Concertgoers leave Wente Vineyards early after Linda Ronstadt's pre-encore remarks Thursday evening. (Susan Tripp Pollard/Contra Costa Times)
Posted on 07/23/2004 8:50:49 AM PDT by new cruelty
LIVERMORE - Linda Ronstadt's political message sent close to a hundred concert-goers home early Thursday evening.
What had been a mellow evening at Wente Vineyards, with the crowd even serenading her with "Happy Birthday" at one point, turned into a rush for the exits by some fans angry by her encore tribute to filmmaker Michael Moore.
"She just had to do it," one fan steamed as he headed for the parking lot. "It was good until the end," another yelled to TV crews waiting outside the concert.
"She's getting out of line; it's ridiculous," said Cindy Williams of Livermore, as she left during the last song of the evening.
Ronstadt's encore dedication of the song "Desperado" to Moore, the controversial maker of "Fahrenheit 9/11" who she described Thursday as "a great American patriot," got her booted from a Las Vegas casino Saturday and drew cheers, some boos, and a few "traitor" yells from the Livermore crowd.
Until that last song, the concert had been an evening of good music and happy fans.
There was no shortage of conflicting opinions among the baby-boomer crowd, a sprinkling of them dressed in patriotic colors, but it was no referendum on the war in Iraq, no pro- or anti-Bush lovefest, or even a meeting of the Michael Moore fan club.
Concert-goers, who paid from $99 to $249 each for tickets, were well aware of the controversy, but said they just wanted to enjoy the songs.
"I love her music, but I hate her politics, and I hope she just sings," said Tina Uzelac of Livermore, who arrived wearing a flag sweater. "These tickets are pretty high-priced, and we're not paying to go to a political rally."
On Saturday, Ronstadt was booed by some audience members at the Aladdin hotel-casino, then booted from the hotel by management after dedicating her "Desperado" encore to Moore and his film,, which excoriates President Bush over the war in Iraq.
Ronstadt won over the Livermore crowd after her first jazzy number, backed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
"Normally we end the show with 'Desperado,' but tonight we'll end with 'Viva Las Vegas,'" the singer said, drawing laughs, a long, warm cheer and a few grunts from the crowd of 1,750.
"There are too many Republicans in Vegas," Mike Donnelly of Clayton said before the show. "I think the response (to her remarks) has been ridiculous and ludicrous."
Corey and Susan Tate of Livermore came to the concert with a gift for Ronstadt -- an American flag, with a note on its paper wrapper: "To Linda, a patriot. Bless you."
"I've been listening to Linda since 1967. She has been a standard-bearer for liberal causes, and I'm glad she spoke up ... People like her represent America; it's not just people with conservative views," Corey Tate said.
The controversy created a sellout, said Wente president Carolyn Wente.
About 20 people angered by Ronstadt's comments dropped plans to attend, but their traded-in tickets were snatched up and the show was sold out Wednesday.
"It was just a handful (turning in tickets) when you consider there are 1,700 folks coming," Wente said before the show.
Wente said she did not ask Ronstadt to refrain from any political comments.
"We don't take any position on any of our artists' political thoughts or perceptions," she said.
With her comments Saturday, Ronstadt became the latest liberal musician to use the stage for political views, and another to suffer conservative backlash.
• In March 2003, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines' comments against Bush and the Iraq war triggered a boycott by a group of more than 200 radio stations.
• At a recent John Kerry fund-raiser, actress Whoopi Goldberg made several crude puns on Bush's name, and complaints led to her firing as a spokeswoman for Florida-based Slim-Fast.
Concertgoers leave Wente Vineyards early after Linda Ronstadt's pre-encore remarks Thursday evening. (Susan Tripp Pollard/Contra Costa Times)
....adding Wente to my "France Wine Boycott"....
You'd think she would get a clue...
I think she has. She is more popular now than she has been in years.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss a week's pay goodbye...
I suggest Ronstadt concertgoers should show their support by throwing unopened cans of diet cola. As hard as they can.
Can this horse win the coveted triple crown?
Spelling; Linda Ronst-FAT.
ROFL
LOL!
Well, actually I meant it the other way.
Hoping this will bite her in the butt....
"Women throw panties at Tom Jones when he performs."
Is the majority of his audience female National Guard members? Such abuse...
;-)
Yes, I was surprised that she was still singing.
Suckers!!!
"I think she has. She is more popular now than she has been in years."
and by "popular" you mean hated.....
Yeah, she makes her political comments at the end of the show. She's already got her loot from the crowd.
Who in the hell would pay 249.00 to see this fat slut?
Anybody who pays $249 to see Linda Ronstadt deserves to hear her gush about Michael Moore.
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