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In Antarctica -

Metallica are pretty cool, but they became even cooler (both literally and figuratively) in 2013, when they played in Antarctica. Metallica earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records by becoming the only band ever to play all seven continents in one year.

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At Folsom State Prison in California -

In 1969, Johnny Cash made history by performing and recording the first ever album in a maximum security prison—Folsom State Prison.

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On a London rooftop -

On January 30, 1969, the Beatles performed on the rooftop of their Apple headquarters in London.

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On a London rooftop -

The Fab Four played for 42 minutes, before the police showed up and told them to turn it down. This was the group's final public performance.

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At a pizza joint -

Back in 2012, the Foo Fighters played a surprise gig at Rock & Roll Pizza in Woodland Hills, California.

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At a pizza joint -

The band played a full 23-song set in preparation for their upcoming shows in Mexico City.

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On Wall Street -

Back in 2001, director Michael Moore captured a historical moment. Rage Against the Machine's gig was so epic that they managed to shut down the New York Stock Exchange.

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At the Berlin Wall -

David Hasselhoff performed at the Berlin Wall on New Year's Eve 1989, shortly after its fall. How epic is that?

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At the Berlin Wall -

The Hoff was in fact a huge star in Germany. His 1989 single 'Looking for Freedom' remained in the number one spot on the charts for eight weeks in a row!

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On an airplane -

With their instruments plugged into electric amps and Jonathan Davis' vocals going through the airplane's PA system, in 2005 Korn played a show at 37,000 feet (11,277 m).

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On an airplane -

Korn played for a handful of MTV contest winners and US soldiers, as well as for the cabin crew. The gig took place during a flight between New York and London.

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At San Quentin State Prison in California -

About a month later, the Man in Black performed and recorded yet another live album, at San Quentin State Prison.

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At Cummins Prison Farm in Arkansas -

Cash went on to play few more prison gigs. Here he is playing for 800 inmates at the Cummins Prison Farm in 1969.

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At Chelmsford Prison, England -

But prison gigs were not just something done across the pond. In 1976, the S** Pistols performed at Chelmsford Prison in England. Their performance was recorded and turned into a live album called 'Live at Chelmsford Top Security Prison,' which was released in 1990.

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On the river Thames -

The S** Pistols also played on the River Thames in London on June 7, 1977, during their Silver Jubilee Boat Trip.

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At Pompeii -

Back in 1971, Pink Floyd played four nights in the 2,000-year-old amphitheater at Pompeii, Italy, though there was no audience. Their performances were recorded and turned into a concert film and album.

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A London launderette -

On August 1, 2024, British singer Craig David gave a surprise performance in a London laundrette in collaboration with laundry detergent brand Persil. The event was dubbed the 'Fast Wash & Rave.' He performed a brief 15-minute set featuring some of his best hits as Londoners danced in the packed-out launderette. 

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At the Great Wall of China -

In 2004, a number of artists, including Cyndi Lauper (pictured), played the Wall of Hope 2004 Festival in China.

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On the rooftop of a Dublin hotel -

U2 once performed on the rooftop of Clarence Hotel in Dublin, Ireland, for the BBC show 'Top of the Pops.'

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On top of the BBC building in London -

The Irish rockers also played a gig on top of the BBC building on Regent Street on February 27, 2009, in London.

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On a private jet -

In 2007, Jamiroquai performed in a Boeing 757 jet at 33,000 feet (10,058 m). The band set a new Guinness World Record, but it has been broken since.

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At Napa State Hospital in California -

In 1978, psychobilly and punk rock legends The Cramps played a show at a psychiatric hospital in Napa, California.

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At Napa State Hospital in California -

The band's vocalist, Lux Interior, told the audience: "Somebody told me you people are crazy, but I'm not so sure about that. You seem to be all right to me."

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At the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt -

On New Year's Eve 1999, thousands of people welcomed the turn of the century to the sound of French electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre at the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

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At the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt -

And then in March 2019, the Red Hot Chili Peppers also played a legendary show at the Great Pyramid of Giza.

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At the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt -

Jean-Michel Jarre and RHCP were not, however, the first ones to play at one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Artists such as Frank Sinatra and the Grateful Dead had already done so years before.

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At the bottom of a gas rig in the North Sea -

In 2006, singer Katie Melua performed at the bottom of  the Statoil Troll A platform gas rig, off the coast of Bergen, Norway, in the North Sea.

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At the bottom of a gas rig in the North Sea -

Melua set a Guinness World Record for the deepest underwater concert in the sea at 303 m (994 ft) below sea level.

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In a steel box -

In 2014, UK metal band Unfathomable Ruination played inside a soundproof steel box in London's financial district. They played until they ran out of oxygen and then opened the door to, well, breathe. The project was created by Portuguese artist João Onofre.

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On the crater of the Vesuvius volcano -

In 2014, French accordionist Richard Galliano was one of the artists to play on the crater of the Vesuvius volcano in Italy, during the Pomigliano Jazz Festival.

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In a salt mine -

In 2007, the Donetsk Philharmonic Orchestra performed for about 350 people in a salt mine in the city of Soledar in eastern Ukraine.

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In space -

While not a gig as such, but a performance nonetheless, in 2013 Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield played a cover of David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' at the International Space Station.

Sources: (Radio X) (Alternative Press) (NME) (Louder) 

See also: Albums recorded in bizarre locations

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