| This tiny sample of hair gel was my key to getting into the studio. Laurie, Eva and I had headed down to the 102.1 The Edge studios on Yonge Street right after school, as we didn't know how many people would show up for the live interview on Live In Toronto that evening. With these types of interviews, especially when a guestlist hasn't been set up by the station, dozens of people can show. To ensure we would get in, at the least, we decided to go as early as possible. When we go there no one was around. We figured all would be well. We visited some music stores in the area and just basically loitered around the station, waiting for more souls to arrive. Since nothing was going on, we went into the street level studios, and sat down on the floor, in the ideal spot to watch the interview. We struck up conversation with security there, as well as radio station employees. |
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But soon, as 5 in the evening came around, more and more people began to assemble inside. Security decided to boot all of us out and force us into a line outside, for some strange reason. I'm assuming it was to assess the amount of people coming and going and determining who's staying in and what not. Meanwhile, Eva and Laurie had been playing with these hilarious midget cards while I was freaking out over the possibility of having to watch the interview from outside of the window! But Eva was working her usual charming magic as I struck up a conversation with a guy next to me who I recognized from Three Fish. Eva was so determined to get us in, that she befriended one of the securitymen and made him promise to let us in. People had started to gather outside, as they weren't allowing anyone else in. We had to find a way to distinguish those who were there from early afternoon from the late arrivals. We settled on samples of hair gel that the radio station gave away to anyone and everyone. |
| So we were forced to sit outside the studios and stare through the window at the empty studio. I realized that the majority of people there were from Three Fish as well, but then there were some of those fans that, I hate to admit, drive me nuts. Though the majority of PJ fans are wonderful (especially those from the Great White North!), occasionally I have a run-in with the type of fan that, in this case, is only there because "she loves Stoney"! Ahh! This drives me nuts. But I didn't let that bother me. Eva, Laurie and I managed to keep ourselves busy for a while, and we kept on bugging the folks at the station as to when they're planning on letting us in. There was a group of guys who thought that they were first in line, but we didn't let them think that for long. We had our trusty hair gel bottles and they didn't!!! Ha ha! Soon, we were being slowly ushered back into where we began. We managed to snag those same great spots right at the front of the railing. This was truly the ideal spot. Now all we had to do was wait. That's the most agonizing part. |
| By the time Shawn Smith and Stone Gossard, the entire place was full, and we were becoming squished against the railing. We assumed it would be worth it, but honestly it wasn't. Their tour manager came in first to tell us all that the only things he would sign would be Brad merchandise, etc. and that no pictures were to be taken. I slowly put my camera behind me. But I knew there would be nothing that would keep it there, as I was determined to get a couple of shots at the least! Then Stone entered. He seemed bothered by the huge gathering, then Shawn came in, but he was a lot cooler. We wondered why there was such a tense feeling in the room, and why Stone refused to really look at anyone or say anything until he got to mic. Soon, everyone in the room found out that he had just done a really shitty interview on MuchMusic, where a VJ (SOOK YIN LEE WHO REALLY SUCKS!) asked him more about Pearl Jam when the interview was about Brad. I could see his frustration, but there was no reason to not treat your fans right. |
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The interview was the same old lame promo interview. No point getting into it. Stone seemed half decent, though you could tell that Kim Hughes, the host of the show, decided not to really mention Pearl Jam whatsoever. Good move on her behalf. I stood there listening, watching, trying to make some contact (eye), with him, to show him it's all cool. It worked. I think he started to relax a bit, but I think that they cut the interview short just because they didn't really want to be interviewed anymore. The entire situation was really awkward. I managed to snap some pictures, and got very evil looks from their tour manager. When Stone and Shawn got up, somehow someone convinced them to sign stuff. I was fortunate enough to have been right in the front, he only covered those people, said quick hellos, and left. Meanwhile, everyone else stuck around. I spoke to Shawn for a couple minutes and got some pictures of him that I will probably put up on this page soon. |
| This entire experience left a sour taste in my mouth. I would have more details about the encounter but frankly there weren't any. My previous Pearl Jam experiences left a warm feeling deep within me, but this one was a bit on the frosty side. I still respect Stone for all he's done, but he obviously hasn't learned how to truly swallow his ego and treat his fans right. It wasn't us who were quizzing him on Pearl Jam. I know this is only one encounter and I'm sure he is a really nice guy when he's in a good mood, but I think most people there that night, who were good representatives of the Toronto PJ fanbase, would agree that he was essentially rude. Ah well, c'est la vie. At least now I have 2 signatures on my copy of 'Ten'. I know it's bad to judge someone based on one meeting, but that's just the way I felt about this experience. |