You may think that artists only perform in traditional venues, butthese 10 musicians have proven that they can play in the most obscure locations. Whilethe biggest tours have gone to massive stadiums, that wasn’t the case with these. Instead, they are one-off performances that have led to some even setting world records.
These artists all used these memorable moments to elevate their careers. Some even made music videos out of them, standing apartjust like those who welcome celebrities do. The promotional aspect emerging from these has been incredible, but they have also shown thateven the biggest names can appear where you may never have dreamed.
This list includes many musicians who know what it is like to haveone billion streams on Spotify. Yet, they set aside their status to create history. Being able to do something like thisshows why many of them are legends. Building the careers they have takes determination, and the fact they pulled these off is an example of that.
93 Doors Down - U.S.S. George Washington
After breaking out in 2000, Three Doors Down quickly became a household name. They were an act that everyone wanted to see, and the band traveled as much as they could. One of the stops they made was inthe middle of the Mediterranean Sea on the U.S.S. George Washingtonto perform for the United States military.
A key memory from their time on the ship wasthe recording of the music video for their song “When I’m Gone.“The tune became one that resonated with the soldiers, as it revolves around being away from home. This was the perfect way for them to pay their respects to the military, as they have always been major supporters.
8The Defiled - Floating Iceberg In Greenland
Unfortunately, The Defiled’s time together came to an end in 2016, butit wasn’t before the band made history. In 2013, they released what would be their final album together,Daggers. After its release, they did everything they could to make this album as special as possible, going on a 2014 tour of their native United Kingdom.
Later in 2014, they decided to do something that no one else had bytraveling to Greenland to play on top of an iceberg. They played for roughly a half hour, but it was enough for them to be recognized by theGuinness World Records. They were documented by the website, and now, even though they are defunct, they will forever be remembered.
7The Presidents Of The United States Of America - Live At Mt. Rushmore
Being a band that emerged from Seattle in the early 1990swas both good and bad. Of course, with groups such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam becoming mainstream, it put a lot of eyes on the music out there. However, it also caused pressure for those coming next to live up to the standards that these grunge legends were setting.
The Presidents of the United States of America stood out with their name, but their music was revered as well. During their time together, one of their most memorable performances happened in 1996.The band performed in front of Mt. Rushmore, and it was documented by MTV. This now remains a key part of their history.
6Brian May - Buckingham Palace
Alongside Queen, guitarist Brian May was part of many legendary performances. This, of course, includes their iconic set during the Live Aid charity event in 1985. However, on his own, May had what he regarded as one of his favorite performanceswhen he was able to perform on top of the Buckingham Palace roof.
During this performance, the guitarist wore an iconic white suit. With just a couple of amplifiers, he stood up there with his guitar and played like only he could. It was an amazing moment for May, and it’s one that helped set him apart as not only Queen’s guitarist but alsoas a superstar guitar player in general.
5Rage Against The Machine - Wall Street
One of the busiest places in New York City is Wall Street. There isn’t much room for anything other than a productive flow happening there. That’s why it was surprising when Rage Against the Machine was able to get clearance to film a music videoin front of the Federal Hall National Memorialfor “Sleep Now in the Fire.”
They were permitted to film on the steps, butthings quickly got out of control. A crowd of several hundred people showed up, and when they did, it caused some chaos. The New York Stock Exchange, which is right by the building, was forced to close its doors. Eventually, order was restored, but the story of this filming day continues.
4Johnny Cash - Live At Folsom Prison
A prison may not seem like a place that a musician would want to perform, but for Johnny Cash,it wasn’t a setting he particularly minded. One of his most famous performances at one of these facilities happened at Folsom Prison. Cash and his band, which included June Carter, stepped behind the walls in January 1968.
What came from this performance is perhaps one of the most well-known live albums ever,Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison. This was released only a few months after the recording took place, in May 1968. It quickly gained attention by becoming the number one record on the U.S. Top Country Albums chart, on its way to being 3x Platinum.
3Pink Floyd: Live At Pompeii
In 2025, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour will release a live concert film, but long before this, he and the band released a historic performance. It is titledPink Floyd: Live at Pompeii, andit features the band playing at the Amphitheatre of Pompeii. This was one of the sites affected by the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD.
The Amphitheatre is one of the oldest surviving structures, andPink Floyd used its specialty to their advantage. Over a four-day period, they were able to get the footage they needed, creating the 1972 film. Decades later, in 2015, Gilmour returned, this time welcoming a crowd and recording another live film at the venue.
2The Beatles - Rooftop Concert
The history surrounding The Beatles usually revolves around a swarm of screaming fans. They became a worldwide sensation, and there weren’t many places they could go without a massive crowd following them. However, one day they figured out a way for that to change,which was performing on a rooftop.
The famed performance took place in January 1969. The band stood atop the building that served as their headquarters. Many documents have been made about this event, including a 2021 miniseries titledThe Beatles: Get Back. One of the most iconic moments from this day is John Lennon saying,“I hope we’ve passed the audition.”
1Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live At The Pyramids
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have always done things their way. Over the course of their career, they have set themselves apart with their unique songs that have become hits around the globe. This was proven when they traveled to Giza to play in front of the pyramids for a show that wasas visually stunning as their music catalog.
During the show,the band played 20 songs in total. They even did a cover of the Radiohead tune “Pyramid Song” to fit the atmosphere. Outside their performance, the band traveled around where they were staying and enjoyed the customs. They made the most of their time there,creating a magical experience for all involved.
Metallica - Freeze ‘Em All
There is no challenge that Metallica fears, and they proved this when they set out to do somethingthat would set them apart from all other musicians. In 2013, they traveled to Antarctica to play a special show for only 120 fans. This trip took exstensive planning, as everything had to be precise for the preservation of the land.
For their efforts, they were recognized byGuinness World Records. This cemented the history they created, but that’s not all they got out of it. They released a live concert and a live album as well, so they were able to produce a ton of promotion. Now,Metallica can say they have truly been to every corner of the globe.
