Kanye's Bonnaroo Troubles

As we alluded to yesterday, whether his fault or not, Kanye West has been bombarded by negative criticism thanks to a problem-filled Bonnaroo set over the weekend.

After originally having been scheduled to perform the What Stage at 8:00 pm on Saturday night, at the last minute, West had his performance time changed to 2:15 am, in order for the hip-hop MC to "fully present his critically acclaimed 'Glow In The Dark' show" in the pitch black of night. However, when fans began to gather around the Manchester, Tennessee's main stage during the early morning hours of Sunday, little did they know that it would be more than two hours before West would actually appear.

As the performance time was continuously pushed backed, fans began to become restless - entertaining themselves by doing everything from throwing glow sticks at West's elaborate stage setup to collectively chanting "Kanye sucks." Finally, at 4:27 am, clothed in his glowing, neo-80's outfit and over-sized sunglasses, Kanye West took the stage for his Bonnaroo performance.

Ironically, the "Glow in the Dark" performance was cut short by the first glimpses of the rising sun, resulting in a set lasting just one hour. West offered no explanation for the delay, nor apologized to the waiting fans, instead, he simply trudged through a set featuring deafening renditions of Stronger and Flashing Lights that both drowned out the boos and surely awoke any nearby camper.

The early morning concert resulted in equally loud criticism. "[Kanye] made no friends at Bonnaroo—and that's hard to accomplish," wrote Josh Jackson of Paste Magazine, while blogger JuneBugJenkins declared, "He did Kanye’s show for Kanye." Fellow musicians even joined in, as everyone from Zach Rouge of Rogue Wave to Robert Randolph could be heard mocking the rapper's actions during the final day of Bonnaroo.

The festival's official statement blamed stage setup problems for the delay - a result of Pearl Jam's extended, three-hour set and the time required to ready Kanye's elaborate stage production. However, several other media outlets have reported that it was the rapper's decision alone that delayed the performance.

According to the Rolling Stone, West "didn’t want to go on until Phil Lesh and Sigur Ros had finished playing their late-night sets on Bonnaroo’s other stages" so he would be the lone act performing, while other reports claim West's attendance at a Hot 107.9 surprise birthday bash led to his delay.

Whatever indeed was the case, neither Kanye, nor his repersentives have yet to issue an apology or even an official statement of explanation on the matter. Instead, the blogosphere continues to mock and criticize the Grammy award winning rapper for what appears to be yet another in a string of recent Kanye 'me' moments.

Comments

[imbacktoblack]

that would be amazing if kanye pulled that off on that AGT tonite. I just might give him the 100 million to 'em. check out his competition nbc.com/americas_got_talent/video/index.shtml#mea=262137

[Briggs]

Kanye moved his show back so that he could perform in Atlanta that same night. I am shocked that people keep buying his bullshit excuses for moving his set time/being late.
Plus I think you linked to the wrong 107.9 website.

Be sure to head over to Hot 107.9 and vote for Kanye as the “artist” that smashed the birthday bash.
http://www.hot1079atl.com/Article.asp?id=747738

[Josh]

I was at Bonnaroo and waited for kanye, and now knowing what an egotistical asshole this guy really is, has completely turned me off to him. You were one of the main reasons why we came to Bonnaroo this year but you let us down...thank god the other artists there more than made up for it.

[Chuck]

Not for nothing but I was in the audience from the first boo and nobody chanted Kayne Sucks. I recall a single glow stick on stage. Nonetheless I completely agree... He really threw out the baby and tried to raise the afterbirth. I'm so sorry to Talib for missing his show...

[Chuck]

Not for nothing but I was in the audience from the first boo and nobody chanted Kayne Sucks. I recall a single glow stick on stage. Nonetheless I completely agree... He really threw out the baby and tried to raise the afterbirth. I'm so sorry to Talib for missing his show...

[Shutter Shades]

Kanye sucks !~

[Lewis]

yea they didnt chant kanye sucks at his show.
that was the widespread panic crowd the following night.

[Sugar]

I like Kanye before bonnaroo...and so I waited it out, but he came on stage, talking to his spaceship CPU woman, SO LAME! He never once greeted the croud or said whats up, or maybe even apologize for being so late...nothing. He just rapped along with his songs that you hear on the radio. KANYE SUCKS!