Jack White Hates Balloons and Dudes Who Bum-Rush the Stage
It has been brought to my attention from the West Coasters that read this site that Jack totally flipped out on several occasions during the White Stripes shows at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, CA.
On the first night one of the balloons promoting the radio station sponsoring the event, Live 105, found its way to the stage, and Jack stops the song and starts collecting the balloons and throwing them backstage in an effort to stop the disruption of his set. After finally finishing the song, Jack makes a comment saying that he demands that the radio station write out an apology for the disturbance.
The second night, a balloon ended up right on top of Jack’s piano during the song “My Doorbell.” According to my sources, Jack “freaked” and stormed off of the stage, telling the audience, “Well Live 105, I’m gonna take a 5 minute break!” Meg laughed and then followed him. It took the band 5 minutes before they returned to the stage–Jack bowing to the crowd and humbly smiling.
At the end of the show during the last song, “Boll Weevil,” a man jumped onto the stage, pushed Jack out of the way and sang “JACK’S LOOKING FOR A HOME!,” into the microphone. Jack glared at him with an angry eye, and the man promptly jumped from the stage into the crowd standing a yard or two below him. It was then when Jack started mocking him with such taunts as, “DID YOUR MOMMY AND DADDY DROP YOU OFF AT THE WRONG CONCERT?” Then he prompted the audience to be quiet and stare and point at the man who dared interrupt the concert.
Later the band played one final song, “Fell in Love with a Girl.”
And right now Live 105 has decided to play a mocking public apology radio announcement dedicated to Jack White. The lengthy fake PSA describes why the radio station uses balloons.
Here are two wav files from the second night provided by Maryna:
UPDATE: Mick Brin has captured the amazing moments following the balloon and crazy dude incidents on video. They are truly something to witness. Take a look at the Quicktime vids.
1. Anonymous | 12:11 am on August 24th, 2005
Here is some video of the incidents:
http://www.mickbrin.com/concerts/white_stripes_2005/index.html
2. michelle | 7:49 am on August 24th, 2005
“whatcha gonna do now papa, everyone’s looking at you.”
“i’m real scared playa.”
and i believe he said “did mommy and daddy drop you off at the rock concert?”
i liked his little comment about “having a lot of coke and beers after the show”.
i was told that this person who got on the stage had a backstage pass and actually came from the back of the stage which is how he got behind jack without him noticing.
3. Anonymous | 7:59 am on August 24th, 2005
can you build a “no balloons” clause into a rider?
4. Kt | 12:34 pm on August 24th, 2005
Thanks for the link, seems like I really missed out apparantly the second night was when all the crazy shit went down.
5. Anonymous | 1:54 pm on August 24th, 2005
The jackass who rushed Jack on the stage deserved the humiliation that followed. I was there and in the heat of the moment, Jack looked freaked b/c he didn’t know what the dude was going to do next (think: Dimebag from Pantera). Take that stage diving sh– to a LimpBizkit concert! Doesn’t fit a Stripes show.
6. Alex Blagg | 1:56 pm on August 24th, 2005
i believe they were balls, not balloons. jack white hates balls.
7. Anonymous | 2:29 pm on August 24th, 2005
Does anyone have a recording of the Live 105 spot? I’d love to hear that as well.
8. Anonymous | 3:51 pm on August 24th, 2005
jack’s just mad that his past two albums have been abortions
9. Hank | 6:02 pm on August 24th, 2005
I’ll tell ya what, that shit won’t fly at the New York shows. We got enough of that the last time they came by.
“past two albums have been abortions?”
huh?
10. Anonymous | 9:43 pm on August 24th, 2005
New York got two minutes of Jack berating crowd surfers and moshers who were hurting peopl last time. If that doesn’t fly in New York, I feel sorry for NY fans.
11. Anonymous | 1:35 am on August 25th, 2005
the dude on stage is just lame. it’s funny because not too many years ago it would have all been harmless and somewhat expected. nowadays, that guy’s lucky he didn’t get von bondied on the spot…
12. Camille | 6:28 am on August 25th, 2005
yikes Jack seemed high as a kite in that last video. When they stood at the edge of the stage and bowed it looked like he was gonna rip Meg’s arm out of it’s socket. Geez, I love this band, but he needs to cool out for reals
13. Anonymous | 7:00 am on August 25th, 2005
That “have a lot of coke” remark may have been a little commercial break, not brought to you by Live 105: http://www.nme.com/news/113482.htm
14. alfred | 9:45 am on August 25th, 2005
jack has a point.
lets have a show and not mosh,etc.
but these kids expect to mosh,etc b/c every other ‘rock’ bands does.
so hes screwed.
15. Hank | 5:29 pm on August 25th, 2005
Oh. Feeling sorry for NY fans because they don’t like to get injured at a White Stripes show.
Good one.
16. Sarah | 4:07 pm on August 28th, 2005
I was there, and I actually like the disruptions. It made it a theatrical event rather than just a concert…I really got my money’s worth! It was great when Jack went offstage because of the ballon, because it got the audience “involved.” One girl yelled “GET OFF YOUR PERIOD,” and in case you guys missed it, ALL the people in the venue began chanting “FUCK 105″ in an attempt to get the band back on stage. I can see why live 105 would be mad, especially if they aired the concert.
Who the fuck moshs/storms the stage to “apple blossom?” This isn’t the righr concert. And the guy wasn’t back stage, he was just a drunk frat boy, and the security was to skinny do stop him.
17. Anonymous | 1:34 am on September 2nd, 2005
I was at the show too, but I didn’t hear anyone chanting Fuck 105. People actually took time out to go get more beer! I heard after the fact that the San Jose station, who got in trouble Friday night, took Live 105’s balloons and threw them up the second night to get them in trouble. Looks like it backfired on them!
18. Anonymous | 6:08 pm on September 12th, 2005
I went to the Saturday show and it was great. I agree that the interuptions actually made the concert that much more entertaining. I’ve put together an iTunes playlist of the songs from that night so I can play along with the visuals in my head. I’m not sure I got it quite right though. Does anyone know the set list from the Sat show at the Greek Theatre?
kameraz@rock.com
19. tara,croatia | 10:48 am on September 17th, 2005
maybe the man was drunk?!i don’t know…but he doesn’t have the rigt to push jack…well i would jump on the stage
i would do everything to jack notice me…but push him….NEVER…look at jack…he is so cudlly…
20. Anonymous | 1:13 pm on October 6th, 2005
For the record, The show was by Live 105. On the first night the balloon has 104.9 Its a different radio station, I guess you can consider it as the rival of 105. I dont know how that balloon got there. Then the 2nd show has the Live105 on it.
Obviously, Live 105 just want to get a reaction from Jack coz why would they put a balloon out when they know that Jack didnt like the first balloon. And 105 Mock apology is so unfair. They said that the White Stripes left the stage for 15 minutes!!!? Which is not true.
And I have been to other Live 105 concerts and they have advertising everywhere, not on this concert. So the balloon was put there in purpose and that is not to advertise.
21. Anonymous | 10:23 pm on October 9th, 2005
Maybe he just wanted a piece of Jacks hair…just one lock.
Moshing and all that kiddy stuff should be done outside w/ the rest of the people who are not LISTENING to the show.
Respect the ARTIST, Respect the ART.
sorry for caps , but y’all suck balloons.
xox
efa
22. Anonymous | 11:05 am on October 11th, 2005
Eesh, I’d get pissed off, too, if a balloon landed on my piano, right in the middle of a song. I mean, it’s such a rude disruption! I completely understand why Jack got mad. I mean, you’re in the middle of a bloody show, you need space, and suddenly you get pelted by balloons? Not cool.
23. Anonymous | 11:32 pm on January 4th, 2006
Oh my god that was sooo Funny that guy who pushed jack Totaly deserved his wrath. To Jack i say: My friend, You are a genius. How did he think that up sooo fast!!
it obviously shows how smart he is lol
24. Anonymous | 5:20 pm on July 3rd, 2006
I wish I could have been at that show. i honestly don’t think jack overreacted at all. To anyone who is saying that…. I would like to see how they react in the same situation.