Falling Off Stage Hurts, Just Ask These Musicians

Watching someone topple over into embarrassment and sometimes broken bones probably should be as funny as most of us find it, and there are few other lines of work that yield such results than that of a touring musician – or at least those are the most documented.

Perhaps that’s why there’s a strong push for phone cameras to be disabled at gigs, because simply asking thousands of people not to upload that viral video won’t work (Beyoncé tried and failed miserably).

If it happens, you’ve just got to roll with it, as Perth-based rocker Abbe May discovered last weekend while on tour with Peter Garrett, and Guttermouth have done with their singer’s most recent tumble:

Here are some other classics. Don’t laugh. It’s not funny.

Marilyn Manson

With appearances on Eastbound & Down and Californication, Marilyn Manson fancies himself a bit of a comedian, but this is just awkward and painful.

Gordy Forman (Frenzal Rhomb)

This is less funny and more cringe-worthy; given the Aussie drumming legend’s arm was bending in a number of odd directions after impact. The members of Frenzal can’t seem to catch a break, with Lindsay McDougall undergoing emergency eye surgery in December, and Jason Whalley having brain surgery in 2013.

Dave Grohl

In a similar albeit far grander series of events than that of the above Aussie punks, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl took a tumble and the band managed to finish the show, after he returned from the hospital.

Beyoncé

If you could view the number of times “falling down stairs” has been searched for on the internet, the results would no doubt be shocking. Here’s Beyoncé’s take on the matter – the same incident she asked fans not to upload.

Madonna

Madonna obviously hasn’t seen The Incredibles, otherwise she would have avoided the cape.

Justin Bieber

The title of this video suggests it would be one of the greatest things on YouTube, but the noise his face makes upon impact does not sound good. It is, however, trimmed to great comedic affect.

Bonus Round

And sometimes you get lucky, like Travis Scott.

Apparently it’s possible to fall over while still upright, if you’re Kelsey Grammer.