5 Debut Television Performances by Iconic Artists

Oftentimes, a debut television performance is the first time viewers put a face to the music. Especially before the internet, you mostly had to rely on magazines or television to know what your new favorite artist looked like. Some television debut performances helped propel the band or artist’s popularity, establishing their iconic image. Here are five groundbreaking television debut performances by iconic artists.

Radiohead on ‘Late Night With Conan O’Brien’

On September 14, 1993, alternative rock band Radiohead made their television debut on Late Night With Conan O’Brien. They performed “Creep,” which wasn’t exactly a hit just yet. Radiohead was attempting to break through, and “Creep” hadn’t performed on the charts like they wanted. With this performance on Late Night, the US audience finally took notice of the group. Radiohead re-released “Creep” as a single after the performance, and it reached No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Though the song still didn’t perform as the group would’ve liked, it became the group’s most identifiable track and set them up for bigger success.

Nirvana on ‘The Word (UK)’

This debut performance occurred on the same day that Nevermind reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, replacing Michael Jackson’s Dangerous. On November 8, 1991, up-and-coming grunge band Nirvana made their television debut on The Word, a UK variety show throughout the 1990s. The group performed “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Territorial Pissings.” The show sparked minor controversy as Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic shared a kiss on the lips during the outro. The band later made their US television debut on Saturday Night Live on January 11, 1992.

The Beatles on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’

On February 9, 1964, with over 73 million viewers, The Beatles made their historic US television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. That roughly 40% of the US population tuned in that evening. The four played “All My Loving,” “Till There Was You,” “She Loves You,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” The latter had hit No. 1 in the US just one month before, fueling heavy anticipation for the performance. The debut performance is considered one of the most historic television appearances ever, significantly altering pop culture for decades. Many of the future’s biggest acts were viewers that evening, inspiring and launching decades of iconic artists.

Beyoncé on ‘Saturday Night Live’

While “Crazy In Love” was racing up the charts, Beyoncé made her television debut as a solo artist on Saturday Night Live on May 17, 2003. Previously, Beyoncé was known as a member of Destiny’s Child. Before that, she was known as a member of the group Girl’s Tyme on the TV show Star Search. With this debut solo performance, Beyoncé finally got the spotlight all to herself. A month later, she made her first appearance at the BET Awards as a solo artist. These performances pushed “Crazy in Love” to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 2, 2003.

Weezer on ‘Late Night With Conan O’Brien’

Just like Radiohead, many alternative bands from the 1990s and 2000s made their television debut on Late Night With Conan O’Brien. While major pop acts at the time got their shot on The Tonight Show, the alternative groups were booked on Late Night. This resulted in many of alternative music’s most iconic groups performing on Late Night With Conan O’Brien, including Weezer. On August 25, 1994, Weezer gave an explosive performance of “Undone (The Sweater Song)”, further pushing the popularity of their debut album, The Blue Album.