4 Rock Songs That Were Played Live Once and Never Again

You would think if a band put in the effort to record a song and practice it enough to play it live once, they’d play it at least a few more times. But for many reasons, this is not always the case. Reasons such as death, poor sales, or prioritizing hit songs can result in a song being played live only one time. It’s a rarity, but it has happened. Here are 4 rock songs that were played live only once, and never again.

Nirvana – “You Know You’re Right”

On October 23, 1993, Nirvana played a new song for fans at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL. For many, “You Know You’re Right” was a glimpse into what Nirvana was cooking up next. This was the only time the band performed the song live. The track was recorded by the band on January 30, 1994, a little under four months before Kurt Cobain’s death that April. Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic wanted to release the song on the Nirvana box set in 2001, but were denied by Courtney Love. Released as a promo single in October of 2002, “You Know You’re Right” finally got an official release.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “One Hot Minute”

In 1992, Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante left the band. Eventually, Dave Navarro, formerly of Jane’s Addiction, joined the group in 1993. The seemingly perfect pairing released the album One Hot Minute in 1995. The album was riddled with drug use and poor critical reception, though it features some interesting tracks. Navarro was fired by the band in 1998, and the only song from the album played live is “Aeroplane”, though it’s a rarity. The album’s title track was played live one single time, at The Krisstadion in Budapest, Hungary, on June 15, 1996.

Def Leppard – “Action! Not Words”

With the release of Pyromania in 1983, Def Leppard exploded in popularity. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Given the success of hit songs “Photograph,” “Rock Of Ages,” and “Foolin’”, other tracks on the album were overlooked. “Action! Not Words” was performed by the band one time on the Pyromania tour, at Ector County Stadium in Odessa, TX on April 29, 1983. The song is a deep cut that remained a deep cut as it was not played live again.

AC/DC – “Big Balls”

Objectively, “Big Balls” is not a serious song by any means. Its lack of seriousness and provocative lyrical content is considered the reason the band played this song live only one time. Performed live at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on the Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap tour in 1976, the band never made this throwaway track a regular feature on future setlists. With singer Bon Scott’s death in 1980, and Brian Johnson taking over vocals shortly after, many of the band’s earlier tracks were never carried over into the next phase of the band.