Wu-Tang Clan headlines at at Rock the Bells at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Sept. 8, 2013. (David Bauman/Staff Photographer)
One of the most hyped sets of the weekend at Rock the Bells’ kickoff date at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore hit a sour note Sunday night due to technical difficulties.
Headlining act Wu-Tang Clan was joined by a virtual version of late member ODB. The group’s last performance with ODB was at the original Rock the Bells at the National Orange Show Events Center in 2004. He died a few months later.
On Sunday night, Wu-Tang was the closing act on the main stage for the festival, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The band came on stage a little bit late , but as soon as they appeared, the hands of thousands of fans went in the air and the palms made a “W” shape.
The group had the crowd going with his such as “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta … Wit” and “C.R.E.A.M.” and about a half dozen other songs before technical difficulties cut the backing track.
At first, Wu-Tang member Method Man tried to improvise, freestyling.
Method Man performs onstage with Wu-Tang Clan at Rock the Bells at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Sept. 8, 2013. (David Bauman/Staff Photographer)
Then, when the backing track was still down, he became more agitated.
“This … don’t happen at rock ‘n’ roll concerts,” he said.
His ire rose and he growled, called out fest founder Chang Weisberg from the stage and threatened to leave if things weren’t fixed soon, ODB hologram or not.
Fellow Wu-Tang Clan member The RZA tried to put the situation in perspective, citing the group’s own computer going down, explaining that there was a lot of technical equipment involved for the virtual performance.
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When the music came back, it sped up and Method Man got angry again and suddenly it was time for the hologram. Like Saturday night for Eazy-E, a stage lowered from the ceiling. The RZA tried to get everyone to summon ODB by chanting his name like in the lyrics to the song “Method Man.”
“If you say it loud enough I think he might appear,” The RZA said.
And then, he did. Dressed in an orange shirt and jeans, the wildest member of Wu-Tang appeared and started performing “Shame on a …”
Wu-Tang Clan performs with a virtual ODB Sunday, Sept. 8 after technical difficulties at Rock the Bells. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)
Unlike Eazy-E’s virtual performance, which was understated, ODB, moved around, leapt, danced from side to side and flailed his arms.
His son, Young Dirty …, who was the model for the hologram, joined him on stage to perform “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.”
After that, ODB was gone and a three-dimensional Wu-Tang Clan logo floated and spun in his place while the group started “Duel of the Iron Mic.”
After ODB disappeared, some fans started to head toward the exits. The events from before the hologram stole the thunder from what could have been a truly memorable performance for the right reasons.
As far as onstage tantrums go, Method Man only ranks number three on the list of those I’ve personally witnessed. Sly Stone’s epic meltdown at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival back in 2010 is still number one, followed by Shelby Lynne’s profanity-laced tirade at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival back in 2008.