When The Opener Hijacks The Night
Most people treat the opening act like background noise: time to find your seat, grab a drink, and casually scan the merch table. Then, every once in a while, something wild happens. The opener hits the stage like they didn’t get the memo that they’re “just” the warm-up and suddenly the whole crowd is locked in, phones out, jaws halfway to the floor. By the time the headliner appears, the room is still buzzing about the band that was supposed to be the appetizer.
Here are 20 legendary moments where the opener didn’t just warm up the night—they totally owned it.
Led Zeppelin Opening For Vanilla Fudge (1968)
Early-career Zeppelin were booked as support, but their earth-shaking energy and unreal musicianship instantly made them the unofficial main attraction. Robert Plant’s vocals and Jimmy Page’s blistering guitar work made the headliners seem almost quaint in comparison. By the end of the tour, everyone knew who the real rising giants were.
Nine Inch Nails Opening For Guns N’ Roses (1991)
NIN hit the stage with industrial fury: loud, chaotic, unhinged. During the Use Your Illusion tour, their raw shockwave of sound left crowds stunned before GNR even appeared. Trent Reznor later joked that they “terrorized” audiences into becoming fans, and honestly…it worked.
Luca De Santis from Orzignano (PI), Italy (Author's website), Wikimedia Commons
Metallica Opening For Ozzy Osbourne (1986)
Metallica’s Master of Puppets era was a volcano waiting to erupt. Opening for Ozzy (and reportedly blowing the roof off every arena), they showed the world what thrash metal at full power could do. Even Ozzy admitted they were the future of heavy music. It was less “opening act” and more “changing of the guard.”
Kreepin Deth, Wikimedia Commons
Jimi Hendrix Opening For The Monkees (1967)
Whoever booked this had a wild imagination. Psychedelic guitar god meets bubblegum pop kings. Hendrix unleashed a surreal, incendiary performance that left fans either terrified or mesmerized—either way, he overshadowed the Monkees so much that the pairing couldn’t last. A legendary mismatch if there ever was one.
The Who Opening For Herman’s Hermits (1967)
The Who’s instrument-smashing, ear-splitting set followed by Herman’s Hermits’ clean-cut sweetness was…well, a lot. Pete Townshend windmill-thrashing while Keith Moon detonated the drums made the headliner feel like a different universe entirely. The opener didn’t just steal the show—they tore it apart.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
Rage Against The Machine Opening For U2 (1997)
On U2’s PopMart tour, Rage delivered a blistering political firestorm that felt worlds away from the headliner’s glittery production. Zack de la Rocha’s intensity and Tom Morello’s alien-tech guitar wizardry turned the opener into a revolutionary moment, leaving fans buzzing long after the set ended.
Scott Penner, Wikimedia Commons
Kanye West Opening For Usher (2004)
Before superstardom, Kanye warmed up crowds for Usher’s Confessions tour—but “warm up” might be the wrong phrase. With backpack-era charisma and early hits, Kanye turned heads fast. Fans arrived for Usher but left talking about the opener who’d just redefined hip-hop onstage.
The Flaming Lips Opening For Radiohead (1995)
The Flaming Lips brought surreal props, psychedelic visuals, and Wayne Coyne’s manic charisma to their Radiohead opener slots. Their oddball theatrics made the night feel like a double-headliner event. Even among Radiohead diehards, the Lips left an unforgettable mark.
Drew de F Fawkes, Wikimedia Commons
Red Hot Chili Peppers Opening For The Damned (1983)
Before becoming funk-rock royalty, RHCP opened for British punk legends The Damned—and somehow managed to out-chaos the chaos. High-energy antics, wild stage presence, and fearless weirdness gave the Chili Peppers the night’s standout performance.
Drew de F Fawkes, Wikimedia Commons
Queen Opening For Mott The Hoople (1974)
Freddie Mercury in the early 70s was already a supernova waiting to go off. Mott the Hoople headlined the tour, but Queen consistently walked away with the crowd in their pocket. Even the headliners eventually admitted Queen were simply too electrifying to follow.
Graham Wiltshire, Getty Images
Soundgarden Opening For Guns N’ Roses (1991)
Grunge was bubbling, and Soundgarden came out swinging. Chris Cornell’s voice alone could level a stadium, and their heavy, sludgy power practically demanded headliner status. Guns N’ Roses fans walked in expecting one thing and left wondering if they’d witnessed the future of rock.
The Police Opening For Patti Smith (1977)
The Police were still unknowns when they supported Patti Smith, but their blend of punk and reggae (plus the now-iconic “Roxanne”) electrified audiences. Their crisp, edgy performance made them feel like stars waiting for the world to notice.
Lionel Urman, Wikimedia Commons
The Ramones Opening For Flamin’ Groovies (1976)
The Ramones delivered a 45-minute, no-break sonic assault that flipped the typical concert formula on its head. Their opener was loud, fast, and impossible to ignore—critics said they practically “smothered the headliner alive.”
David Bowie Opening For T. Rex (1971)
Bowie (still pre-Ziggy) opened for glam god Marc Bolan and nearly stole the entire tour with his theatrical strangeness and magnetic stage presence. Bolan admired him, but even he saw the writing on the wall: Bowie was about to become unstoppable.
Roger Woolman, Wikimedia Commons
Van Halen Opening For Black Sabbath (1978)
Eddie Van Halen’s tapping solos alone were enough to make people question everything they knew about guitar. With David Lee Roth’s wild charisma added in, their opener nearly overshadowed Sabbath’s every night. It was a graduating ceremony for Van Halen, and the diploma was the crowd’s roar.
Abby Gillardi, Wikimedia Commons
Blondie Opening For Iggy Pop (1977)
Iggy Pop brought punk ferocity, but Blondie brought sleek, stylish New Wave that felt radically fresh. Debbie Harry’s star power and icy coolness made their opening sets the unexpected highlight of the night.
Paramore Opening For No Doubt (2009)
No Doubt returned with a big tour, but Paramore showed up with volcanic energy. Hayley Williams’ powerhouse vocals and kinetic performance turned every opener into a near-headlining event. Fans still argue Paramore stole that entire tour.
Jim Trottier, Wikimedia Commons
The Killers Opening For Morrissey (2004)
Before becoming global stars, The Killers had something to prove—and boy, did they. “Mr. Brightside” alone made the audience lose their minds, and critics joked Morrissey should have opened for them.
Johnny Cash Opening For Elvis Presley (1956)
Two future legends on the same bill, but Cash’s deep, booming presence and haunting songs made him impossible to forget. Even Elvis reportedly recognized Cash’s magnetism, predicting his inevitable rise.
Heinrich Klaffs, Wikimedia Commons
Foo Fighters Opening For Red Hot Chili Peppers (2000)
Right after There Is Nothing Left to Lose, the Foo Fighters opened for RHCP with an easygoing but electric set full of radio hits and Dave Grohl charm. Many fans swear the opener was the night’s best moment—fun, loud, and effortlessly cool.
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