poetrywriter
04-01-2001, 11:52 AM
credit: Seattle Herald Daily
BAND MEMBER CONFLICT DELAYS DVD RELEASE
Gabriel Conroy
4/01/2001
The release of Pearl Jams' DVD "Touring Band 2000" has been postponed due to a conflict within the band, a Sony executive revealed. The DVD, which cronicles the band's successful summer tour in the U.S., contains a montage of backstage footage which has become the center of heated controversy. Among the various images shown is the conclusion of a ping-pong match between guitarist Stone Gossard and lead singer Eddie Vedder. The footage shows Vedder and Gossard in a back-and-forth exchange during a game, and then cuts to Vedder raising his paddle in apparent victory.
"A total fabrication," said Gossard, when asked about the game footage. "I remember that game being taped very well. The taping was edited to make it appear that Eddie had won. As it turned out, I beat Eddie pretty bad." In light of the footage, Gossard has stopped the release of the DVD until the game can be shown in its proper historical context. "I beat Eddie's ass," a defiant Gossard yelled as he watched the final cut of the footage this weekend. "This will not stand."
Vedder, who is currently in New Zealand on vacation, was asked via phone about the incident. "I think if you watch the footage on the DVD, you will know who the big dog is when it comes to ping-pong." When asked about the origional tapes of the footage, band manager Kelly Curtis replied, "The last person I saw with them was Eddie. He said he wanted to hold on to them." When asked about the origionals, Vedder said, "Oh, those...funny thing. The airline lost one of my bags, and I think the tapes where in them." When asked to respond to the growing accusations that he had doctored the footage of the game, Vedder replied, "All I know is that I am the ping-pong champion in Pearl Jam."
Sony does not have a date set for the official release of "Touring Band 2000." When asked, the sony executive said, "This is a very serious situation and we are trying to mediate it as best as possible. We are aware that honor is at stake, and are trying to resolve the situation in the best way for both parites." When asked if a compromise could be reached, Gossard said, "Only if a disclaimer is run at the beginning proclaiming me winner of the game. Hey, I know that there are a lot of people anxious to see the DVD. But if Eddie is man enough to admit that I won, than I have no problem with the DVD being released as-is."
When asked about the possibility of adding a disclaimer to the DVD, Vedder responded, "Why do we need to do that? I won, you know." When pressed on the matter, Vedder said, "I think I left the iron on...I have to go. I rule." He then hung up the phone.
More information can be obtained as it develops on www.sonymusic.com.
BAND MEMBER CONFLICT DELAYS DVD RELEASE
Gabriel Conroy
4/01/2001
The release of Pearl Jams' DVD "Touring Band 2000" has been postponed due to a conflict within the band, a Sony executive revealed. The DVD, which cronicles the band's successful summer tour in the U.S., contains a montage of backstage footage which has become the center of heated controversy. Among the various images shown is the conclusion of a ping-pong match between guitarist Stone Gossard and lead singer Eddie Vedder. The footage shows Vedder and Gossard in a back-and-forth exchange during a game, and then cuts to Vedder raising his paddle in apparent victory.
"A total fabrication," said Gossard, when asked about the game footage. "I remember that game being taped very well. The taping was edited to make it appear that Eddie had won. As it turned out, I beat Eddie pretty bad." In light of the footage, Gossard has stopped the release of the DVD until the game can be shown in its proper historical context. "I beat Eddie's ass," a defiant Gossard yelled as he watched the final cut of the footage this weekend. "This will not stand."
Vedder, who is currently in New Zealand on vacation, was asked via phone about the incident. "I think if you watch the footage on the DVD, you will know who the big dog is when it comes to ping-pong." When asked about the origional tapes of the footage, band manager Kelly Curtis replied, "The last person I saw with them was Eddie. He said he wanted to hold on to them." When asked about the origionals, Vedder said, "Oh, those...funny thing. The airline lost one of my bags, and I think the tapes where in them." When asked to respond to the growing accusations that he had doctored the footage of the game, Vedder replied, "All I know is that I am the ping-pong champion in Pearl Jam."
Sony does not have a date set for the official release of "Touring Band 2000." When asked, the sony executive said, "This is a very serious situation and we are trying to mediate it as best as possible. We are aware that honor is at stake, and are trying to resolve the situation in the best way for both parites." When asked if a compromise could be reached, Gossard said, "Only if a disclaimer is run at the beginning proclaiming me winner of the game. Hey, I know that there are a lot of people anxious to see the DVD. But if Eddie is man enough to admit that I won, than I have no problem with the DVD being released as-is."
When asked about the possibility of adding a disclaimer to the DVD, Vedder responded, "Why do we need to do that? I won, you know." When pressed on the matter, Vedder said, "I think I left the iron on...I have to go. I rule." He then hung up the phone.
More information can be obtained as it develops on www.sonymusic.com.