No More Festivals!!!

I can see both sides of this argument, but for what it's worth, here's my opinion.

I've seen a lot of PJ shows on both sides of the Atlantic, including festival shows in Europe, so I guess that put's me in a small group of people who have seen the differences in the organization first hand.

PJ only shows are organized VERY differently to festival shows and the band have much more control over what's happening in all aspects of the show. For me, a PJ only show comes with a greater sense of security.

With a festival, they are very much in the hands of the local organizers / security etc, despite any specific demands they may make before agreeing to play the show.

My experience of festival organization / security has been overwhelmingly bad and it's very different to the way that PJ now handles things at their own show.

Anyone who has spent anytime at the front will have seen how demanding PJ's own security are, they are VERY specific about how things should be done, where security should stand etc. This involvement is often reduced at a festival show.

The issue in Italy was clearly a freak of nature and so it's difficult to point fingers of blame, however, I know from experience that organizers of festivals in Europe, given the choice, would much rather save money than go the extra mile with safety and security. They tend to do what is considered adequate, which sometimes is not enough. I think PJ has a very different approach for obvious reasons. The level of acceptable safety measures also varies massively from country to country.

I would personally be happy if they never played a festival ever again, but I do understand the reasons for wanting to play them as they reach a wider audience and generate a lot of money for the band (not a criticism).

I know..i've been to plenty of festivals...both good and bad....when they are good, they are very very good.....when they are bad....well...we've all been there.

I didn't say it was just about money, and even if it was, it's not necessarily as bad thing - but it's a huge factor in the decision making process.

If PJ needs to justify a trip to Europe by making several festival appearances then it's fine by me, it saves me a ton of money as I don't have to make as many trips to the US to see them, but given the choice, I'll take PJ only shows every day of the week and twice on a sunday

The only reason I could imagine why Pearl Jam shouldn't play festivals anymore is because all the non-PJ fans, who only want to hear Alive...

jfm wrote:

Pearl Jam should play only their own shows, where they can directly control security.

But this wasn't a security issue.. you're getting things mixed up.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the idea of festivals per se. However I don't think it makes much sense to make festivals with line ups as they are done now. I'd be more than happy to have been around in the late 60s or early 70s, now those were line ups. I'm not talking just about the big ones like Monterey pop, Woodstock or Isle of wight. There were a lot of smaller festivals around america with bands that made sense to be together and jammed with each other, now that would be a festival to go.

Pearl Jam, lp, mcr... how much sense does that make, and not financial, since for the festival goer it's not a pro? Heineken jammin festival was all about the money not about rock&roll.

About the weather and the storm. Wild storms do happen in the upper Adriatic in summer, being the festivall site plane and above the see, the storm comes as violent as it is and wind up to 100km/h and above are not that rare, ask people from Trieste. I live on the other side of the Adriatic and less than a month agoo a simillar tornado hit the cost, but where it hit the cost is very high so it didn't make it far and made no harm.
The fact that the towers were made to resist a wind speed up to 90km/h sounds naive knowing stronger winds are not all that rare here. At least a little norther they are not.

The people were great, that's what saved it.

As for Pearl Jam, i highly doupt anybody would rather see them on a festival gig than a solo show. Needles to say a storm doesn't blow off an indor gig.

jfm wrote:

**this goes straight to Pearl Jam**


Hi guys,

i don't know if you would ever read this but i feel i have to write what i think: i was in Mestre last night and just came back at home after hours and hours of driving out of that hell.
You can't even imagine how much i love you and your music (i'll be in London and Dusseldorf in spite of everything, catching plane for the 1st time in my life only to come and see you...)

BUT

in the name of this love and passion, i wanna ask you PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...

DON'T PLAY FESTIVALS ANYMORE!

DON'T get involved in something set up only to make money and speculate on people's passion. Do your own tours, play shows everywhere you want...we'll be as always in the 1st row enjoying the show, but PLEASE DON'T PLAY FESTIVALS: they've shown in too many occasions they can't absolutely guarantee people's safety that you always proved to care so much. Yesterday in Mestre almost ALL structures collapsed in less than 10 minutes on our heads...this is UNACCEPTABLE and UNJUSTIFIABLE.
We were lucky enough to came back home safe, but maybe next time someone else couldn't be as fortunate.

I really hope you'll read and take in consideration my "request" that - i assure you - reflects a lot of people's thought.
I'm sure you love us as much as we love you so PLEASE don't play festivals anymore.


With love,

Paolo

i don´t agree you, last year pj played in azkena rock festival more than 2 hours and it was wonderfull. this year play in madrid in festimad ( festibad
for my and many people). the organization ask for pearl jam a show not much longer than 90 minutes. pj don´t have blame ( it´s my own opinion, sorry). i drave 400 km to go and other 400km for come back.... very happy


the weather.... the lucky..... too much things that the human cannot control. sorry.
i am happy that you can tell us.
best regards paolo