Walkouts read riot act to Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam is no Dixie Chicks, but the rock band’s anti-President Bush display during its Denver concert Wednesday triggered some negative reaction from its audience. The Rocky Mountain News reported Thursday that “dozens” of people walked out of Pepsi Center arena after singer Eddie Vedder placed a mask of President Bush on a microphone stand and then stomped it on the floor.

A statement Friday from Pearl Jam responding to that story said “it’s possible two dozen left during the encore but it was not noticeable amongst the 11,976 who were loudly applauding and enjoying the evening’s music.”

Earlier in the concert, which launched the Seattle band’s North American tour, Vedder spoke against U.S. policy in Iraq and in support of the military personnel there, and drew loud cheers when he challenged a heckler with comments about the right of free speech. The mask was deployed during “Bushleaguer,” an anti-Bush song from the band’s latest album, “Riot Act.”

The song and the likeness weren’t part of the band’s next show, Thursday in Oklahoma City, but that was simply a matter of a regular set list change, not any toning down, according to Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis.

“I’m sure it will come out again,” he said Friday. “It’s nothing new. He’s always been outspoken about Bush and nothing’s changed.”

Pearl Jam plays Bush’s home state with a show in San Antonio tonight.