Memorabilia
Rolling Stone Downsview Concert Seat
This was from the iconic concert at Downview park in July 2003 where the Rolling Stones, Guess Who, Rush AC/DC and Justin Timberlake performed (Sars Concert).We had no intention of going as we had my wife's niece from Ireland and my sister-in-law and brother-in-law in town and my daughter who was only 7 at time all staying at our house. Our house at the time was 2 blocks away from Downsview park and we could hear the activity coming from the half a million people.
So we decided I would use my Don Cherry Bubba of beer to pour some large containers of suds to the over age of our group and take a walk closer to the concert. Before we knew it, we were right in the concert as one of the gates was wide open so we all went in to enjoy the last hour.
I asked if anyone wanted to join me as I was going to look for the souvenir concession to get some memories of this occasion. My wife asked me to take my daughter as she liked souvenirs as well.
Well with the crowds and line ups to buy things, we finally picked up a bunch of stuff, Tea shirts, magnets etc. and we heard the announcement for all to exit in a safe and orderly manner. I am not known for my great sense of direction but can only see thousands of people going in all different directions. I knew I would not find the rest of my party so picked up my daughter Savannah in one arm and noticed people were taking the bridge type chairs as souvenirs. So I had Savannah in one hand and the chair in the other. There was no exit in site except a 6 or 7 foot fence that people were climbing.
I did what any good dad would do, I through the chair over the fence then handed my daughter on the other side of the fence to a stranger until I got all the way over and then continued my walk home. Yes, I knew the stranger wouldn’t run off with Savannah as she was getting cranky at this hour.
By the time we got home the rest of the gang were already home for an hour so were very worried so I didn’t tell them the fence story until the next day. Both the chair and Savannah made it home safely.