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Bonnaroo 2016: How security helped Pearl Jam superfans after storm
dimitrispearljam
NINUNINOPRO Posts: 139,158
in The Porch
http://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2016/06/11/bonnaroo-2016-pearl-jam-fans-line-up-14-hours-before-show/85752206/
Fourteen hours. Fourteen long, hot hours.
That's how long Kris Willis was willing to sit and wait for a chance to get into the pit at Saturday night's Pearl Jam show.
The 41-year-old from Georgia hunkered down at 8 a.m. under a small bit of shade outside the stage gates — first in line for tonight's headlining show at Bonnaroo's biggest stage, scheduled for 10:15 p.m.
It's one of the cool perks at Bonnaroo. Get in line, get a chance to see the show nearly within reach of the stage. It can be an experience of a lifetime, if you are willing to put in the time.
Fans often stand in line for hours for a chance to get that close. But only a limited number get into the pit, so you have to get their early. Then you spend the day just sitting around and waiting. Bonnaroo opens the gates to the What Stage at noon. Then you file forward and wait in another line.
The good news is, by mid-afternoon there's music to listen to while you wait. The bad news, you are waiting, and waiting, and waiting. No bathroom stops, unless you make friends with someone in line willing to hold your spot. No food runs, unless someone brings you a snack. And no air conditioning.
On Saturday, the worst news arrived, completely unexpected — a storm warning hit Manchester and the Bonnaroo grounds were evacuated.
Pearl Jam fans like Willis, who had been waiting in line as many as 14 hours to get into the pit for the show, experienced a soul-crushing reality.
The line broke apart, and their carefully held spot was lost.
There was no good system to keep the order when everyone was ordered to leave The main stage area and the shows were suspended.
Some Pearl Jam fans who had been there since as early as 8 a.m. may have gotten a number written on their hands. Others were told a password by security onsite. The security guards also took pictures of a few faces, and they are relying on their memory to recognize those who had been there the longest.
This all according to Bonnaroo security guard Marlon Joyner.
He stood near the pit gates to the right of the stage as the grounds reopened.
"Macklemore pit, walk down," he told festival goers returning to the main stage. "Keep going.
"Pearl jam pit, stay right here."
A crowd of nearly 1,000 huddled together outside the gates area waiting to hear what would happen next.
"Back up," Joyner said. "Don't be rude."
When Macklemore started its show, Joyner started accepting passwords.
"I remember you," he said to brothers Nick and Jack Miller, who got in line at 6:30 p.m. "You got the password. Get in line."
The brothers were relieved.
RELATED:Fans react to the Bonnaroo 'drizzle of 2016'
When the storm hit, "we didn't want to move," Nick said. "We had to be forcefully forced out."
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Added Jack: "We're here now so it worked out."
It also worked out for a few Macklemore fans, who easily entered the pit area after the storm. No line. No wait.
"We just got good," said Nashvillian Miranda Berlin as she breezed into the pit.
As Macklemore took the stage a cry rose out: "We survived the lightning."
Some happier than others.
At 8 a.m., well before the storm ever appeared on Tennessee radar, Willis felt the wait was worth it.
This is his second trip to Bonnaroo, he also came in 2008 when Pearl Jam played here. It will be his sixth Pearl Jam show.
The pit?
"I've never done that," he said. "So I thought I would try."
Not long after he arrived as first in line, Willis made a new buddy.
Nick Pennock came to Bonnaroo from Detroit. It is the third festival for the 26-year-old, who was first exposed to Pearl Jam by his guitar teacher. The teacher shared music of Mother Love Bone, two of the members of which would eventually form Pearl Jam. Pennock then got a copy of Ten, Pearl Jam's debut album.
A self-professed man of the Napster generation, Pennock downloaded all the band's music and became hooked.
"I appreciate the opportunity to get in front for legends like this," he said, sitting on his blue mat in the spot he took up next to Willis.
And Pennock wasn't just going to get in the pit. He had bigger plans.
"I am trying for the rail," he said with a grin.
Two perfect strangers with one major thing in common — Pearl Jam.
Waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
With more than nine hours to go, maybe they will be best friends by the end of the day.
One can imagine they'll be really happy fans.
Update: Pearl Jam fans had to wait even longer, believe it or not, after Bonnaroo shut down all of its stages for more than an hour Saturday evening while a thunderstorm blew through the Manchester area. Pearl Jam's set was pushed to 11:30 p.m.
Fourteen hours. Fourteen long, hot hours.
That's how long Kris Willis was willing to sit and wait for a chance to get into the pit at Saturday night's Pearl Jam show.
The 41-year-old from Georgia hunkered down at 8 a.m. under a small bit of shade outside the stage gates — first in line for tonight's headlining show at Bonnaroo's biggest stage, scheduled for 10:15 p.m.
It's one of the cool perks at Bonnaroo. Get in line, get a chance to see the show nearly within reach of the stage. It can be an experience of a lifetime, if you are willing to put in the time.
Fans often stand in line for hours for a chance to get that close. But only a limited number get into the pit, so you have to get their early. Then you spend the day just sitting around and waiting. Bonnaroo opens the gates to the What Stage at noon. Then you file forward and wait in another line.
The good news is, by mid-afternoon there's music to listen to while you wait. The bad news, you are waiting, and waiting, and waiting. No bathroom stops, unless you make friends with someone in line willing to hold your spot. No food runs, unless someone brings you a snack. And no air conditioning.
On Saturday, the worst news arrived, completely unexpected — a storm warning hit Manchester and the Bonnaroo grounds were evacuated.
Pearl Jam fans like Willis, who had been waiting in line as many as 14 hours to get into the pit for the show, experienced a soul-crushing reality.
The line broke apart, and their carefully held spot was lost.
There was no good system to keep the order when everyone was ordered to leave The main stage area and the shows were suspended.
Some Pearl Jam fans who had been there since as early as 8 a.m. may have gotten a number written on their hands. Others were told a password by security onsite. The security guards also took pictures of a few faces, and they are relying on their memory to recognize those who had been there the longest.
This all according to Bonnaroo security guard Marlon Joyner.
He stood near the pit gates to the right of the stage as the grounds reopened.
"Macklemore pit, walk down," he told festival goers returning to the main stage. "Keep going.
"Pearl jam pit, stay right here."
A crowd of nearly 1,000 huddled together outside the gates area waiting to hear what would happen next.
"Back up," Joyner said. "Don't be rude."
When Macklemore started its show, Joyner started accepting passwords.
"I remember you," he said to brothers Nick and Jack Miller, who got in line at 6:30 p.m. "You got the password. Get in line."
The brothers were relieved.
RELATED:Fans react to the Bonnaroo 'drizzle of 2016'
When the storm hit, "we didn't want to move," Nick said. "We had to be forcefully forced out."
Get your subscription for as low as
$9.99/6 MO
for a LIMITED TIME only
UNLOCK MY $9.99 OFFER
Added Jack: "We're here now so it worked out."
It also worked out for a few Macklemore fans, who easily entered the pit area after the storm. No line. No wait.
"We just got good," said Nashvillian Miranda Berlin as she breezed into the pit.
As Macklemore took the stage a cry rose out: "We survived the lightning."
Some happier than others.
At 8 a.m., well before the storm ever appeared on Tennessee radar, Willis felt the wait was worth it.
This is his second trip to Bonnaroo, he also came in 2008 when Pearl Jam played here. It will be his sixth Pearl Jam show.
The pit?
"I've never done that," he said. "So I thought I would try."
Not long after he arrived as first in line, Willis made a new buddy.
Nick Pennock came to Bonnaroo from Detroit. It is the third festival for the 26-year-old, who was first exposed to Pearl Jam by his guitar teacher. The teacher shared music of Mother Love Bone, two of the members of which would eventually form Pearl Jam. Pennock then got a copy of Ten, Pearl Jam's debut album.
A self-professed man of the Napster generation, Pennock downloaded all the band's music and became hooked.
"I appreciate the opportunity to get in front for legends like this," he said, sitting on his blue mat in the spot he took up next to Willis.
And Pennock wasn't just going to get in the pit. He had bigger plans.
"I am trying for the rail," he said with a grin.
Two perfect strangers with one major thing in common — Pearl Jam.
Waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
With more than nine hours to go, maybe they will be best friends by the end of the day.
One can imagine they'll be really happy fans.
Update: Pearl Jam fans had to wait even longer, believe it or not, after Bonnaroo shut down all of its stages for more than an hour Saturday evening while a thunderstorm blew through the Manchester area. Pearl Jam's set was pushed to 11:30 p.m.
"...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
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Comments
When they let everyone back in, it was like black Friday on crack and steroids. Pure pandemonium! but those security guards (Big Mo was one who gave us the password) did a great job. After Macklemore went back on, they sorted us out and had us move up and over to the right of all the others. They didn't have to do that, but really went out of their way to help us out. Unfortunately, when it came time to let us in, there were the line jumpers, but not many. One of the security guys was forced to let a few line jumpers in because everyone surged forward and they had to relieve the bottleneck so people wouldn't get trampled. My buddy made it in in front of me, and I was like 10 people behind them. All of us though that were up there all day ended up either on the rail, or 1 person back in between Stone and Eddie. I think the other side let people in before us, but I wasn't complaining. There was only maybe 15-20ft between us and PJ and 50k people behind us and it was a great show.
I wish I could remember all the security guards names, but they escape me right now, because they were awesome. They went above and beyond for us. they did the best job they could do, given the unfortunate situation, and I applaud them for us. It was a long a tiring day, but well worth it in my opinion. Got a great show (yes, even in spite of all the flubbed lyrics) and met some great people. I hope everyone else there had a great time.
1996: Ft Lauderdale
1998: Birmingham
2000: Charlotte, Tampa
2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
2004: Kissimmee
2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
2010: MSG2
2012: Music Midtown
2014: Memphis
2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1
2022: Nashville
2023: Ft. Worth II
'13: 10/27 Baltimore
'15: 9/26 New York City
'16: 4/16 Greenville (VS!), 4/26 Lexington, 4/28 Philly, 8/20 Wrigley
'18: 9/02 Fenway
'22: 9/16 Nashville
’24: 8/26 Noblesville, 9/12 Baltimore
I think Pearl Jam cursed themselves with naming the last album Lightning Bolt with Wrigley 13 and now Bonnaroo
Find shapes in the clouds.
Hear the murmur of the wind
and touch the cool water.
Walk softly,
we are intruders,
tolerated briefly
In an infinite universe.
Behind the pit/2nd fence is just normal GA, and people can camp out on that fence all day.
2010: 5/20 NY, 5/21 NY ... 2011: 6/21 EV NY, 9/3 WI, 9/4 WI ... 2012: 9/2 PA, 9/22 GA ... 2013: 10/18 NY, 10/19 NY, 10/21 PA, 10/22 PA, 10/27 MD
2015: 9/23 NY, 9/26 NY ... 2016: 4/28 PA, 4/29 PA, 5/1 NY, 5/2 NY, 6/11 TN, 8/7 MA, 11/4 TOTD PA, 11/5 TOTD PA ... 2018: 8/10 WA ---- http://imgur.com/a/nk0s7
2010: 5/20 NY, 5/21 NY ... 2011: 6/21 EV NY, 9/3 WI, 9/4 WI ... 2012: 9/2 PA, 9/22 GA ... 2013: 10/18 NY, 10/19 NY, 10/21 PA, 10/22 PA, 10/27 MD
2015: 9/23 NY, 9/26 NY ... 2016: 4/28 PA, 4/29 PA, 5/1 NY, 5/2 NY, 6/11 TN, 8/7 MA, 11/4 TOTD PA, 11/5 TOTD PA ... 2018: 8/10 WA ---- http://imgur.com/a/nk0s7
Manchester 6/11/16