[Pearl Jam] Concert-goers jam exits after anti-Bush display

Rocky Mountain News ^ | 040303 | Mark Brown

[dep]

Incensed fans walked out of Pearl Jam's concert Tuesday after lead singer Eddie Vedder impaled a mask of President Bush on a microphone stand, then slammed it to the stage.

Most of Vedder's antiwar remarks earlier in the Pepsi Center show were greeted with mixed cheers and scattered boos. But dozens of angry fans walked out during the encore because of the macabre display with the Bush mask, which he wore for the song Bushleaguer, a Bush- taunting song from the band's latest album, Riot Act.

"When he was sharing his political views in a fairly benign manner - supporting our troops, opposing policy - that's OK," said Keith Zimmerman, of Denver.

"When he takes what looks like the head of George Bush on a stick, then throws it to the stage and stomps on it, that's just unacceptable. I love Pearl Jam, but that was just way over the edge. We literally got up and left."

Others joined Zimmerman, some complaining about the lyrics of Bushleaguer, which in part call Bush "a confidence man" and say, "He's not a leader / he's a Texas leaguer."

"I wasn't sure if it was really happening," said Kim Mueller. "We looked at each other and realized he really did have George Bush's head on a stick and was waving it in the air, then slam-med it to the ground and step-ped on it."

"It was like he decapitated someone in a primal ritual and stuck their head on a stick," Zimmerman said. "It kinda blows away the Dixie Chicks."

The Dixie Chicks were the target of boycotts and bannings after making an anti-Bush statement on a London stage in March. (On Wednesday, the Marshall Tucker Band announced it would play a May 1 concert in Spartanburg, S.C., as an alternative to the U.S. tour-opening show in nearby Greenville by the Dixie Chicks that same day.)

Vedder has used the Bush mask in previous shows in Australia and Japan, but Denver's U.S. tour opener was the first show since war broke out in Iraq.

Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis couldn't be reached for comment. The Seattle band plays Oklahoma City tonight.

Before Do the Evolution, Vedder told the crowd the tale of a Vietnam vet who expressed severe reservations about war in Iraq to Vedder. The singer was incensed when someone in the crowd yelled, "Shut up!"

"Did someone just say, 'Shut up'? I don't know if you heard about this thing called freedom of speech, man. It's worth thinking about it, because it's going away," Vedder said. "In the last year of being able to use it, we're sure as (expletive) going to use it and I'm not gonna apologize."

Later in the show, he added to that.

"Just to clarify . . . we support the troops," Vedder said to cheers. "Our problem is certainly not with anybody over there doing something that not too many of us would do right now, not for these reasons.

"So to the families and those people who know those folks and are related to those folks and are married to those folks, we send our support. We're just confused on how wanting to bring them back safely all of a sudden becomes nonsupport. We love them, we support them. They're not the ones who make the foreign policy. . . . Let's hope for the best and speak our opinions."

It was after that when Vedder put on the Bush mask and a sparkling silver jacket. He took off the mask, mounted it on the mike stand, then slammed it to the floor.

[dep]

any okie city freepers with nothing else to do tonight?

dep

[dep]

took a long time to format, by which time it got posted. plese delete. thx.

dep

[demosthenes the elder]

redo header to read: "Washed-up Has-been Grungers Try Anything to Drum Up Sales-boosting Notoriety"

[AngryJawa]

Looks like I have a couple of shiny new targets (old CDs) for the shooting range.

[LeftiesBinWhinin]

Vedder is a drugged-out has-been.

[Ga Rob]

I am a huge Pearl Jam fan. I have seen them over 12 times and am planning to see them on 4/19 when the play Atlanta. I think I will rethink the show.

I have always been able to seperate the music from the politics of the band/singer. That goes for any band, not just Pearl Jam. I saw over 100+ Grateful Dead shows before 1995 and always laughed at the "hippies". I went for the music.

I would be hypocritical to go to the show, when I call on the Ditzy Chicks to be banned. I would have said the Ditzy Chicks should be banned anyway, because I think they are top 40 drivel. Because I am a fan of this band, I think I need to find some way to protest their stance while at the show. I was already gonna wear my ProtestWarrior.com shirt...maybe some kind of sign.

[Eala]

dozens of angry fans walked out

Lyin' leftie press alert? "Dozens" wouldn't have "jammed the exits." Hundreds would have.

[Dead Corpse]

I gave up on Pearl Jam a long time ago. Vedder is just another half-burnt speed-freak.

If the Blixie Chicks thought they'd taken a hit, wait'll we get done with PJ.

[Hildy]

Just another peace-luvin group.

[elfman2]

"Eddie Vedder impaled a mask of President Bush on a microphone stand, then slammed it to the stage. "

More from the peace riots.

[MassExodus]

Another one bites the dust.

Time to crank up the 'ole FReeper Expeditionary Force.

Targeted, light 'em up!

[danneskjold]

Pearl Jam peaked on their first album.

I saw them in concert in New Orleans while they were touring after their second album came out. I can honestly say it was the worst, most boring concert I've ever seen.

[ottersnot]

Just make sure you make your feelings known at the
appropriate moment.

[elfman2]

"I have always been able to seperate the music from the politics of the band/singer. That "

I don't think that's necessarily a virtue.

Every artist is of course entitled to his own personal views, and free to express them. But when he mortgages his art or fame in order to promote those ideals by bringing them to the stage or into his art, it should no longer be free from reprisal. If the artist leverages it, he can't then say it's off limits and be taken seriously.

[opticoax]

Gosh, almost as powerful as the time he wrote "Pro-Choice" on his arm in marker while doing MTV Unplugged.

I swear its true.

Another Bill-Clinton-Mouthing-"I Love You"- To-Hillary-During-The-State-Of-The-Union-Address Moment

[pepsionice]

OK City would be the last place to attempt a anti-Bush display. People there...won't just get up and walk out...they will storm the stage. Pearl Jam will need more than 100 body guards to protect them as they exit. I suspect that it might be the last trip for quiet a while.

[Manic_Episode]

Go to the show. Bring eggs.

[Nagual]

Time to Freep those Pearl Jam boys. Hey you Okies, go git them varmits!

[Basil314]

This story is posted on Drudge and will now get some legs---so Pearl Jam is toast for their US tour. America is fed up with artists trying to leverage their lefty beliefs. Even Madonna realizes this--her silly video was pulled.

Are their any good rock artists out their who don't spew this drivel or who actually endorse US policy?

[Phantom Lord]

I went for the music.

Sure you did. Thats what everyone who attends Dead shows says. We know the truth. LOL!

[elfman2]

"Are their any good rock artists out their who don't spew this drivel or who actually endorse US policy?"

I'd like to know myself. I've been out of the music scene since the mid 90s, and hardly know who's who anymore.

[Phantom Lord]

What number has Pearl Jams new album hit on the charts?

I remember a while back prior to its release taunting a Pearl Jam fan here that it wouldnt crack the top 100 and he was incensed and proclaimed it would hit the top 10.

I do know of an album coming out soon that will hit #1

St. Anger!

The new Metallica album. June 10th!

[goodseedhomeschool]

I cannot imagine ANYONE who would waste good money on a Pearl Jam concert anyway. :)

[Phantom Lord]

"I have always been able to seperate the music from the politics of the band/singer."

If an "artist" promotes their politics in their 'free time' thats one thing, but as GA Rob said, when it becomes part of their performance thats a different story.

[Manic_Episode]

"Are their any good rock artists out their who don't spew this drivel or who actually endorse US policy?"


Ted Nugent. I cannot repeat what he said about allah in concert. I was very offended, but I have never enjoyed being offended more in my entire life.

[EggsAckley]

So, FINALLY the lefties are having to admit that their rants are nothing but 'hate GW' tirades. Boy, are they digging their own professional graves. Gotta love it!

[DoctorMichael]

I repeat:

More scumbag, commie, leftist, marxist, anarchist, trash from seattle. I piss on their graves.

Hopefully their tour bus goes into a ditch and they taste their own blood.

[Slyfox]

All of these 'artists' must not have any idea about the sentiments of their audiences. They should look at the polls that say that at least 3/4's of the people in this country are for the United States military-sponsored Iraqi freedom and then, if they use a couple of brain cells, if they have any, they could deduce that maybe, just maybe, 3/4's of their audience may hold the very same views.

[Phantom Lord]

Are their any good rock artists out their who don't spew this drivel or who actually endorse US policy?

I don't know if they support US policy, but they are not and have never made public statements toward politics. And that band is METALLICA!

And they are the favorite band of our fighting force. It is a very common sight in military units to see Metallica logos, song titles, and other Metallica items painted on bombs and aircraft.

In Afghanistan there was a black hawk helicopter with the Metallica character Scary Guy painted on it with the Metallica song title Creeping Death painted below it.

[Timesink]

Anyone at that concert ought to call their credit-card company and demand the payment by stopped on the tickets.

Welcome to Has-Been Land, Pearls Before Swine. This is Natalie, she'll be your server today. It's taken a couple of weeks, but Ms. Maines now fully understands to always ask if you want fries with that.

[Chameleon]

Ga Rob - The difference with the Dead is that they didn't get political on thye stage. Some of the members may have had political views, and done some activism in their private lives, but they never made their shows into a political commentary - even during the Vietnam war.

Jerry Garcia was a-political, and always spoke as such. He didn't want anyone attributing political views to him - although many tried. So he certainly didn't let his stage get mired in political nonsense.

Ironically, the Dead with their fanbase had much more of a free-ride to espouse leftist political ideology from the stage...But they always chose not to.

[Hank Rearden]

I have always been able to seperate the music from the politics of the band/singer.

Well, Pearl Jam has certainly separated their "music" from music.

But you're partially redeemed in the eyes of this fellow Deadhead.

[blarneystone]

hmmm...looks to me as another excuse for the Music execs to blame MP3 sharing as the failure of the music industry.

Vedder and all, keep flappin those lips. I've enjoyed the money I've saved on yours and others sad excuse for music and it looks like I'll continue to do so.

[Timesink]

Ironically, the Dead with their fanbase had much more of a free-ride to espouse leftist political ideology from the stage...But they always chose not to.

Which is part of the reason the Dead remain one of the seminal bands of the entire rock era, while the name "Pearl Jam" only stirs up thoughts of, "God, what were we all THINKING during the Clinton years?"

[Puppage]

Incensed fans walked out of Pearl Jam's concert Tuesday after lead singer Eddie Vedder impaled a mask of President Bush on a microphone stand, then slammed it to the stage.

What made them walk IN in the first place?

[blarneystone]

"I cannot repeat what he said about allah in concert. I was very offended, but I have never enjoyed being offended more in my entire life. "

awww come on! offend us..PLEASE! just use the word saddam in place of allah if you must.

[NeoCaveman]

Pearl Jam peaked on their first album.

There first album "Ten" was incredible. It's been a steady downhill progression since then. Pearl Jam is soooo ten years ago.

[Scothia]

This is Natalie, she'll be your server today. It's taken a couple of weeks, but Ms. Maines now fully understands to always ask if you want fries with that.

Make her say "freedom fries with that"

And Eddie--I hear they're hiring up at Starbucks.

[3AngelaD]

The guy is such an idiot he thinks free speech means everybody has to agree with every stupid thing he (or any of his ilk) say. He is free to say it; we are free to boo or throw up or not buy his lame, presumptious, derivative CDs.

[Chameleon]

I saw Pearl Jam in Seattle in '92, and they were griping about Tipper Gore and her censorship issues - while insisting that we shouldn't vote them into office. I saw the Allamn Brothers (with Blues Traveler) a week later, and they were orders of magnitude better.

Like so many leftist loons without any principled grounding, Pearl Jam's views seem to be shaped more by anarchy and railing against any power structure.

There is a natural tendency of weak-minded people to hate the powerful, and always route for the underdog.

When your morailty and principes are defined along simplistic ideology like powerful=bad, underdog=good, you become perpetually irrelevant protesters - like Pearl Jam.

[NautiNurse]

I hope the concert attendees who walked out can get their money back. Otherwise, it just provides more room for the rest of the animals who stayed--with no economic impact on the band.

[ErnBatavia]

rock-n-roll ping...

[Manic_Episode]

"ALLAH CAN $U(K MY D!(K!"

Ted Nugent

[Question_Assumptions]

Gosh, almost as powerful as the time he wrote "Pro-Choice" on his arm in marker while doing MTV Unplugged.

Of course rock stars are pro-choice. They wouldn't want to have to pay child support if their little sperm-catcher fans get pregnant, would they?

[Skooz]

Eddie Vedder has always been a pathetic wacko liberal socialist loser.

And Pearl Jam has never been anything but a third-rate, Nirvana wannabe garage band.

[blarneystone]

Yep...that's pretty offensive.

Note to self: be careful what you wish for.

[Travis McGee]

Take eggs and a mini air horn.

[Future Snake Eater]

Gosh, almost as powerful as the time he wrote "Pro-Choice" on his arm in marker while doing MTV Unplugged.

I made the mistake of watching 10 uninterrupted minutes of MTV once, and there was some interview with Vedder regarding how "chick friendly" he is or some such nonsense. He was sitting on a lawn, with the female "reporter," staring down at the grass, mumbling some crap about how "it's a woman's body, it's her right, blah blah." I'll never forget her fawning look at him or the gushing commentary about how "sensitive" he is. Made me lose a lot of hope in and respect for the women of my generation.

[zeugma]

be sure and put on some Ted Neugent for travelling music!

[browardchad]

Rick Leventhal of FNC can back that up. After being told that the Army unit Greg Kelly is traveling with was singing Simon & Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound," he asked one of the Marines he's travelling with what they'd be singing on the way to Baghdad. The answer: "Kill 'Em All" by Metallica.