Close to half a million fans roared in delight as veteran rockers the
Rolling Stones took to the stage Wednesday to headline Canada's largest-ever
concert.
Wearing a pink coat, singer Mick Jagger launched into Start Me Up, followed
by Brown Sugar.
Before the Rolling Stones, Australian rock band AC/DC whipped the crowd into
a frenzy.
The crowd grew louder with each tune in the band's set, which wrapped up with
Let There Be Rock and Highway to Hell Lead guitarist Angus Young
dropped his pants during the band's performace of The Jack and revealed
a pair of Maple Leaf boxer shorts.
Canadian prog rockers Rush topped the native talent at the SARS benefit concert,
leaving AC/DC and the Rolling Stones to finish off the show.
Canadian rock legends The Guess Who took the stage before them as the concert
went into its seventh hour before nearly a half million people.
The band played some of its classic songs such as No Sugar Tonight
and American Woman, and borrowed Taking Care of Business from
Randy Bachman's other band, Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
Pop star Justin Timberlake got a few boos, but also a lot of cheers from the
crowd as the evening program of the concert started.
Timberlake, formerly of the boy band 'N Sync, was something of an odd man out
in the lineup dominated by hard rock acts.
He donned a trucker hat and used some blue language to try to ingratiate himself
to the rock audience, but some in the crowd still threw water bottles and other
debris onto the stage.
Later, Timberlake said the crowd's reaction was understandable.
"If I came to see AC/DC, I wouldn't want to see me, either," he told reporters.
Blue Rodeo and the Isley Brothers brought the concert into its fifth hour Wednesday
as temperatures soared above 30 degrees and Toronto health officials handed
out free bottles of water to keep people hydrated.
Montreal's Sass Jordan and guitarist Jeff Healey had the challenge of following
the giant balloons and animal dancers of Oklahoma's The Flaming Lips.
Dancers Dont SARS Masks
The Lips' set raised a few eyebrows in the crowd, though, when some of the
dancers appeared wearing SARS masks.
Lead singer Wayne Coyne said the masks would be removed during their set, but
the symbolism was apparently lost on some in the audience.
Following The Tea Party's set in the third hour, security hosed down the scorched
crowd gathered in front of the stage.
By the evening, about 430,000 people had assembled at Downsview park. The smell
of marijuana smoke wafted through the crowd, reported CBC Newsworld's Jian Ghomeshi.
Hundreds of people were treated for heat-related conditions as temperatures
rose well over 30 degress, but no serious injuries were reported.
Police arrested one man shortly after the gates were opened, but observers
said the crowd was largely well-behaved.
The music started shortly after noon with Jann Arden singing the national anthem
and Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi and the Have Love Will Travel Revue leading off
the performances.
Aykroyd shared hosting duties with comedian Mike Bullard.
Montreal rocker Sam Roberts and Ottawa singer Kathleen Edwards and Quebec's
La Chicane took the stage in the second hour.
Roberts later said he'd never been so nervous since his early violin recitals.
"It's intimidating to get involved in something that you know is so much bigger
than what you feel like you can actually contribute to," said Roberts.
Edwards faced the crowd with dry humour.
"Too bad they didn't sell enough tickets," she later told CBC Newsworld.
Edwards said it was "fantastic" to play before such a large crowd, but said
it was "unfortunate that more money wasn't going toward the charities."
Jeff Woods of Toronto classic rock station Q107 told CBC Newsworld besides
the headliners, there are rumours Bono and other members of U2 could appear,
along with Paul McCartney and Prince.
"It's just gravy if any of those people show up," he said.
Largest-Ever Canadian Concert
Predicted to be the largest paid music event in North American history, the
concert also attracted a host of politicians including Paul Martin, Agriculture
Minister Lyle Vanclief and Health Minister Anne McLellan, who were on hand for
a fundraiser for the hotel industry.
Premiers Ernie Eves of Ontario, Ralph Klein of Alberta, Lorne Calvert of Saskatchewan
and Gary Doer of Manitoba were alongside them.
The gates were supposed to open at 8 a.m., but actually opened at 8:15. The
assembled fans were starting to get mildly rowdy as a result, said CBC reporter
Amanda Singroy.
One person was arrested as a result and charged with assaulting a police officer.
Security a Concern
As they entered, the concert-goers were being checked by security guards
equipped with metal detectors. A long list of items have been banned, from pocket
knives to umbrellas.
The nightmare scenario for police and concert promoters is a repeat of the
chaos and vandalism that reigned after the 30th anniversary of the Woodstock
music festival. The 1999 version ended with tents, booths and even sound equipment
being burned.
There are 1,500 security guards at the Downsview site, plus 1,300 police to
help keep order.
"I want us to be invisible," Staff Supt. Gary Grant of the Toronto Police told
CBC Newsworld. Other than offering help, police plan to step in only if someone
was causing trouble and spoiling things for others, he said.
Five hundred health workers at the site are expecting to treat people for things
like sunburn, dehydration, minor sprains and similar problems.
To keep a lid on any alcohol-fueled behaviour, the beer tents will shut
down at 8 p.m. |
