Pearl Jam Trashes Bush at Concert; Eddie Vedder impaled a mask of President Bush

Rocky Mountain News ^ | April 3, 2003 | Mark Brown

[Mister Magoo]

Concert-goers jam exits after anti-Bush display By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News April 3, 2003

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.

[Scoop]

Hey Pearl Jam. They used to be a band or something, right?

[Kay Soze]

Is this a death threat against the preisdent?

As well as Maddonas fragging Bush Video?

[w_over_w]

Pearl Jam Trashes Bush at Concert

Who?

[Cinnamon Girl]

It doesn't surprise me that they would be "opposed to the war" (which is really a euphamism for "We're anti-Bush"-- but the head on a stick thing is disgusting and derranged. Why didn't EVERYONE walk out?

[Dirk McQuickly]

Time for FREEPers to take the war to Pearl Jam.

[DoughtyOne]

Let them play to an empty hall tonight.

[Scothia]

Third post, same topic

[Tribune7]

There's another thread describing how fans walked out.

[Desecrated]

Maybe someone should educate him about the nature of free speech as well. Dumbass.

[chemicalman]

"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."

I'm going to exercise my free speach...:
"Hey Eddie Vedder, you are one moronic, stupid f'n a__hole! So I say shut the F up!"

[Scoop]

Sorry for the multiple post, but Vedder's comments just about turn my stomach:

"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."

That is, to be perfectly blunt, a hot load of BS. I do not believe you can be against the war, project an image of yourself in a virtual frag of the US Commander in Chief, and then buy your way out of the corner you painted yourself into by claiming to "support" the people who volunteered to fight the war your against for the man you pretend to murder.

I can have some respect for someone who doesn't think this war should be fought, though I disagree with them. But have the brass to hold your ground; Veddor's words, which have been mouthed by many, are pure cowardice and are intellectually void.

[RayChuang88]

Can you put up the URL of the FR thread that mentions the walkout?

[weegee]

Most of Vedder's antiwar remarks earlier in the Pepsi Center show

It would be interesting to hear from Pepsi Co. how they feel about the association just made in that sentence. Do they like or dislike being associated with Mr. Vedder's antiwar remarks?

[chemicalman]

Pearl Jam Message Board

Might have to sign in to post.

[netmilsmom]

Another one bites the dust.......

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Third post, same topic

Thats ok, this type of thread needs to be posted over and over. Specially when the same tired old pro pot threads keep getting posted over and over. Currently the same thread that is in the smokey back room, is also posted in news/activism.

[American Soldier]

I can't believe I used to like these guys. Why can't we go back in time and make Vedder and Kurt Cobain switch places?

[netmilsmom]

Pearl Jam/Great White--the concerts I can't wait to miss.

[Made In The USA]

"Did someone just say, 'Shut up'? I don't know if you heard about this thing called freedom of speech, man."

Eddie... Freedom of speech doesn't mean those around you have to listen, accept, or agree- especially when you try to give us your "intellectual guidance" by way of torturing our President in effigy. Eddie, Freedom of Speech means we can tell you to shut up. Moreover, we allowed to be offended by your words and walk out of your concert. We can stop buying your recordings. It's not an attack on your freedom of speech or economic well being, it's a consequence of your own actions. May want to consider the fact that you're running a business, and if not consider what you say, than certainly how you say it.