Toronto — Craggy rockers crooned before an undulating ocean of barely dressed bodies yesterday as a joyful mood of celebration settled over the massive concert organized to lift this city out its SARS-induced funk.
If size is a measure of success, SARSstock — which folks on the field just called the Stones concert — was a triumph of immense proportions. By late afternoon, the crowd at the former Downsview air force based swelled to about 490,000 singing, sweating, swaying people.
It was a rare and rapturous event that brought together music fans, Canada's political elite and ordinary people who just wanted to be there. It was Woodstock, perhaps more civilized but with the same odour of marijuana permeating the air and young women dancing topless under cooling sprays of water.
When the Rolling Stones finally kicked off their set with Start Me Up, the hours of pent-up excitement burst forth in deafening applause.
Angus Young of AC/DC performs at Downsview Park in Toronto on Wednesday. (Donald Weber/The Globe and Mail)
Related Articles
"This is the biggest party in Toronto's history, right?" yelled frontman Mick Jagger who strutted the stage with trademark abandon. "You're here. We're here. Toronto is back and it's booming."
The rock legend had arrived backstage with his family in time to let his children see the performance of teen idol Justin Timberlake.
The days and weeks ahead will determine whether the visit by the Rolling Stones was enough to cure a lingering economic pall that began when SARS cut the heart out of the city's tourism industry. Less than a third of the tickets available for sale in the United States were actually purchased.
But, buoyed by the delirious atmosphere of celebration, those who were part of what will be remembered as one of the largest — and hottest — musical parties ever staged were ready to declare it the right prescription.
"It's awesome for Toronto," said John Hickey, 35, of nearby Brampton, who was wearing a top hat decorated with a red and white tinsel maple leaf.
"Look around," he said, motioning to the colossal crowd of people lining up for hot dogs, ice cream and water. "Nobody's afraid to come here."
They were the words concert organizers had hoped to hear.
Liberal Senator Jerry Grafstein, who dreamed up the idea of a Woodstock-style event with Toronto Liberal MP Dennis Mills only a few months ago, delighted in his accomplishment.
"Our objective from Day 1 was to erase the negative messages with respect to Toronto," he said. "A picture is worth a million words, and take a look at that picture. Who can say that Toronto is not a healthy, happy place when you see that picture?"
That picture — which was broadcast worldwide on CNN — was a field of hot, happy people.
The concert "certainly sends a large international message to everybody that Toronto is open for business," said Premier Ernie Eves while barbecuing a slab of Alberta beef.
The beleaguered beef industry, stung by fears of mad-cow disease, hitched a ride on the SARS event. Three premiers, including Alberta's Ralph Klein, stood beside Mr. Klein to flip burgers on grills that stretched the length of four football fields.
"It shows Canada works together when faced with adversity," said Manitoba Premier Gary Doer while Lorne Calvert of Saskatchewan shook hands with the youngsters drawn by the aroma of sizzling beef. Paul Martin, the man pegged to succeed John Chrétien as prime minister, also strolled through the crowd as did federal Health Minister Anne McLellan.
But the hundreds of thousands who converged on the north Toronto park did not come to listen to political statements. They came for the music — and to be part of what people who grew up listening to the Rolling Stones might call "a happening."
More than 66,000 of the hardiest actually slept overnight outside the grounds to be among the first through the gates.
"I think we might have picked a bad place," said Steve Johnston, 46, of Shelbourne, Ont., who joined the line at 3 a.m. The stream of people trying to navigate the giant airfield kept stepping on his blanket and bumping into him.
Still, Mr. Johnston said he wasn't bothered by being jostled. It was all part of the "Woodstock type of appeal" he came to experience.
The musical sets leading up to the Rolling Stones were short, just a few songs each. And entertainers such as Sass Jordan, Blue Rodeo and Tea Party were not given much time to kibbitz with the crowd.
But the mood on stage mirrored the optimism of the organizers.
"We're bringing this city back," said actor Jim Belushi, who joined master of ceremonies Dan Aykroyd or a set by their Have Love Will Travel Revue blues band.
"We are at the greatest rock-and-roll show ever put on planet earth," piped in Mr. Aykroyd, a Canadian.
The concert was paid for by public and private sector, with at least $3.5-million invested by the federal government, $2-million from Ontario and the remainder by corporate sponsors, with Molson leading the pack.
The teenagers who dominated the crowd seemed enthralled with the entertainment despite the fact that many of those on stage, like the Isley Brothers, were making music decades before they were born.
They certainly cheered when Angus Young, the lead guitarist of AC/DC, did a mock striptease to reveal shorts decorated with the Canadian flag.
Backstage, Guess Who's Randy Bachman gave Mr. Timberlake a CD of a song he had written especially for the young performer.
"He said 'Thanks, man,' " said Mr. Bachman, a founding member of the Canadian classic rock quintet. "Then his bodyguard said, 'Get out of here, who are you?'—"
While multiple generations mingled behind the scenes, multiple generations of fans shared ground out front.
In one small patch of grass, a 67-year-old woman wheeled her chair toward the handicap zone while a 56-year-old man in a Tilley hat strained through binoculars to see singer Sam Roberts, and a Trent University student soaked up the sun.
The loudest cheers of the afternoon came when a svelte blonde hopped on top of a cube van, lifted her top and gave a big wave. She followed this by lowering her skirt to her thighs, drawing even more cheers.
But, dressed or not, there was no beating the heat.
Water was in scarce supply and was initially being sold for $3 a bottle. As a result, more than 30 people an hour were arriving at the first-aid area suffering from heat exhaustion.
Jo-Ann McArthur, president of Molson Sport and Entertainment, said organizers began distributede 950,000 free bottles of water.
Both outside and inside the venue, crowds were the order of the day. It took Paul Burgess, 38, over an hour to get pizza. Mr. Burgess, who came from Collingwood, Ont., said he didn't mind the lines because it was a nice day and "everyone is being really friendly."
He also said it is a small price to pay for being at a historic event.
"Ten years from now you tell people you were at this show and they'll know what you are talking about."
Others were not so patient.
"This stopped being fun a long time ago," one fan said before she gave up on getting back to her seat and returned to the food tents.
Some even left early.
"We were at the front and it was really dangerous. The way people were pushing I was having trouble breathing," said 20-year-old Alex Serkis of Scarborough, Ont., who slept outside the grounds overnight with his 15-year-old brother then left before the Stones took to the stage.
But most those who joined the sweltering mass of humanity said it was the place they wanted to be on this very special day.
"We're making history here. It's magic," said Jerry Chevalier of Sarnia, Ont., who was dressed in a black vest and tie in an homage to Mr. Young of AC/DC.
"I think this show is going to do what it was meant to . . . it's going to say what a great city Toronto is. Toronto is a fantastic city!"
With reports from Jonathan Fowlie, Jeff Gray, Luma Mutahdie, Sahm Adrangi and The Canadian Press
