Spring Tour Postponed - Letter from the Band

WashmyLUV

HughFreakingDillon said:

WashmyLUV said:

I'm bummed. Damn. I get it but I'm still sad. It took a lot of planning, saving and long hours at work to make the show in Nashville happen. I'm still going. I have been looking forward to visiting Nashville and can't afford to cancel. I'm hoping I will be issued a refund rather than validating my tickets for an upcoming postponed show. There is no way I can make that happen.

my wife is wondering, if our flights can't be refunded, if we should still make the trip to ottawa. we won't be able to go twice, and if we already paid once.....she's at a conference in toronto right now, she says the place is a creep-fest with everyone wearing surgical masks.

I know. I will be so disapointed if I go to Nashville and the bars and streets are empty! That would suck.

static111

The upside is it looks like they might have time to work on the missing Xmas singles 😁

HughFreakingDillon

maybe i think this is the wrong call because of the difference in how its playing out in canada? one death, only 74 cases in 30 million people. 

you americans don't wash your hands or what?

coreypjfan

whitepants said:

pjalive21 said:

Answer me @PearlJam would you do this is Obama was in office...im done with this band and their propaganda

Good, now go away. We're all upset, we don't need idiots like you making it worse!

Good riddance!

Choska

WashmyLUV said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

WashmyLUV said:

I'm bummed. Damn. I get it but I'm still sad. It took a lot of planning, saving and long hours at work to make the show in Nashville happen. I'm still going. I have been looking forward to visiting Nashville and can't afford to cancel. I'm hoping I will be issued a refund rather than validating my tickets for an upcoming postponed show. There is no way I can make that happen.

my wife is wondering, if our flights can't be refunded, if we should still make the trip to ottawa. we won't be able to go twice, and if we already paid once.....she's at a conference in toronto right now, she says the place is a creep-fest with everyone wearing surgical masks.

I know. I will be so disapointed if I go to Nashville and the bars and streets are empty! That would suck.

Going to Nashville when it isn't overrun with tourists? Sounds wonderful. You'd have the city to yourself. Just you and the locals with no waiting at the bar!

KF127506

this is absolutely upsetting for most on this board.   While we might disagree with the decision. We can all agree that corduroy is the best song every made.  

coreypjfan

KF127506 said:

this is absolutely upsetting for most on this board.   While we might disagree with the decision. We can all agree that corduroy is the best song every made.  

You mean indifference*

JB29354

I've been fortunate to have been a long time fan, joining the fan club in '98, only missing New England shows because of higher priority events, even after moving to Essentially Nowhere, New Hampshire 12 years ago.  While it has been disappointing to miss I think 2 shows since '08, I was going to make the call to head to Quebec next week, and was highly leaning toward not attending (98%) before this notice, and would not have made had a heavy heart in making this decision.  And this is despite going to Boston to see a show on 3/2. 

My wife happens to work at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, the site where a medical intern presented as the first case of Covid-19 in New Hampshire.  While this person was asked to self-isolate after returning from Italy, s/he (I'm really trying to be generous here, but details are out there) chose to attend an event and became the link to the next case or 2 in NH.  This person should have known better, but selfishness or naivete got the better of this person.  I can tell you the staff is livid. Again, this is a person that should have been educated enough to follow recommendation and not attend public events.  I think we all know how the general population acts.

Most fans are going to want to go to a show regardless.  I mean, QC 2016 was one of my favorite shows, and I have GA again. This is certainly a case where, until things personally affect you, the typical person will act as if nothing is wrong (Purell hoarding aside...). One always has a decision to make, whether it be the selfish one or the altruistic one.  

Here's my worst case.  I go to Quebec with 20,000 other fans, where even at this time I suspect someone is a carrier.  Even though I choose to stand at the back of the GA section, arriving at 8:30, and leaving before the lights go out, I would still be in the vicinity of 500 people.  If I can then get back across the border without quarantine, if I am a carrier, I am less concerned about my wife and kids, because we are generally healthy, than I am with any interaction with my in-laws, who have health problems.  If I were a carrier I can guarantee that one of then has a >30% chance of dying from this.  I don't really want that on my conscience, hence my gravitation toward eating the ticket.

I honestly did not expect a call on postponement to be made until the end of the week, and even then I thought cancellations in select cities (NYC in particular) may still have been on the table.  While my costs are negligible compared to others traveling this tour, everyone needs to look at the bigger picture.  There are still a lot of unknown unknowns with the spread of this virus.  While it may very well be tapering in China, there currently is no way to tell what each generation of mutations may yield.  Concerts/sports events are the easiest mechanism to spreading this virus further afield.  I have seen enough through unofficial channels to state that Pearl Jam has made the right call, as difficult as it may have been for them.

There is still a chance that the medical system becomes overburdened by this virus. I read one tweetstorm showing how easily every available bed could be filled because of the virus, on top of current medical needs.  Removing one possible source of vectors really is only a small step in containment.  Small individual steps (soap!) help just the same, and while this source of so much joy has been taken away, we all have an album to help get us through.  Stay well out there.

Little Italy

Merkin Baller said:

benjs said:

regalturbo said:

I'm just as bummed/pissed as anyone, but it's a really weak move to blame the government for their decisions.  Just man up and own the calls you made.  It just adds more dissent and anger to an already crappy situation.  

Two paragraphs, right next to each other.

"We’ve worked hard with all our management and business associates to find other solutions or options but the levels of risk to our audience and their communities is simply too high for our comfort level. Add to that we also have a unique group of passionate fans who travel far and wide. We’ve always been humbled by this and respect their energies and devotion. However in this case, travel is something to avoid.

It certainly hasn’t helped that there’s been no clear messages from our government regarding people’s safety and our ability to go to work. Having no examples of our national health department’s ability to get ahead of this, we have no reason to believe that it will be under control in the coming weeks ahead. "

I disagree that they're "blaming the government", and I don't see how you can disagree with that portion of the statement even. Read that paragraph and tell me where it's false.

+1


I feel for anyone who is losing money as a result, or may not be able to make the rescheduled dates. That sucks. 

PJ is seeing firsthand what’s happening in Seattle... I trust their judgement.

Defensive Trump supporters should stfu, he’s bungled this every step of the way. 

Why does EVERYTHING some how boil down to L vs R, Trump supporters vs “snowflakes”
and every other BS term that has managed to insert the Left vs Right paradigm into every facet of our lives?

Not everything needs to be politicized 

coreypjfan

JB29354 said:

I've been fortunate to have been a long time fan, joining the fan club in '98, only missing New England shows because of higher priority events, even after moving to Essentially Nowhere, New Hampshire 12 years ago.  While it has been disappointing to miss I think 2 shows since '08, I was going to make the call to head to Quebec next week, and was highly leaning toward not attending (98%) before this notice, and would not have made had a heavy heart in making this decision.  And this is despite going to Boston to see a show on 3/2. 

My wife happens to work at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, the site where a medical intern presented as the first case of Covid-19 in New Hampshire.  While this person was asked to self-isolate after returning from Italy, s/he (I'm really trying to be generous here, but details are out there) chose to attend an event and became the link to the next case or 2 in NH.  This person should have known better, but selfishness or naivete got the better of this person.  I can tell you the staff is livid. Again, this is a person that should have been educated enough to follow recommendation and not attend public events.  I think we all know how the general population acts.

Most fans are going to want to go to a show regardless.  I mean, QC 2016 was one of my favorite shows, and I have GA again. This is certainly a case where, until things personally affect you, the typical person will act as if nothing is wrong (Purell hoarding aside...). One always has a decision to make, whether it be the selfish one or the altruistic one.  

Here's my worst case.  I go to Quebec with 20,000 other fans, where even at this time I suspect someone is a carrier.  Even though I choose to stand at the back of the GA section, arriving at 8:30, and leaving before the lights go out, I would still be in the vicinity of 500 people.  If I can then get back across the border without quarantine, if I am a carrier, I am less concerned about my wife and kids, because we are generally healthy, than I am with any interaction with my in-laws, who have health problems.  If I were a carrier I can guarantee that one of then has a >30% chance of dying from this.  I don't really want that on my conscience, hence my gravitation toward eating the ticket.

I honestly did not expect a call on postponement to be made until the end of the week, and even then I thought cancellations in select cities (NYC in particular) may still have been on the table.  While my costs are negligible compared to others traveling this tour, everyone needs to look at the bigger picture.  There are still a lot of unknown unknowns with the spread of this virus.  While it may very well be tapering in China, there currently is no way to tell what each generation of mutations may yield.  Concerts/sports events are the easiest mechanism to spreading this virus further afield.  I have seen enough through unofficial channels to state that Pearl Jam has made the right call, as difficult as it may have been for them.

There is still a chance that the medical system becomes overburdened by this virus. I read one tweetstorm showing how easily every available bed could be filled because of the virus, on top of current medical needs.  Removing one possible source of vectors really is only a small step in containment.  Small individual steps (soap!) help just the same, and while this source of so much joy has been taken away, we all have an album to help get us through.  Stay well out there.

So we shouldn't go to work if we have the Virus like Mr. President says?

PJ_Soul

They really had to do it, given the circumstances right now. Too bad, but the right choice.

ryanphishes

curveball'd

hedonist

HughFreakingDillon said:

hedonist said:

THEBIBLEISTEN said:

It’s sad with some of the responses on here. The band made the right call. Some of you need to have your heads examined. It’s a concert, they will make it up. People’s safety should be #1. What happened to basic human compassion?

Gone.  Some’s true colors are a lot...different...than what I thought. 

anyone in particular? i see a couple wackos and some others who have differing opinions. 

i just personally believe this is very reactionary and unnecessary at this point in time. they made the call, it's fine, hopefully i can make the make up date. no need for such harsh character judgment. 

Not biting on calling anyone out specifically.

But yeah, while I understand and feel disappointment, I don't get some of the over-the-top reactions and callousness.

coreypjfan

A smart decision for everyone's well being. I truly believe Ed and the band are just as disappointed as we are. This was going to be a great leg. But there is time. Will be here before we know it ✌

Go Animal

poison said:

I can’t believe team ED is going to blame the government as part of the reasoning for canceling the tour. What a joke you’ve become and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Learn when to leave politics at the door for once in your freaking life dude. 

1. He/they are not wrong. The GOP (with Trump signing off on it) slashed the CDC budget by 80% in 2018. That's not politics, that gross negligence. And now people are going to die because of it. Don't even think about going down this road right now, chief. Read the freakin' room.

2. Go find a new band, if you're so sore. I hear Kid Rock's fan club has low seniority...

RoleModelsinBlood31

I’m just glad it’s “postponed” and not “cancelled.” They’re taking care of us and tickets will be honored.  That’s awesome.  The tour probably won’t look like it did when they finally get around to playing it, and some shows I’m guessing will be cancelled outright, but the fact that they’re planning on making these up is awesome to hear.  I have a few thousand in this thing that I’m going to eat but life goes on... with this postponement maybe a little bit longer!

Leezestarr313

cypressdrive said:

EH14457 said:

Thank you. 100% the right call.

Also 100% appropriate to bring the government's response into this since a more capable administration and better preventative measures might have better mitigated the potential for this postponement. To anybody bringing transmission rates, recovery rates, growth rates from other countries into the equation, please look at the lengths those countries are going to, including-for starters-acknowledging the scale of the problem. What's happening in the US right now is an embarrassment and will unfortunately lead to a more sustained period of exponential growth. Nobody knows how bad this is in the States right now but it's nearly guaranteed to get much worse before it gets better.

I appreciate the band looking out for us. Cheers!

Thank you to EH14457 for contributing a clear, concise, apolitical response and to the other contributors who have tried to separate what the band wrote from what others have interpreted.

Yes!

coreypjfan

Go Animal said:

poison said:

I can’t believe team ED is going to blame the government as part of the reasoning for canceling the tour. What a joke you’ve become and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Learn when to leave politics at the door for once in your freaking life dude. 

1. He/they are not wrong. The GOP (with Trump signing off on it) slashed the CDC budget by 80% in 2018. That's not politics, that gross negligence. And now people are going to die because of it. Don't even think about going down this road right now, chief. Read the freakin' room.

2. Go find a new band, if you're so sore. I hear Kid Rock's fan club has low seniority...

✌👍🤘🤘

Go Animal

aspoonfulweighsaton said:

This is not the right decision.  They are making matters worse by affecting jobs these shows create.  The hype and hysteria over this is insane.  People are dying of the flu at an exponentially higher rate yet this is what we're left with lol. Way to buy into guys. Just another election year scare. Go back and look in the past if you need proof this is overblown. 

Dolt.

coreypjfan

"Troubled souls unite, we got ourselves tonight!"