well known artists that never or hardly ever do gigs

[Barking Spiders]

Apart from some electronica outfits what bands or artists have managed to have long recording careers while hardly, if ever, gigging. Heaven 17 didn't while they were at their 80s peak but then once they hit their 50s decided to tour their first two albums!. Cracking live they were too.

[BrunoBass]

XTC spring to mind. Obviously they toured extensively in their early years but post 1982 and Andy Partridge’s problems they never played live again. 

Kate Bush too, thirty five years between live shows.

Only a short career, but Nick Drake very rarely played live. 

I think today if you don’t play live you don’t make a living. 

[Fozza]

XTC stopped playing live in 1982 after Andy Partridge had a breakdown on stage.

In fact, it was filmed and is on Youtube. Right at the end of the clip he suddenly stops playing and rushes off.

 

[Daz39]

Just been reading up on XTC, inspired by the above posts, gosh music managers in the 80s were a special breed of t**ts weren't they! I hope they all died of horrible diseases in their villas on the Costas.

[chris_b]

Dave Gilmour. He did do the McCartney gigs and probably a few others, but I believe there was a 10 year gap between his tours.

[Marc S]

Enya played live with Clannad. But has rarely, if ever played live solo (did she do just one gig or mini-tour?)

[EliasMooseblaster]

By coincidence, I'd just stuck on Dead Can Dance when I chanced across this thread! I know they have a couple of live albums, but I think I'm right in saying their touring schedule became quite light after the first few albums.

[pineweasel]

Steely Dan stopped touring in 1974 and didn't play live at all throughout their late 70s run of classic albums. 

They have toured extensively since their 1993 reunion though.

 

[cetera]

The Alan Parsons Project were basically a studio venture from 1976 until 1990 when they made one live appearance at a European Night Of The proms event. In 1993 Alan Parsons himself decided to take a live band out on tour and has toured pretty much annually since.

[interpol52]

I don't know if this counts but I've wanted to see Fiona Apple live for about 20 years. There is an occasional USA tour or live performance but nothing in the UK.

[Cat Burrito]

Sisters of Mercy seem to do a small handful every year and also never record anymore.

[Nicko]

The Strokes don't do much live work, and what they do is normally festival dates in the States.  Massive shame because they are great live - I was lucky enough to see them in Hyde Park a few years back..

[Marc S]

Kraftwerk are one band I've never seen live. They don't play too often, especially lately. I know they do play festivals now & again.But they're not too often either

[casapete]

Surprised no one's mentioned Bananarama yet too …….(runs for cover)

[mattbass6]

Iron Maiden........ Sorry misread the topic 😲😂

[Daz39]

3 minutes ago, mattbass6 said:

Iron Maiden........ Sorry misread the topic 😲😂

Yes - the antithesis - they seem to spend all their time away from family touring. I can't imagine any of them need some money for a replacement hip or pension pot, unlike Aerosmith who snorted all theirs.

 

[mattbass6]

Just now, Daz39 said:

Yes - the antithesis - they seem to spend all their time away from family touring. I can't imagine any of them need some money for a replacement hip or pension pot, unlike Aerosmith who snorted all theirs.

 

I think they are doing it because they can. Got to doff my cap to the band. Amazing stamina, and drive 😎

[Daz39]

2 minutes ago, mattbass6 said:

I think they are doing it because they can. Got to doff my cap to the band. Amazing stamina, and drive 😎

Oh - I don't mean to malign them. I think they're having the time of their lives, a time they didn't think they would have at this stage of their lives - but the enduring popularity of metal and their own brand means they could fill any stadium anywhere. I just wish they'd spend more time making new albums  

[mattbass6]

1 minute ago, Daz39 said:

Oh - I don't mean to malign them. I think they're having the time of their lives, a time they didn't think they would have at this stage of their lives - but the enduring popularity of metal and their own brand means they could fill any stadium anywhere. I just wish they'd spend more time making new albums  

I didn't take it that way, honestly. I agree, they are having the best time, and I agree again, a new album would be ace. I'm pretty sure that is all in hand  

[Fozza]

Scott Walker never played any of his solo stuff live. He toured with The Walker Brothers in the 60s and briefly in the 70s but nowt else.

[BigRedX]

AFAICS all the artist mentioned are from an age when recorded music was the end product rather than a promotional item.

I doubt you'll find any mainstream acts from the last 10 years that don't play live.

[BrunoBass]

3 hours ago, Marc S said:

Kraftwerk are one band I've never seen live. They don't play too often, especially lately. I know they do play festivals now & again.But they're not too often either

I’m a massive fan of Kraftwerk and would to see them live. A friend of mine saw them a few years ago with his girlfriend (she’s a fan, he’s not). When I asked him what he’d though of it he said it was like watching four old men giving a Powerpoint presentation. She can take me next time.

Edited September 17, 2019 by BrunoBass

[odysseus]

Gary Glitter has been a bit quiet of late.... 😉

[SICbass]

1 minute ago, odysseus said:

Gary Glitter has been a bit quiet of late.... 😉

No doubt due to his arresting schedule.

[spectoremg]

5 hours ago, Fozza said:

Scott Walker never played any of his solo stuff live. He toured with The Walker Brothers in the 60s and briefly in the 70s but nowt else.

He did a mysterious 'appearance' on Later years ago. Him, a couple of spotlights and no audience participation.