Posted on 06/10/2006 12:55:29 PM PDT by OKIEDOC
SOLANA BEACH – An annual fun-filled fiesta quickly turned into a fiasco Sunday when entertainer Hank Williams III spewed profanities from the stage and encouraged slam dancing that sheriff's deputies tried to stop for fear of massive injuries.
Yesterday, city officials were still recovering from the debacle, which happened at the end of the two-day Fiesta del Sol.
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The Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce produces the annual fiesta that features live music, arts and crafts, children's rides and international food.
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The singer, grandson of legendary country star Hank Williams, is known for his hard-driving songs and off-color language. He was paid $5,000 to perform and was a surprise headliner addition, Ott said.
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Ott, who was at the event, said Hank III encouraged 40 to 50 fans to form a mosh pit – in which dancers jostle and shove one another – that deputies feared would lead to injuries. About 10 percent of the packed audience of 3,000 to 4,000 people were children, adding to the concern, Ott and organizers said.
When a security guard escorted a fan from the moshing hot spot and deputies confiscated cans of beer from the crowd, Hank III got angry and the crowd got agitated.
One of his singers jumped into the crowd and some in the crowd tried to jump onto the stage.
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Herzberg said yesterday in a telephone interview. “This was one time for the fiesta to make an impact so our children can hear and see music.
“I talked to his agent. He had assured me he would sing country music,” Herzberg said. “He put on a great show, but he used the 'f' word too much. He was trying to create a frenzy.”
(Excerpt) Read more at signonsandiego.com ...
I love his latest album. Musically, it's good old fashioned country with no synthesizers or any of that other Nashville lameness. If the lyrics are any thing to go by though, it appears he heading to the same end as Hank Sr.
Hank Jr's rowdy friends may have settled down but his son sure as hell ain't.
And all his rowdy friends were coming over.
I don't think ol Hank done it thataway.
Isn't Jr. the NFL ''Are You Ready for Some Football'' voice?
What's NFL? :') (I think so)
Yes.
Maybe the planners got mixed up too and thought they were getting HW jr too and for only 5000 dollars.
I quit watching the vulgar comedy when the kids came along.
Not many Will Rogers types around who can hold an audience with out lots of expletives.
It's not like he's any good. The only thing he has going for him is his name.
I recently watched a DVD from the library I think was called "The Hank WIlliams Story". It had lots of good footage of Hank, interviews with former band mates, ect. The grandson was on it too and he struck me as a loser/Hank wannabe.
I thought he kind of sounded a little bit like his granddaddy. I guess he just wants to do his own thing but I didn't like his style and music. I think that as he matures, he will get back to his C/W roots though if he really wants to succeed. Right now he's still in that "shock" people stage.
Each generation gets the Hank Williams they deserve.
They kicked his grandpa off the Opry because of his drinking.
I heard that Hank Williams Jr. was scheduled. Nothing about the grandson.
Probably not even attractive enough to make the Indian Casino Circuit...
For which event?
I'm old enough to remember Bill Cosby in his prime - he was hilarious, and didn't need to resort to gutter and toilet language.
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