6 Classic Rock Concert Opening Acts That Stole the Show

Having your thunder stolen is never a pleasant feeling. It may be even worse for rock stars – you hire a lesser-known band to warm up the crowd, thinking you’re doing them a favor. Instead, you find out that the audience is more excited about the opening act than your performance. Awkward, right? However, some iconic careers got a significant boost this way. In most cases, it all works out well for everyone involved. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous instances where opening acts stole the show.

Led Zeppelin Opening for Iron Butterfly and Vanilla Fudge in 1968-1969

Led Zeppelin announced themselves to the world on their very first official gig at Surrey University on October 15, 1968. Soon after, they received an offer they couldn’t even dream of – a year’s worth of touring the US. The offer came after the Jeff Beck Group pulled out at the last minute, so Led Zeppelin was needed as an opening act for bands like Iron Butterfly, Vanilla Fudge, and Country Joe & The Fish.

The headliners quickly realized what they were dealing with after the first few dates. Led Zeppelin would get the audience so excited that the main acts couldn’t live up to their performance. Eventually, Iron Butterfly and the other headliners stopped showing up for their own gigs. Led Zeppelin then became the unofficial main act for the remainder of the tour.

AC/DC Opening for Rainbow in 1978

During their long career, AC/DC played alongside many iconic rock acts. But in 1978, while promoting their album “Powerage,” they were not yet widely recognized. That year, they ended up opening for Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow on a few dates of the “Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll Tour.”

It was a battle between AC/DC’s raw energy and Blackmore’s more refined performance style. The audiences couldn’t get enough of AC/DC’s straightforward, powerful rock. This left the Rainbow bassist, Bob Daisley, feeling that Ritchie Blackmore might have felt a bit threatened. Despite only doing a few shows together, AC/DC’s impact was unmistakable.

Van Halen Opening for Black Sabbath in 1978

Towards the end of the ’70s, things weren’t looking good for Black Sabbath. Their album “Never Say Die!” was considered disappointing by many. Already feeling upstaged by previous opening acts like KISS, the band wanted an unremarkable group for their upcoming tour. Don Airey, their keyboardist, recalls Ozzy wanting just a simple bar band from LA.

Much to everyone’s surprise, the “bar band from LA” turned out to be Van Halen, fresh off their debut album. With Black Sabbath dealing with internal issues and Van Halen full of energy and new material, it wasn’t a fair match-up. Van Halen’s dynamic performance overshadowed Black Sabbath’s struggling act.

Metallica Opening for Ozzy Osbourne in 1986

After releasing “Master of Puppets” in March 1986, Metallica knew they had something special and wanted to share it with fans quickly. They joined Ozzy Osbourne’s promotional tour for “The Ultimate Sin” almost immediately after their album hit the shelves. They would continue as the opening act for the next six months.

While “The Ultimate Sin” did well on the charts, it couldn’t compete with Metallica at their peak, playing what would become one of the most praised metal albums of all time. Jake E. Lee, who left Ozzy’s band after the tour, remembered Metallica’s heavy and raw performances fondly. Their unmatched energy made a lasting impression on the audiences.

Slayer Opening for W.A.S.P. in 1987

W.A.S.P. quickly rose to fame as one of the standout hair metal bands of the mid-’80s. Their first two albums were amazing, but their 1986 album “Inside the Electric Circus” didn’t keep up their momentum. For their promotional tour, they had Slayer as the opening act, who had just released “Reign in Blood.”

The outcome was not favorable for W.A.S.P. Kerry King of Slayer recalled that every night, they outperformed the headliner. Despite liking W.A.S.P. before that record, the combination of Slayer’s intense performances and W.A.S.P.’s weaker album meant that W.A.S.P. struggled to match Slayer’s impact onstage.

Nine Inch Nails Opening for David Bowie in 1995

David Bowie was known for supporting young and promising bands, and he continued this tradition by choosing Nine Inch Nails as the opener for the US leg of his 1995 Outside tour. Nine Inch Nails had gained significant popularity from their 1994 album “The Downward Spiral,” while Bowie, despite his legendary status, lacked the same fresh appeal.

Bowie knew this pairing would be a challenge, but he was always up for something adventurous. He admitted that while he liked the combination of NIN and himself, his fans didn’t feel the same. The young audience, ranging from 12 to 17 years old, was more drawn to Nine Inch Nails, making it tough for Bowie to hold their attention during the first few shows.