Crazy Onstage Mishaps: 12 Dangers Rock Stars Face While Performing

"If you're not in some kind of bodily danger, you're not doing it right." That's what Airborne Toxic Event singer Mikel Jollet once said of performing, a quote that came to mind after reading how Cher Lloyd was pelted with a urine-filled bottle during a recent festival. Rock stars are often in harms way, so we compiled a list of the most common dangers one can face on stage. For any aspiring performers, keep all of these in mind -- or else.

Slippery Surfaces
Plenty of performers have taken an onstage dive thanks to slippery conditions, but Katy Perry's big fall really takes the cake (sorry). Yes, that's her tumbling over at the 2008 MTV Latin America Awards, just after she dove into a giant birthday cake and couldn't get traction. Our advice: Don't do that.
Tackled by Strangers
To some fans, nothing says "I love you" like pretending they're a linebacker and sprinting out to sack their favorite star. Take Slash, for example. While ripping through the solo of "Sweet Child o' Mine" at a 2010 show, he got pounced on by an overzealous dude who somehow made it past security. The former Guns N' Roses axeman was unhurt, but his guitar was damaged. Then there's Justin Bieber -- he admitted that he gets tackled by girls all the time. Poor little dude.



When Instruments Attack
One should not toss one's instrument too high. That's what Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic learned at the 1992 VMAs after he threw his bass up over 25 feet, only to have it come crashing down on his head. He pretended to be severely hurt, got bandaged up backstage and had a glass of champagne with Queen's Brian May.



Falling Off the Stage
Steven Tyler once sang about living on the edge, and how sometimes you just can't help yourself from falling. And he should know: He's tumbled off stages twice in the past three years. The first resulted in a broken shoulder, and Tyler admitted that his balance was off because he was snorting the sleep drug Lunesta. A year later, he took another dive but escaped without harm. Unrelated, he also fell in a hotel bathroom, breaking two teeth in the process.



Animals
You know about Ozzy and the bat, of course. Lesser known, but still an important part of rock 'n' roll history, Alice Cooper was once inadvertently responsible for the death of a chicken (yes, a chicken was at a concert). Being a good sport, Alice picked up the chicken -- thinking it would fly -- and threw it back into the crowd, where it was promptly dismembered by his adoring fans. When the news went national, Frank Zappa called to ask if Cooper really killed the chicken and drank its blood. Upon learning that it wasn't true, Zappa advised Cooper not to tell anyone -- no press is bad press.



Pooping Animals
Some people say that getting hit by bird poop is a sign of good luck. Well, tell that to Cyndi Lauper and Kings of Leon's Jared Followill. Both of these rockers had the misfortune of having birds defecate on their faces, with some allegedly getting into Followill's mouth. Lauper was able to finish her set, while Kings of Leon scrapped their show after just three songs, blaming the pigeons above for creating a health hazard.



Bottling
Remember that scene in "The Blues Brothers" when the band is performing behind chicken wire while bottles of beer shatter in front of them? Well, dozens of real artists have faced the same predicament. Iggy Pop was one of the first to actually document the trend, with the Stooges' Metallic K.O. live album featuring the sounds of bottles and other assorted projectiles hitting the stage, courtesy of a biker gang that Iggy provoked on the radio. The trend continues to this day, particularly at the Download and Reading festivals, with Panic at the Disco singer Brendon Urie getting knocked unconscious at the latter concert in 2006 (picture below). Other victims include Justin Timberlake, the Who, Justin Bieber, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne and, yes, Meat Loaf.

Sam Newman, WireImage

Dangerous Candy
OK, so this is a pretty isolated incident, but you never know when it'll happen again. In 2004, David Bowie was on the receiving end of a lollipop, the stick of which became wedged between his left eyeball and eyelid. It was removed immediately and the Thin White Duke -- who already has different-colored eyes thanks to a schoolmate's punch -- finished the gig.

Cameras
Most stars up their game while being filmed in concert, but sometimes the presence of cameras can lead to pain. Just ask Bruce Springsteen, who slid crotch-first into one during the Super Bowl. He laughed it off, made sure the camera operator was OK, and later gave this honest post-game assessment of the accident: "Too much adrenaline, a late drop, too much speed."

Props
"Spinal Tap" got this one right. Stage props and equipment fail all the time: U2 were stuck in a giant lemon during one show, Justin Bieber got a concussion walking into a glass wall on his stage and Lady Gaga got her own concussion when a dancer accidentally hit her with a prop while moving it. All of them finished their shows.



Nature's Call
Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie was left red-faced and yellow-pantsed when she peed herself during a 2005 concert. According to the singer, she'd had a few drinks before the show but never made it to the bathroom. Thanks to all the jumping around, her bladder opened up and now we'll always have this photo to laugh at.

Accidental Nudity
Thanks to Janet Jackson and her infamous Super Bowl performance, everyone knows to use the term "wardrobe malfunction" instead of "your nipple is hanging out."