Boone Tests His Metal Again in Show at Fair

Pat Boone left the tattoos and earrings at home while performing Sunday evening at the Orange County Fair. And even though he played a healthy sampling of his easy-listening oldies, he was still in a mood to play heavy metal, and to show off a modified version of the look that landed him in so much trouble.

Unlike the first time Boone showed up publicly with a new look made of leather and dark glasses, his appearance Sunday seemed to meet with no controversy or comment--just an enthusiastic crowd of about 5,500.

Decked out in a more traditional star-spangled leather jacket and white slacks and shoes, Boone literally rolled onto the stage, atop a Harley-Davidson. He and his 10-piece band then began their 70-minute early show with a string of the crooner’s well-known hits, including Ivory Joe Hunter’s “I Almost Lost My Mind,” “Love Letters in the Sand” and Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That a Shame.”

The crowd warmed to Boone’s gentle between-song banter, particularly when he invited a 5-year-old girl onstage to receive her first bouquet of flowers. But then he warned everyone: “I’ve got the metal mood under control, but it may come without warning at any time.”

Sure enough. Boone sauntered offstage only to return dressed in a black leather vest and pair of pants to sing Alice Cooper’s “No More Mr. Nice Guy.” Boone even tellingly introduced Metallica’s “Enter the Sandman” by saying: “This song’s about a father saying prayers with his son before bedtime. I bet you didn’t know that . . . but listen to the words.”

Sunday was Boone’s first public performance since he made major waves in religious circles with an appearance on national television in January for the American Music Awards, clad in chest-baring leather, a studded dog collar, clip-on earrings and fake tattoos. The outfit was a stunt to promote his latest album, “In a Metal Mood/No More Mister Nice Guy.”

But some people weren’t laughing back in January, particularly viewers of Tustin-based Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), which provides Christian programming 24 hours a day to nearly 400 cable and TV stations worldwide.

A month after the awards show aired, TBN canceled Boone’s weekly half-hour “Gospel America” program, citing thousands of complaints from viewers. Then in April, Boone appeared with network President Paul Crouch on the “Praise the Lord” program to explain his motives and perform some damage control.

A viewer poll taken at that time indicated that viewers were in favor--10 to 1--of Boone’s program returning to TBN. But today, almost three months later, Boone still isn’t back on the air, although a Trinity spokesman said Friday that negotiations are ongoing.

On Sunday, he performed several pieces from “In a Metal Mood,” which is dominated by big-band arrangements of songs by Deep Purple, Van Halen, Alice Cooper and Led Zeppelin, among others.

His dalliance with heavy metal continues the theme that has carried through Boone’s long career. In the 1950s, Boone became a teen idol singing homogenized renditions of raucous songs by rock and R&B; artists, many of them black, whose own recordings were considered too raw for mainstream audiences.

Most fair-goers Sunday evening seemed to support Boone, whether in his new heavy-metal incarnation or singing his old easy-listening hits.

One sporting a braided beard, 22-year-old Joey Aszterbaum of Fullerton, said he has become one of Boone’s biggest fans “only I didn’t know it until I got his metal album.”

“I don’t know what the Christian people were thinking by criticizing him,” Aszterbaum said. “Has he lost his values just because he’s trying something new that’s light and humorous?”

Jim and Pam Langford of Dana Point, both in their 50s, agreed. “I don’t think he sold anybody down the river. He’s just heading into a different direction,” Pam Langford said.

Kevin and Jan Anderson of Anaheim describe themselves as born-again Christians who remain Boone supporters.

“I think the Christian reaction was blown out of proportion,” said Kevin Anderson, 56.

“People aren’t perfect. We all make mistakes,” added Jan Anderson, 55. “His leather-clad appearance [on the American Music awards] didn’t present the wholesome image we’ve known him for, but what’s the harm, really?”

After the performance, Boone expressed pleasure.

“[TBN’s] Crouch and I just aren’t on the same wavelength musically right now,” Boone said. “These rock songs are all very good, and if you can’t have a little fun with ‘em, I believe we’re all in trouble.”