No-one is born famous. Chances are, your favorite band had to slog their way through more ridiculously tiny shows and broken-down vans than you can even imagine. And while there is always the occasional get-rich-quick rock star who was snapped up young and never had to pay their dues, this is way more of a rarity than a rule. More often than not, your introduction to a band was actually just when the media finally noticed them, sometimes over a decade after they first hit the road with nothing but a guitar and not enough underwear.
But, to paraphrase the old saying, it's better to show than tell. A profile of a massive rock band describing their humble beginnings is neat and easy, but listening to or watching that band's screechy performance and preposterous outfit is really the best way to remind yourself that there's no shame in a bumpy takeoff.
Here are nine performances by rock royalty from before they were famous that'll give a new understanding of your favorite bands…