummer on bass, the guitarrist on drums, the singer on guitar, and the bassist on vocals, and then the Singer goes to bass, the bassist to guitar and the drummer on vocals. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/35 "2019-08-09T14:12:04Z")
Saw Tom Waits perform [Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvnqIG3uiyk) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/36 "2019-08-09T14:19:24Z")
Decades ago I saw David Bromberg in concert. While his band members were taking a break, Bromberg began playing _Mr Bojangles_. Everyone recognized the tune and began cheering. Bromberg continued to strum, but started talking about what a great song it was, and what a great artist Jerry Jeff Walker was. After strumming/talking for a good ten or fifteen minutes he said he wasn’t going to sing the song that night since he couldn’t do it justice. He urged us all to see Jerry Jeff Walker do it instead. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/37 "2019-08-09T14:55:20Z")
Found a video of Joan Jett doing the Mary Tyler Moore theme song. [Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Love is All Around (Mary Tyler Moore Theme) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NI8WJ85EVw) By the way… I liked the Heart version of The Boxer, but lines like “I an just a poor boy” and singing about getting come-ons from the whores on 7th Avenue didn’t sound right. And I have bought Heart doing Stairway to Heaven and Rock and Roll, so Stairway to Heaven just seemed like one of their songs. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/38 "2019-08-09T16:38:38Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > Springsteen has done some really good covers, in my opinion. > > He opened some Australian shows in 2014 with [Highway To Hell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3AzXGXnGcs). Great move to get the local crowd on your side, and it’s just a fun song. > > [You Never Can Tell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Ds-FXGGQg) - This one is just fun to watch them all working it out on stage. Not _the_ best cover ever done, but considering that they seemed to pull it all together in a couple of minutes, not bad at all. And I just love the big grin on Bruce’s face. > > From that same Australian tour - [Stayin’ Alive](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n1GT-VjjVs). Yes, really > > And another one they put together on the fly - [Shake, Rattle and Roll](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtTbMjMSGtQ) > > I think the E Street Band is still, at its heart, a really good bar band, and when they’re just having fun it really shows. That cover of _Staying Alive_ is terrific. He also opened a show in New Zealand with [an acoustic version of Lorde’s _Royals._](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfJvrH7iQ3c) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/39 "2019-08-09T20:31:06Z")
How do _I_ become the first to mention the tour Weird Al did last year where he did 77 different closing cover songs in 77 concerts? [Link](https://www.barstoolsports.com/boston/weird-al-yankovic-closed-his-last-77-shows-with-77-different-covers-heres-all-of-them) that explains a little which links to a YouTube video. Plus I learned about it here. Someone should have posted this already. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373/40 "2019-08-09T20:52:43Z")
I was quite happy when Leftover Salmon broke out in [_Danger Man_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DciSSNfLXKg&list=PLPUU-YL1QDDnoGfatrRdaKjByudxwlT71) by David Bromberg [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-doing-surprise-covers-in-concert/838373.md?page=3)