Evan Dando...in 1995

[tevaburger]

I'm seeing Evan Dando on Saturday in a very tiny lounge in New York on Saturday, for $15 (less than 10 quid this week!) and I was wondering about him being at Glasto in June and recalled he had 'a bit of a history' there. googled and came across this on an old interview...

His first judgement day, he says, came at Glastonbury's 1995 Festival. He was meant to play the Acoustic Tent one sunny Saturday afternoon but didn't "because I was wasted. It's not a good career move to miss your gig. I was so late I played to Portishead's crowd and they nearly killed me. The guy who does that tent still won't let me play Glastonbury." He inhales thoughtfully and stands up, wobbling on one foot and stretching his arms into a Bruce Lee pose as he speaks. "It probably didn't help that my promoter kung-fu chopped him in the head."

Was anyone there in the acoustic tent? to see him or to see Portishead? was it nasty? wasn't he also seen causing havoc around the site? stories please...

[Mardy]

don't remember it, but I have a soft spot for Dando and the Lemonheads, especially early Lemonheads before he was the main singer.

They played the Other Stage that year too, i think, or maybe that was 94. f**k knows.

Quite like that album of cover versions he did last year too.

[fatyeti24]

i didn't see him in 95, i did see him on the pyramid in 94 with the Lemonheads (Sunday afternoon, same time Oasis were on t'Other) and he's on the film of the 93 fest. all through this time he enjoyed his heroin, but whether that had anything to do with his gig in the acoustic, one could only speculate.

edit, found this

Ten years ago, Evan Dando nearly became a dead rock legend. Due on stage at Glastonbury, he was instead in bed with supermodel Rachel Williams and singer Alice Temple, along with a large bag of heroin. Had he misjudged his self-medication, no doubt an entire industry would have sprung up to make money out of the man, his music, and a final exit that would have rivalled that of his friend Kurt Cobain or hero Gram Parsons. In the end, he arrived on stage two hours late and was ignominiously booed right back off.

Edited March 4, 2010 by fatyeti24

[CaledonianGonzo]

From memory, I tried to get in to see both him and Portishead, but there was such a massive crowd that I couldn't get anywhere near the tent.

[LittlemissC]

heard some strange glasto rumours - overall opinion was that he was a twat

I missed Portishead that year...damn still waiting to correct that...and waiting...

[MrZigster]

I was there. My first Glastonbury.

From what I recall, I was going to see Portishead and when I arrived Evan Dando was already on stage. I presumed this was because other acts had been running late. The audience were mostly, quite definately, there to see Portishead, and after a few tunes it became quite vocally apparent that this was the case. Mr Dando then did one of the most audacious things I have ever witnessed at any type of concert, and performed a little ditty that basically slagged off festival goers (ie, the audience)as all being the great unwashed dirty hippy scum wasters of popular stereotype. I think the slow handclaps and booing really started at that point. I am still not sure whether to think he was being incredibly brave, clever and sarcastic with an on the spot made up song, or just being extremely rude, or both

I have no idea whether he was delayed by other bands being late, just started late, or whether he was asked to get off but didn't. Whatever the case, he certainly didn't endear himself to the audience.

It is one of my few gripes about the festival that bands that overrun can ruin the sets for later acts (example, Battles' set being cut criminally short at The Park one year). Maybe they should have a buzzer/gong/shepherds crook type system in place?

I should point out that I was ever so slightly tripping that evening on a strawberry fields that my mate had found on the floor of the Dance Tent. My main memory of that night is the bouncers throwing cups of water towards the cameras of anyone who tried to take photographs of Portishead. This annoyed me more than Portishead being late or Dando being a prick. Anyone else remember this, or was it just the acid? It was very hot that year. That and hearing the Pyramid Field singing along to Common People and half wishing I had gone to that instead. Might have caught the end if Dando hadn't overun.

Edited March 4, 2010 by MrZigster

[Matt&Caz]

i remember my wife telling me once that a friend of hers was at glasto one year when evan dando played. He was on top of some poor fookers campervan doing an impromptu gig and being totally wasted. Shame we don't keep in contact or i would of got the picture uploaded.

[Haggis]

From memory, I tried to get in to see both him and Portishead, but there was such a massive crowd that I couldn't get anywhere near the tent.

[Bezdad]

I was there. Turned up in plenty of time for Portishead and was surprised to see that Dando was still on. He seemed completely out of it and arrogant with it, giving the old Jesus poses and generally acting the goat. The boos were ringing out, and then quite a few objects were launched with varying degrees of accuracy (mainly plastic bottles if memory serves). He brazened it out and did a ridiculous ad-libbed song which turned everyone against him, before shouting some abuse and running off stage in tears.

Portishead came on and were sublime - best gig I've ever seen in all probability.

[Guest Flip]

Classic glasto rumour mill, by the time it reached us up in the stone circle Dando had been bottled off stage

[vdbn]

Hello everyone - first time post.

I was at Evan Dando's show that night. Like everyone else in the tent I'd gone there to see Portishead (playing a stage far too small for them, it has to be said). Things must have already been behind schedule because at the point at which Portishead were about to start, the preceding act (Gilbert O'Sullivan or possibly Tom Robinson) was still in full flow.

When whoever it was had finished, there was a bit more of a wait as the tent got more and more ridiculously full. The compere said: 'We know you're waiting to see Portishead but before they come on, we've got a very special surprise for you. He missed his set earlier today but he's here now - Please welcome...Evan Dando!'

Dando came on with his acoustic guitar and as far as I recall there was booing more or less from the off. He played about three songs, including My Drug Buddy (or whatever it's called), to a barrage of catcalls and slow handclapping. At some point some plastic beer glasses were thrown at him, which he picked up and threw back at the crowd (there was a pic of this happening in one of the music mags at the time).

With the parting shot of 'f**k you and lame f**king hippy f**kfest!' he was gone and the interminable wait for Portishead continued.

In a coda to this story, years later, I worked with a record producer who claimed to be the person who had given Dando whatever it was he was on that night.

[beasthunter]

I remember this well. Having made sure to get there early for Portishead, Dando's appearance was first of all treated as a joke. Then things got a bit heated. It's the only time I can remember anyone being bottled off stage at Glasto. (I've been going since 1989). Worth the wait though. Portishead were sublime, and took the stage as fireworks were going off across the site. One of my desert island gigs.

[tevaburger]

well, some things never change...

Last night, Dando's support act finishes at 1130pm, and they quickly clear their own equipment away. no sign of Evan for a while...a few handclaps...then his roadie shows up, clearly out of it, and starts a bit of a soundcheck. some more handclaps. word gets around that Dando hasn't even arrived himself yet. bartender is heard saying "is this bozo even going to show up?".

Finally, he makes it to venue and hits stage at 1240am. He is so clearly out of it. eyes just about shut. someone angrily yells out "thanks for f'in showing up Evan!" and he's rushing through songs as if to 'catch up'. dissapointing.

[4AssedMonkey]

Sounds like a world class penis that guy. Never heard his solo stuff and was always a bit take/leave the Lemonheads stuff. Don't think I'll bother.

[Mardy]

Great summer pop from Glastonbury 94

[Michael@Hebden]

well, some things never change...

Last night, Dando's support act finishes at 1130pm, and they quickly clear their own equipment away. no sign of Evan for a while...a few handclaps...then his roadie shows up, clearly out of it, and starts a bit of a soundcheck. some more handclaps. word gets around that Dando hasn't even arrived himself yet. bartender is heard saying "is this bozo even going to show up?".

Finally, he makes it to venue and hits stage at 1240am. He is so clearly out of it. eyes just about shut. someone angrily yells out "thanks for f'in showing up Evan!" and he's rushing through songs as if to 'catch up'. dissapointing.

[abu hamster]

There was a time where he would hit site do his set then appear around campfires doing a few songs then moving on.

Varshons the latest album is a good listen and yes he can be a little late but when on form he is a great performer!

[rinkydink]

I love Evan Dando. I didn't see his late set that year. However, at about 5am, just as I was crawling into my sleeping bag after a long night, I heard the strum of an acoustic guitar outside the tent. I wriggled out again, ready to plead with said guitar player to bugger off up to the stone circle and let me get some sleep, only to find it was a spangled but still unfeasibly handsome Evan <swoon>

He played for me and my pals for half an hour or so before wandering off into the morning. One of my best Glastonbury memories.

[chad73]

Saw Evan in Swansea last year. Just him with acoustic guitar. It was a rough non polished performance but also really excellent. I was with 3 friend who are not Lemonhead fans who also thought he was great.

[possum]

I have no idea whether he was delayed by other bands being late, just started late, or whether he was asked to get off but didn't. Whatever the case, he certainly didn't endear himself to the audience.

[Les74]

I saw him. I was leaving the acoustic tent because there was a lot of confusion over what was happening. He knocked me over running into the tent but did give me a hand up - he's a tall guy. Followed him back into the tent and got fairly near the front. Remember him arguing with people in the audience and threatening to hit them with his guitar. Think he then sung "Big Gay Heart" taking the piss at them. Highly amusing! 

[henry bear]

Forgot it’s weird-ass thread resurrection season 

[Crazyfool01]

Just now, henry bear said:

Forgot it’s weird-ass thread resurrection season 

This one is truely an amazing resurrection …. I think we have some returning members with new usernames maybe ? 

[henry bear]

1 minute ago, crazyfool1 said:

This one is truely an amazing resurrection …. I think we have some returning members with new usernames maybe ? 

Or it’s Evan Dando himself, not quite mastering the art of online promotion 

[MrHew]

I was one of the few people there to see him and not Portishead. I went to his scheduled slot earlier that day but after a long wait the stage crew announced that he'd be on later instead. 

I left Pulp's headline set after a few songs and turned up to a heaving Acoustic tent. Bumped into a girl I knew who said she was there to see Portishead and I told her that Evan Dando was due on now and she looked very confused.

Then the curtains opened up and the whole crown started booing as soon as they saw that it wasn't Portishead. 

I enjoyed the few songs he did play but he was getting pelted with stuff and then insulted the crowd so the curtains got shut on him.