Fan Request: The Vines Trash The Set | Letterman

Fan Friday Request:
"Hi there.
Would you please be able to upload the infamous performance of Aussie rock band, The Vines, from The Late Show in August 2002? I can vividly remember the lead singer/guitarist, Craig Nicholls, screaming and rambling incoherently throughout the song while his bandmates frantically tried to hold the song together. When the band left the stage, leaving the remains of a trashed drum kit and a monumental amount of feedback from their PA, David appeared to be pleasantly bemused while Paul seemed legitimately concerned for Craig's wellbeing. It was a memorable performance to say the least.
Thanks and all the best for 2023.
Chris Ferguson
Christchurch, New Zealand"
(From "Late Show," air date: 8/19/02)
If you have a clip you’d like to see, email us at [e-mail]
#thevines #fanfriday #letterman
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Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. The language may strike you as quaint & flowery, the clothing comically lacey & ornate - but that’s how things were back in this colorful and now bygone era.

[@pr27rock47]

You know, in 2002, this band was marketed as the “next nirvana,” but I’m starting to love them for the way they weren’t anything close to that. This is just a chaotic mess but also weirdly unique lol

[@ReeseChown]

Every distorted alt-rock band with long hair was deemed the next Nirvana by major labels

[@jtors5]

They definitely attempted to ripped off Nirvana, only sounded different because they fell so short and sound so much shittier.

[@ehyooo]

their albums from the 2000s are incredible and definitely still hold up

[@Rnyargd]

My favorite part was when he sang, “BAH GADDA BADDA BADDA AHHH AHH GADDA BADDA BADDA GAH!”

[@RP-lr2ms]

AHAHAHA same

[@HaleksMTL]

Mine is when he picks up the mic from the floor and goes AAAAAAAHHOOOOOOOWWW 🤣🤣

[@tiki_trash]

Such profound meaning in those lyrics. Words to live by.

[@dogpetdog]

I always remember when the drummer threw his sticks after just being fed up but I had forgotten the performance was an absolute train wreck. Good times, good times

[@Matthew9818]

I think the drummer threw the sticks as the guitarist / singer knocked away his drums 🤣

[@qotda]

People either love or hate them that's why their timeless. They drown the swamp

[@chriswheeler263]

Lol

[@rnrrjsdl]

That's what the real rock spirit is like

[@kalimbalove1912]

The vocalist was diagnosed with Asperger..so nah...not really a 'rock spirit'. Poor guy needed help.

[@thecorruptversion]

@@kalimbalove1912 so because someone is neurodivergent they can't have rock spirit? lmao go read about bios of famous rockstars, most of them have psychological issues

[@thetavibes9021]

@@thecorruptversion Except this vocalist, in particular, couldn't handle the responsibility of being courteous to his fans, band members, or himself acting like that. Which is the point. Condition or not, everyone suffers because of it.

[@thecorruptversion]

@@thetavibes9021 yeah but that's normal, kurt cobain, gg allen, marilyn manson, etc., all were like that but the band, label and fans dealt with it. I think in this case it was different because this vocalist wasn't making them enough money

[@thetavibes9021]

@@thecorruptversion Neil Breen movies are depressingly bad.

[@mikey2bucks]

I always loved how Dave rolled with the punches on this one..."Could be the West Nile" 😂😂😂

[@RED6vines]

Saw them live years ago in a small club and it was glorious. Not as nuts as this but just a great high energy show.

[@mrfarenheit0323]

This is the most rock n roll thing that happened that whole year

[@lorip.1110]

"And I only had two more payments until my drum set was paid off." Smh

[@dtonesmith766]

This performance is infamous to fans because of its unpredictability and strangeness. ❤

[@jorgestraight4922]

Literally looks like he’s trying his to cosplay Kurt Cobain tbh. The Vines were the wish list Aussie version grunge 30 years late. They do have some good ass tunes though.

[@thebatman4279]

​@@jorgestraight4922Hmm.. 30 years late you say? 2002 minus 30 years = 1972 😂 Not sure grunge was a thing then.

[@jorgestraight4922]

@@thebatman4279 well Neil Young is considered the godfather of grunge and was putting out I’m assuming harvest moon out. Funny how even when you tried to to have your own “gotcha” moment. I still am correct ahah 😜😜

[@jorgestraight4922]

Harvest, not harvest moon.

[@thebatman4279]

@@jorgestraight4922 I'm not familiar with his work tbh but I'll beleive you. You should've at least put 10 years too late since early 90s was when grunge was peak popularity.

[@GeorgeCrocco]

I'm not sure why Craig Nicholls got such a bad rap for trashing the drums. If Kurt Cobain or Keith Moon had done it, people would think it was legendary! As for the performance itself, the dude is actually an extremely talented singer, songwriter and musician. Listen to their song "Homesick". It's beautiful.

[@CJFerg81]

The system works! 😀 Thanks so much for uploading this. It's as mindblowingly epic as I remember it being. I'd love to know what the Talent Booker was thinking when this happened, and what the band's management had to say/do to get them booked again a year later 😄

[@JayDeeIsMyName]

Great request, did not know about this 😄😃 Doesn't mean it sounds good, but it was interesting to see this. 😂

[@CJFerg81]

@@JayDeeIsMyName Yeah, Craig's performance is definitely an assault on your ears, especially if you're using headphones or earbuds. But it is THE moment that I'll always remember from the show so I'm stoked that they uploaded it. (I also remember the skits that Dave did with Stephanie Birkitt but I doubt they'll see the light of day again.)

[@triggerbunny]

I remember seeing The Vines headline in Detroit w/ Jet supporting in 2004 during the "Aussie Invasion Tour". The recording studio I was working out of hosted Jet for a radio show session in our studio. They were sweet/funny guys & good sports for what must be the same BS day to day on tour. We all got free tickets to go see the show. Was so pumped for the The Vines, But Jet blew them away that night, left during The Vines set about half way through. You could say, getting to meet Jet & party a bit with them is making my decision biased, but truly, Jet wanted to be there rocking it at the show that night, the Vines never seemed like they cared.

[@imstillaidiot]

I feel bad for the other band members

[@AndyGraceMedia]

Bit of inside info; there was a HUGE argument after this performance between certain band members that went on for ages. One certain person thought they'd screwed up their chances to make it in America. I thought it was just glorious in its utter insanity, but there were some audio issues so Craig just went berserk. The fact people remember it and request it 20 years later says it really was good PR!

[@fantasticcaptain4400]

@@AndyGraceMediaIf I was a betting man I’d guess it was Patrick who would’ve thought this was blown. Apparently the band’s management asked if they could do another take and David’s production crew was like “Nup that was awesome, we’re sticking with that” 😅

[@zenseed75]

😹😹😹❤️ One of the reason I loved Dave's show were his musical guest choices.

[@tiki_trash]

YES! Dave always had something different from the boring pop garbage on most other talk shows. He said they were always up for giving a band their first TV debut performance. Letterman is a drummer and would often ask drummers if they wanted to sell their set if he saw one he liked.

[@zenseed75]

​@@tiki_trash how didn't I know he played drums?! Cool!

[@tiki_trash]

@@zenseed75 If he saw a vintage set or a particularly nice set he would ask, "Is that a rental?" If they answered no he would say I want to buy them. I watched him do it several times. Johnny Carson was a drummer too and had a "drum off" with Buddy Rich on his last show.

[@kornbacon1079]

I remember being 4 when I my dad showed me that video, I thought it was the most awesome thing in the world I ended up destroying my toy drums after My dad, instead of going crazy about it, he went like "well to be fair that is entirely my fault"

[@quakeranger]

This really inspired me how to perform with a band when forgot all the lyrics. Great stuff... Thanks for sharing 🤘🏻😁

[@VanceLawrence]

The drummer at 2:18 reminds me of every Monday ever

[@dragon13304]

Classic, saw them live in 2016 which is their last "tour" currently, 3 shows across the east coast of Australia. Glad to got to see them in Melbourne, it's rare these days!

[@lindejordan]

GREAT REQUEST

[@jerryvahnknight218]

I remember this, it was and is still pure RNFR!

[@ignasty3591]

I would be frustrated if my front man was so unhinged. Their music is good when polished up on the album. Imagine having the opportunity of his band had. I understand the dude has mental issues and being traveling and being around people and all that must’ve exacerbated things

[@crowkid5553]

God this is the worst comment section i have ever seen

[@tommymcglennon2061]

thinking the same thing

[@crowkid5553]

@tommymcglennon2061 I don't know why people just comment them based on this performance rather than the songs they released

[@tommymcglennon2061]

@@crowkid5553 yeah exactly there acting as if this is how they always act and sound

[@thetavibes9021]

@@daizy675 You're engaging in the same behavior. Their music being descent material and these kinds of horrible performances, condition or not, are two separate matters, simultaneously.

[@qotda]

I'm their biggest fan, they are one of thr most beautiful bands in the last 30 years listen to wicked nature and in miracle land..hes the Australian Beatles. He chose to fk.the world here.

[@BazNard]

Great band. Poor kid wasn't doing very well

[@hotstankygarbage788]

I mean Craig had undiagnosed autism. So all this over stimulation definitely didn't help.

[@YardIshakHusyne]

🤣🤣

[@CoasterGuy2323]

He is diagnosed

[@wonsworld61]

Undiagnosed?? I reckon that there was a fair chance Stevie Wonder could have diagnosed it ...

[@Bubblepopped]

It was very much diagnosed

[@bloodyface3844]

@nastyponeygarbage The stupider you are, the more intelligent you think you are

[@justinman114]

pretty sure when he did that barrel roll he knocked several strings out of tune LMAO

[@xx7secondsxx]

I've just heard this was a TERRIBLE version! Its RAD! Its live n RAW!!!! buy the damned CD of ya want that!

[@KyleDavisMusic]

“Could be the West Nile.” - Genius.

[@BLOCPARTY420]

This was awesome :D

[@okjeffy6581]

Alternative Title: David Letterman refuses to ride with Australian man and he goes on a rampage.

[@paulcusentino4917]

Not blurry. Yes!

[@barryoliver9111]

The frustrated "can you *believe* this arsehole?!" looks on the other bandmembers' faces are much clearer in this version! 🤣

[@LedmeisterDotCom]

Paul had the best 3 seconds of the whole video. :D

[@victorpawelleck4367]

Can you also upload their second Letterman appearance from 2004?

Love Craig ❤

[@flinttongue5614]

I was just thinking of this.

[@RonanDahlman-ci1ql]

3:08 “I think they’re troubled teens!” Uhh.. yeah, about that…

[@Waingro_]

He was stimming

[@KungEMuller]

Wow! That's totally unexpected. Of course, on Dave's show, what can you expect?

[@Casper-fl1wy]

Man I miss this band.

[@qotda]

Their coming back with a new album and the original lineup.

[@ReclaimerSnake]

@@qotdawhere? I just saw an instrumental single being released like a year or two ago. I wish they come back. They were post grunge wizards.

[@qotda]

@@ReclaimerSnake hamish did an interview recently confirming their working on some stuff, which is great. Knowing craig as a perfectionist, could take them a while, but tracks are being laid down.

[@genngeorge9909]

That was awesome.

[@ozrob76]

This is one of my all-time fave Letterman bits. He handled it so coolly... iirc when he came back from break he said: "So much anger...." in a sad way as a joke 😂

[@geraldking4080]

Has Dave ever done a video guided tour of Indianapolis? I left Indy 50 years ago and never went back. Dave was doing weather at the TV station across the street from my high school.

[@billyruben2269]

they made a great album

[@diegovaldebenitohernandez2489]

LOVELY

[@eurikadude]

Sure it's not great musically and almost definitely ruined a couple chances for them but if Craig and this band doesn't have Rock n Roll spirit, I don't know what does. Love them

[@j0hnryan31]

That was soulful

[@mhill3350]

Request...if you have any Gordon Lightfoot!🤞

[@TheFuzzyboy1976]

How to be never forgotten , be memorable 🎉

[@florianrayet4329]

Respect for the drum and bass session

[@greggjohnson6041]

That’s was awesome

[@topofthemorning6832]

Was watching reruns on 'The Chaser 2004 election and they mentioned the Vines. 2004 was so long ago now 😢

[@thebatman4279]

IKR I vividly remembering waiting all day at school so I could head to town and get Winning Days the first day it came out. Scary af how fast time flies.

[@GodLovesComics]

I saw this when it first aired and thought it was fantastic then and still do. Of course it was a complete and utter mess, but rock should still be unpredictable and you almost never see a band (or singer) willfully self-destruct like this on television. Now it remains one of the most memorable performances in TV history (much like Crispin Glover's appearance). And make no mistake, regardless of how snarky he inevitably acted, Letterman loved every minute of this just like he would an Andy Kaufman appearance.

[@Bibidrego578]

Them and Paranoid Alice are the best bands ever!

[@ndowroccus4168]

Inspiring singing….no joke

[@DaveSone]

Wooww al fin en hd

[@jck987]

Do the Orwells next!

[@estherfy1875]

Hoy es el cumple de Craig, vaya ha pasado tanto tiempo

[@Nita-zf3eq]

ya no se sabe nada de él :(

[@HowTo4Uvideos]

Used to love them, saw them live in Pittsburgh. Whatever happened to them?

[@victorsaucedo2563]

que vengan a tijuana

[@chriswheeler263]

If someone ask what rock ‘n’ roll is, I’m gonna show them clips of Little Richard and this one

[@JLE999]

Just fyi the singer Craig Nichols has severe aspergers. So his unpredictable behavior was a result of that. He couldn’t handle being under pressure and all the traveling. He no longer tours and rarely plays live. He has still released some excellent albums from time to time though.

[@Termintor1]

Everytime letterman says i thinnk theyre troubled teens it was funnier, he should have just kept saying it

[@ausproductionsofficial]

I would take the actual song over this any day of the week. It’s hard to believe how much praise this set gets. I felt remorse that they even had to go through this.

[@gongqi67]

Hit the Marshall off button pahlease.

[@scottdavis4689]

A great moment of RnR…

[@robertgrogan8665]

the best

[@Na9rawi87]

Are they still on

[@qotda]

Yeah their coming back

[@dianewinters8628]

Troubled teens

[@LordFlashheart1]

Jay Inbetweeners

[@Blarg]

When the INFJ drinks the beer before hitting the stage

[@isaiah2810]

Dave enjoyed it.

[@fightthesun9847]

Poor guy knocked his guitar out of tune and probably panicked and thought going the chaotic, memorable route was the best option. actually feel sorry for the guy....

[@mimiru27]

Vandalism Beautiful as a rock

[@davegsux]

... In a cop's face. Courtesy of the feederz: office of anti-public relations

[@nicolasdinozzo4810]

A real massacre this live while the studio version is too good!!!!!! 

[@eldiablo3794]

Craig could've totally saved the performance if he would've stopped for a moment and fixed the mic even with the guitar blaring and then went back into the song as the drums and bass kicked back in. Instead of slowing it down and making himself look like an idiot lol. I remember watching this live when it happened when I was in 8th grade. This was my favorite band at the time, and i learned how to play drums playing along to this song and album.. but watching it now, I think, what the heck is he doing this is ridiculous. I can't believe I thought this was cool in 8th grade lol.

[@daizy675]

Good point. I agree to a certain degree. Craig was undiagnosed for autism back then. I believe he was properly diagnosed in 2003?? He actually had an episode/breakdown here. I personally have to applaud and say he did pretty astoundingly for touring consistently day after day and doing these sorts of shows and interviews and touring without being diagnosed and not receiving proper treatment. I couldn’t imagine the overstimulation he went through. These sort of mental breakdowns are not planned but they’re unfortunate. I can only imagine the kind of band they would have went on to be if he was diagnosed earlier in his life and had a love for playing live and touring. My heart goes out to Craig. I hope he’s doing well these days… 🤍

[@jamesythetrue]

I'll have what he's having

[@thetavibes9021]

Double autism on the rocks... And I *mean* "ice".

[@davegsux]

Any vaccine with enough mercury should do the trick.

[@shawnsuave5694]

The singer always had mental problems, just let him do his thing

[@user-rl4xc3wq5f]

Full of Kurt's emotions.

[@firebrand36]

T R O U B L E D T E E N S

[@stewbacca]

Clearly got tired of the song and New York after playing it for Conan the day earlier

[@mcdarwin]

And they were never big in this country...

[@clambake8496]

The Vines made catchy pop rock. Nothing wrong with that, but unlike Nirvana (whom they were often compared to), these sort of stage antics feel stilted and phony. The depth of meaning in Nirvana's music, and Kurt's conveyance of emotion, whether it be rage or subdued sarcasm, gave an impression of sincerity for the band, making their acts of destruction come across as more genuine and compelling. Speaking as a former mega fan of The Vines, when I watch this clip I just see a hyped up kid with nothing to say other than "look at me, look at me!"

[@SarahNotSara]

You literally, word for word, just expressed everything I felt about the Nirvana comparisons and this performance.

[@RP-lr2ms]

I think Craig was just a kid at the time, probably without the maturity to handle everything that comes with fame and touring this they had very quickly. This looks like him out of his depth and trying to play into it the best he could. Not to mention the mental illness which would later be revealed he had.

[@jtors5]

@@SarahNotSaraliterally word for word, you thought that exact paragraph? That’s remarkable, maybe like 1 in a billion

[@thebatman4279]

Love the band, love the song but dear god that was unbearable.

[@naazirafamily2320]

Joss

[@keefriff99]

The Who and punk bands in the ‘70s were doing stuff like that over 20 years prior (remember, this is 2002). Wrecking your drum kit and smashing your guitar kinda loses its edginess when you know its all been done before.

[@paulcusentino4917]

You have to remember that it feels fresh to younger people who don’t know those bands. It’s a cool nod.

[@michaelmcdonald8452]

By that reasoning, the punk bands shouldn't have bothered because The Who had already done it. 🤷

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

I don't know how much of this was a show versus Craig having a legitimate breakdown. Like, the rest of the band seem very confused and not ready for this to be happening.

[@SSJTrunks45]

My 5yr old sings the same way

[@S1L3NTG4M3R]

:)

[@sirmrguitardude]

I always thought the Vines were the worst band to ever get popular, "he has autism" was their gimmick but it's not really a rare or exciting condition.

[@CO-iz7wp]

At the point of recording this, Craig wasn't even diagnosed yet. Their career was on the decline before it was even made public about his autism.

[@JCO2002]

Man. that's what my neighbour's annoying dog would sound like if it could play guitar. Fortunately, it can't so I can console myself by knowing it could be worse.

[@ted__ryan]

Dollar store Nirvana 😂

[@Pezistasty]

Nah, they're just troubled teens.

[@PsychoGallagher]

So what were Nirvana compared to The Who? If you wanna talk about destroying your instruments...

[@vrvaughn]

You give them too much credit.. 99cent store at best

[@buckbumble]

Kid had Asperger’s up the wazoo

[@MothGirl007]

Totally - they were so overrated, imho.

[@BearbearbearbearbearbearRarrrr]

Ritalin.

[@HACHALAHILACHA]

la de jay leno es mejor pero los rajaron antes de tocar jijij

[@darkerpath]

They are great .. *The Winning Days* are so memorable for me Now music is become tiktock 😫 .. short and no meaning at all, just dance and do stupid things to make whole world see it.

[@jacqui3414]

Jimmi Hendrix and the The Who did it better.

[@OutLawStargazer899]

Autistic Grunge be like : REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@Calavera.Conica]

in the solo the guitar go out of tune and then all go to the hell

[@deftony4531]

Between seeing this 20 years ago and NOFX on Conan around the same time, I don’t know which was more disappointing. Neither unique, or good.

[@winghead311]

what happens when your mother tells you you can sing

[@MarcDavid-ln9hg]

Kigwahahahhqhqhqhq

[@TheDandob1982]

🐎 💩

[@Omegaman69]

Stick Nirvana into AI and there's your future kids. Good luck.