On the defensive for some antiwar remarks at the opening show of their first North American tour in nearly three years, the grunge rockers are rejecting as media hype a report that there was a mass walkout by upset fans after lead singer Eddie Vedder impaled a mask of President Bush on a microphone stand during the encore.

"There were close to 12,000 people at the April 1 Denver show. It's possible two dozen left during the encore, but it was not noticeable amongst the 11,976 who were loudly applauding and enjoying the evening's music," the band said in a statement. "It just made a better headline to report otherwise."

The headline in question stemmed from a story by Scripps Howard News Service reporter Mark Brown, who wrote on Wednesday that dozens of angry fans walked out after Vedder's tirade, complaining that he went too far during his anti-Bush song "Bushleaguer" (the lyrics says the President is "not a leader/he's a Texas leaguer"), which concluded the show.

Brown didn't note that some concertgoers traditionally leave during the encore just to beat the traffic. In its statement, Pearl Jam also points out that Brown never mentioned any incensed fans in his review of the concert for the Rocky Mountain News, entitled "Pearl Jam Show Will Make a Great CD."

The Seattle-based musicians also defends their frontman's right to express himself.

"Dissension is nothing we shy away from--it should just be reported about more accurately," the band says. "Ed's talk from the stage centered on the importance of freedom of speech and the importance of supporting our soldiers as well as an expression of sadness over the public being made to feel as though the two sentiments can't occur simultaneously."

Vedder, who two years ago lobbied for Ralph Nader, first started getting political about midway through the show.

"You got a minute for this?" he asked the audience, before relating a conversation he had with a Vietnam veteran whom Vedder said had strong doubts about the war in Iraq (news - web sites).

After someone in the crowd yelled "Shut up," Vedder tried to be the better man.

"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. In the last year of being able to use it, we're sure as [expletive] going to use it and I'm not going to apologize," Vedder said to mostly cheers, per Brown's account.

Later in the show, Vedder voiced his support of the troops in Iraq.

"To the families [of soldiers] 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."

Pearl Jam concluded its 24-song set with a rousing cover of Neil Young's classic, "Rockin' in the Free World," a pointed criticism of the first President Bush's tenure in the White House.

Brown said Vedder's remarks drew some cheers mixed with boos from the audience, but some thought the singer definitely went overboard.

"When he was sharing his political views in a fairly benign manner supporting our troops, opposing policy that's okay," fan Keith Zimmerman, a Denver native, was quoted as saying in the report. But when Vedder impaled the Bush mask, Zimmerman said, "It was like he decapitated someone in a primal ritual and stuck their head on a stick. It kinda blows away the Dixie Chicks."

The gesture also drew the ire of many on Pearl Jam's official Rumor Pit Website.

"If you hate our country so much. Move to Iraq! You live an incredible life...make millions a year...quit your complaining. . .you guys are worse than the sick people defecating and vomiting in our streets!!! A boycott is starting and this, hopefully, will be bigger than the boycott of the Dixie Chicks," writes one poster.

Another, calling himself ProudYank, says, "You want to publicly deface your president? You want to encourage the Iraqi's [sic] to fight harder cause you make them think we are soft? Then go live somewhere else! You celebs think we are interested in what you think? ...We don't want your opinions on world peace, save the whales or whatever else you have the luxury to spend the time and money on cause you don't have day jobs like the rest of us. Enjoy your money, shut up and sing, thats [sic] why you are here. Or leave. And take the Dixie Chicks, Striesand [sic], Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn and all you other wealthy entertainers who think they need to tell us what to think. Your CD's [sic] have just become beer coasters."

Still, the pro-Pearl jam posts have been eclipsing the negative by a roughly 4-to-one margin. "ED's political oppinion [sic] is tottally [sic] right and to all those who hadn't figured it all yet....Pearl Jam and Eddie ALWAYS talked about politics and human rights, and their music is a polittical [sic] statement of justice and freedom, u [sic] can't separate music from your vision of the world," writes one fan. Another puts it more succinctly: "ED ROCKS!!!!"

Although Pearl Jam is not nearly as commercially successful as during the grunge glory days, neither the band nor its label, Sony's Epic Records, wants to deal with the backlash--especially after seeing what's happened to another Sony act, the Dixie Chicks.

After singer Natalie Maines said she was ashamed that President hailed from Texas during a concert in London last month, fans called for a boycott and country radio stations across the nation stopped playing the Texas trio's music and record sales have plummeted. Fans in Louisiana even took to burning their CDs in a public bonfire.

Things have apparently gotten so bad that Chick Martie Maguire said the musicians now fears for their safety.

"We've gotten a lot of hate mail, a lot of threatening mail," Maguire told reporters in Australia. "Emily [Robison] had the front gate of her ranch smashed in. We have to have security when we get back to the States. It puts my well-being in jeopardy."

The Chicks kick off their mostly sold-out U.S. tour May 1 in Greenville, South Carolina, where a protest is already planned.

Still, Maines is sticking by her guns.

"The more flak I get for it, the prouder I am," said Maines.

As for Pearl Jam, the band played Oklahoma City Thursday night and is slated to perform in San Antonio on Saturday.

Ya know, he lectures about how he's exercising his freedom of speech, but he's not. He's NOT free to speak, honestly. 12,000 fans paid good money (not BIG money, Pearl Jam is great in that they DO care about their fans money).

Once they paid, Eddie's got a responsibility to them. He's not on some streetcorner where he can say what he wants, he's selling them an experience, and owes it to them to deliver it, and not some more political rhetoric.

Why can't people just say what they think. It's just his opinion. Isn't that what the war in iraq is supposedly about.. freedom. I think it's sad that people are willing to boycott a band just because of their opinion. Isn't the music more important anyway. And threats , fear is how saddam ruled iraq people...

Spose it's okay so long as you're on the right side eh?

i almost agree with you svensta, almost. the only catch is that the experience the fans are paying for is to go hear what the band does, which in itself is freedom of speech..

although it was certainly unwise.

as i kept hearing after the dixie chicks rukus, "they have the freedom to say what they want about bush, and the fans have the freedom to tell the band they're idiots. that's freedom of speech for ya".

on the other hand, i don't expect half as much attention on this.. the dixie chicks are a country band, and country fans, generally speaking, are very proud of their country. pearl jam is a.. hmmm, i don't know anymore. but they're from seattle, and it seems like 40% of all protesters live either there or san francisco. so i kinda doubt it'll blow up in their faces to that degree.

jff, missed your post while i was typing but why is it sad that people would boycott a band if they disagree with the band's stated opinions?

i don't remember anyone saying boycotts against texaco (gas station chain) were sad because the tapes of top executives using derogatory language about black people was "just their opinion".

people can express what they want to. if you disagree strongly enough, it's only natural to make sure your money isn't going in their pockets.

as long as it's not the police telling you what you can and can't say, where's the problem? free speech, free market.

The more an artist speaks, the more they have defined what they do or do not stand for.

Love or hate the content of that expression. I think Vedder had a clue it might piss off some people.

But when no one speaks out to question the validity of a war (right, wrong or otherwise) and if it is suddenly immoral to criticize the government, then we've got a lot worse problems than what some rock star said.

very good point.

when i said it was "unwise", i was thinking in terms of commercial bands dealing with consumers.. but in terms of integrity, i have to admit you're absolutely right.

"The gesture also drew the ire of many on Pearl Jam's official Rumor Pit Website. "

I would bet that most of those voices-of-ire are FREEpers, the conservatives from the Free Republic website who have a penchant for attempting to hijack what they perceive as "liberal" outlets (such as PJ and DC fan-boards).

I'm of the mind that anyone who attends a Pearl Jam show is well aware that Vedder is a very politicized person and injects those politics into his shows, whether in the songs or between the songs. To say that Vedder should keep his mouth shut on personal stuff and just sing his pop songs is to render him and his band no more relevant than the agers populating clubs in Las Vegas and Branson, MO.

And face it: if you were fortunate enough to have the attention of that many people, wouldn't you use that kind of podium to express something that was important to you?

Im not into War except when I believe somebody wants to kill me[Osahma,Sadanm Insane]Its Kill or be Killed.Dog eat Fucking dog.Rid the World of a Pest.Lets go down the List and get them all.America rules with a Iron Fist.

DEATH TO ALL WHO CRITICIZE THE USA GOVERNMENT!! AAARGH!!!

hehehe, fucknuts.

"Once they paid, Eddie's got a responsibility to them. He's not on some streetcorner where he can say what he wants, he's selling them an experience, and owes it to them to deliver it, and not some more political rhetoric."

they're paying to watch and listen to him, of course he's going to voice his opinion about important issues. if you're afraid he might "get political" at his show, then you can just listen to his fucking cd.

I think it's unfortunate that people are unwilling to listen to the messages their favorite artists are giving. They go to shows, and want to be entertained, but don't have enough respect for the musicians to consider what they say. People only want to consume, not listen.

Rage Against the Machine came across this a lot I think. Very few of their fans gave a damn about the political messages of the lyrics. Often in between songs at shows Zack de la Rocha would go off for a bit on some current political issue, and people would jeer and tell them to play a song.

at least we CAN speak our free will here in the states. better than some places

Smelvin, you crack me up.

I meant that in a nice way.

Good news Kiddies,Were Winning the war,not only have we taken over the baghdad airport,weve also killed one of saddanms henchmen,the guys nickname is [CHEMICAL ALI] thats the name the Iraqi people gave this guy.This beacon of human love gassed his own people to see if the shit works.Its getting better all the time.Pretty soon we well take out Saddamn too and Im having a party to celebrate.

I pay to listen to Vedder's music.

If I wanted another asinine unlearned opinion about geopolitics, Smevlie, I would ask the Canadian exchange students in town here.

I would pay to listen to a political or military or diplomatic mind speak on Iraqi matters, not some musician in plaid. And I their music too.

Damn't, Sven. You took the words right out of my mouth.

hehe, make sure you bash canadians in your reply sven

i don't think you've done that enough yet

Is there even such a thing as a Canadian exchange student? I mean as far as the US goes. Hmmm...

i'll tell you now sven.

after i get my masters, i plan on stealing some joe american's job and after i take all that american money from said joe, i will be moving back to Canada and spending it all there and pay lots and lots of taxes to our friendly government

Canadians.........

u gotta wonder who got a higher SAT score...vedder or bush?

everyone in this country haz a right to speak, and with tha leaderz we got most of tha entertainerz are prolly smarter than them anyfuckingway...

it sickenz me tha way ppl who are against all this are crucified in tha press

with all luck to our troopz...

I went to an FCC hearing today. Hugh Downs was there and said that he can't believe the amount of reaction to what the Dixie Chicks said (he may not have heard about Vedder yet).

He seemed to think that Clear Channel's boycott of the Dixie Chicks and songs like John Lennon's "Imagine" and pretty much anything else antiwar was disturbing from a journalistic point of view.

And I thought it sad to think that on the day Edwin Starr died, the viewpoint expressed in his most popular song -- and the ability to voice that viewpoint -- seems to be on limited life support as well.

Svensta -- Most rock and folk musicians over the past 50 years have not had sociology degrees; should they have not spoken out about civil rights? Most do not have degrees in religion or conferred titles; should they not sing or speak of religion? Musicians, like any other Americans, like to express their viewpoints regardless of qualifications. I'd venture that most of the PJ fans who attended that concert know that Eddie's viewpoints go part and parcel with his songs. And if you don't care for that -- if, indeed, you only "pay to hear Vedder's music" -- then buy the CDs, skip the shows, and let other people attend the show that Eddie and the rest of PJ want to give. Simple as that. Just because someone buys a ticket to a Pearl Jam concert doesn't mean that person can dictate the terms of the concert.

Point made jmccombs, I use to drive Pete Seeger to gigs and he would always put in his two cents (as he should). The best part was all the folks in the crowd singing. It would put your hair on end.
Some people just want musicians just to sing the songs and thats it. Well, as a live show they should say what they want and ya know what? Not everyone is going to agree. Pete and his wife Tohsi has made this world a better place but they have paid the price. Its a free country... as long as you agree.
Still Pickin'
Bill Hudson

i personally don't mind political content in music, i find people only resent it when they don't agree with the opinion expressed.

I do find it odd that the vast majority of musicians/entertainers have predominantly leftist beliefs, this is what probably annoys the conservative side, because there aren't very many pro-Bush or right-wing entertainers out there,(with the exception of of a few C&W rednecks).

This fact can be seen as upsetting the balance of power between the right and left, who are both out to convince as many people as they can that they speak truth and the other side is greedy, ignorant, corrupt, etc...

As far as musicians not being well educated enough to express their political opinions, that depends on how much value you place on conventional higher education. Some of the wisest political minds I've come across have belonged to people who didn't make it past the 10th grade.

In some ways, a college education can hinder a person's political perception because the campus experience is so out of tune with reality.

I have yet to meet a person who walked into a university dumb and came out smart, school teaches you skills and behaviour patterns, not wisdom.

And by the way, what do you guys have against Canadians?

I have yet to meet a person who walked into a university dumb and came out smart
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Then you've not me me Attending college helped me learn to think for myself. But I do have to agree, often times, the campus experience _is_ out of tune with reality. College taught me to stay in tune with reality. Lucky for me, I had some kick ass professors. My college education was almost 100% devoid of self-absorbed, pompus, out of touch professors.



/threadjack

I just enjoy pulling on the Canadian monkey's tail

Hey Smelvie, I really hope you DO do that. America needs more bright people making money here. I am awash in imbeciles and fools. And Democrats. Same difference.