SHORT TAKES : Hank Jr. Wasn’t Rude, Just Sick

Hank Williams Jr.’s manager said today that the country singer cut short his performance Thursday at the World Music Theatre because of a stomach virus.

“He was ill before he ever left the office,” said Wilma Jackson, from Williams’ headquarters in Paris, Tenn. “On a lot of his songs he even had to sit down. It’s just a stomach virus.”

Williams performed about 40 minutes of a 90-minute concert Thursday night at the newly opened theater. His abrupt departure from the stage, with no explanation, left fans angry and hurt.

Thousands of people stormed out of the theater after throwing trash and bottles on the stage, said Prince Mayne, operations director for WCCQ-FM in Joliet, which plays a country music format.

“He was not very active on stage,” said Mayne, who attended the concert. “It wasn’t really right. He looked like he was working hard at trying to be up, but he just wasn’t there.”

Mayne said callers to the station this morning had a variety of reactions to the news Williams was ill. The near-sellout crowd of more than 30,000 had shouted obscenities after Williams left the stage.

Williams was expected to perform tonight at Alpine Valley, Wis., Jackson said.