Rush fans are *still* picky listeners...

[acroyear]

Pop hunk Justin Timberlake's appearance at Canada's SARS benefit concert left crowds so unimpressed, they pelted him with garbage. The show at Toronto's Downsview Park kicked off on a low point for the 'N Sync frontman on Wednesday when a concertgoer's sign questioning the singer's sexuality made it to the Jumbotron screens for about 15 seconds. Timberlake took to the stage seemingly aware of crowd's upset, when he declared, "This will be over before you know it." During his mini-set of "Cry Me A River," "Senorita" and "Rock Your Body," the ex-boyfriend of Britney Spears sang away as he dodged water bottles flung by anti-pop audience members, and winced slightly at their less than playful jeers. After quietly thanking the city of Toronto for generally being welcoming to him and his tour crew, Timberlake left the stage to make way for more crowd-pleasing acts including the Guess Who, Rush, AC/DC and headliners The Rolling Stones. But Timberlake made a return later in the evening when Mick Jagger invited him onstage for a performance of Miss You. Guitarist Keith Richards angrily motioned to the crowd to show the pop star a little respect when a few more bottle were pelted his way during the performance. Timberlake hugged Jagger and thanked each Rolling Stone by his first name, then humbly made a quick exit.

I actually think it was the Rush fans who did it. Rush has a history of fans chewing/booing out the opening act, particularly when it isn't in the same genre (like Blondie and Tom Petty), and even sometimes when it is (like Marillion in '85, or MSG in '87). Primus was one of the few acts to not get the shits of the audience. There's reasons Rush had no opening act for the Test for Echo and Vapor Trails tours.

Of course, perhaps there's still plenty of justice for hitting Timberlake with garbage...

Comments

[thatwordgrrl.livejournal.com]

OK, see, now I would've thought that Rush and Tom Petty were a good mix (certainly not Blondie, and WTF as far as Mr. Timberlake goes).

But I happen to harbour a great fondness for Tom Petty, so there you are then.

[(Anonymous)]

Actually Acroyear70, the reason Rush didn't have opening acts for those two tours was because they have been around for a very long time and have enough music and drawing power to do concerts all by themselves. When I heard Vapor Trails was going to be "an evening with Rush" I was elated.

[(Anonymous)]

Picky? Perhaps. Seems a little odd to single out Rush fans for the atrocious behavior, though. Put your average AC/DC fan next to a Rush fan and you're more than likely to find the AC/DC fan wearing a mullet, sans shirt, missing teeth, and ready to "party." The worst offense your average Rush fan is guilty of is a propensity to quote John Barth and Ayn Rand.