from www.theskyiscrape.com
About an hour before the PJ show in Buffalo, Mike McCready was interviewed by local radio station 103.3 The Edge. Mike said that due to the reactions of fans during the tour while Bushleaguer was being performed (he cites the boos recieved the other night at Uniondale), the band has reached a decision to no longer play the song live. (Whether it's for the rest of this tour or forever, no one knows). He goes on to say that the one thing they don't want to do is alienate their fans. Additionally, Mike remarks that the band is as American as anyone and he hopes that people won't misunderstand the meaning behind the song.
I was at the show in question here... wednesday night at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island. Eddie came out for the second encore wearing a shiny silver smoking jacket and the now infamous George W. Bush mask. The band went through Bu$hleaguer, off Riot Act, and I must say musicaly it's a very haunting song performed live (i thought it was just garbage on the cd... political affiliations aside... just not their best work musicaly). Anyway, I'll post the explanation of what happened next from the description on www.theskyiscrape.com
Over and over, people tend to think that freedom of speech also means freedom of consequence. Free speech is a two way street. You have the right to say what ever you want, and in turn I have the right to agree or disagree with what you said. If you are going to say something that might be controversial, you have to be prepared that your audience may not agree with what you said. Eddie was very immature in his actions following the booos from the crowd. After Bu$hleaguer, they went through the clash's know your rights, then neil young's keep on rocking in the free world. after free world, eddie gave a mock U-S-A chant, in response to what the crowd did to him after Bu$hleaguer, slammed his microphone stand to the ground and stormed off the stage. Within 20 seconds the house lights were on, and obviously there wasn't a chance of them comming back. I dunno... I guess if we have the right to disagree with eddie, eddie then again has the right to get annoyed with us and walk of the stage in a very Axl Rose-esque moment
About an hour before the PJ show in Buffalo, Mike McCready was interviewed by local radio station 103.3 The Edge. Mike said that due to the reactions of fans during the tour while Bushleaguer was being performed (he cites the boos recieved the other night at Uniondale), the band has reached a decision to no longer play the song live. (Whether it's for the rest of this tour or forever, no one knows). He goes on to say that the one thing they don't want to do is alienate their fans. Additionally, Mike remarks that the band is as American as anyone and he hopes that people won't misunderstand the meaning behind the song.
I was at the show in question here... wednesday night at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island. Eddie came out for the second encore wearing a shiny silver smoking jacket and the now infamous George W. Bush mask. The band went through Bu$hleaguer, off Riot Act, and I must say musicaly it's a very haunting song performed live (i thought it was just garbage on the cd... political affiliations aside... just not their best work musicaly). Anyway, I'll post the explanation of what happened next from the description on www.theskyiscrape.com
Tonight's show at Uniondale, NY:
setlist: Long Road, Rearviewmirror, Animal, Save You, Get Right, I Am Mine, Corduroy, Present Tense, In Hiding, Even Flow, Elderly Woman, Jeremy, You Are, I Am A Patriot, Blood, Not For You, Better Man, Porch
encore: Last Kiss, Thumbing My Way, Crazy Mary, Down, Do The Evolution, Daughter/(WMA), Alive
encore 2: Bushleaguer, Know Your Rights, Rockin' In The Free World
notes:
- During Do the Evolution, the mic cuts out and the crowd has to sing the last verse as Ed scrambles over to use Stone's mic.
- Last Kiss is played backwards for the people seated behind the stage.
- During Bushleager, Ed puts the Bush mask on the mic stand and feeds it some wine. This results in some mixed reactions from the crowd including some U-S-A chants. Ed goes off on a little tirade about his right to free speech, resulting in more mixed reactions. Pearl Jam goes on to play Know Your Rights and RitFW, after which Ed has a few more words and then slams his mic stand to the floor and walks off the stage, visibly annoyed with the crowd.
(Thanks Judd/Naveed/Shannon/Rob/Brennan!)
Over and over, people tend to think that freedom of speech also means freedom of consequence. Free speech is a two way street. You have the right to say what ever you want, and in turn I have the right to agree or disagree with what you said. If you are going to say something that might be controversial, you have to be prepared that your audience may not agree with what you said. Eddie was very immature in his actions following the booos from the crowd. After Bu$hleaguer, they went through the clash's know your rights, then neil young's keep on rocking in the free world. after free world, eddie gave a mock U-S-A chant, in response to what the crowd did to him after Bu$hleaguer, slammed his microphone stand to the ground and stormed off the stage. Within 20 seconds the house lights were on, and obviously there wasn't a chance of them comming back. I dunno... I guess if we have the right to disagree with eddie, eddie then again has the right to get annoyed with us and walk of the stage in a very Axl Rose-esque moment