Should Stevie drop the Edge Walk?

[jannieC]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Also, I think she wears the gloves when it's cold, not because of germs.

Yes, because my hand flesh touched Stevie's hand flesh on the Gold Dust tour.

[Sorceress]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Also, I think she wears the gloves when it's cold, not because of germs.

Well, yes, it's true that Stevie often seems to be cold (wearing layers, big coats, etc) even when those around her are not. But, she doesn't wear the gloves for the entire show. She puts them on for some songs and not others--and always before the Edge walk for the last few times I've seen her. I do think it's connected with shaking hands, and like I said, I don't blame her if she's worried about germs or whatever. Maybe she wears them for the walk because they are slippery and it is easier to pull her hand out of the grip of an overzealous fan. At least she's not putting on latex gloves or pulling out her Purrell on-stage.

[Musicman408]

If she ever did away with the walk I would be crushed.

[LngPrmsdRd]

I too think she should keep it, because like Nancy said, it's not her fault but that of selfish fans. And as well, it really IS just like the GYOW madness...in fact, I've been more assaulted during the GYOW guitar-playing craziness than the one and only time I was able to run forward for the Edge walk! Yet to me...it's horrible and rude and I am shocked and appalled at the gum-in-the-hair story...but it's the unfortunate price you pay for that moment with your heroine/hero, IMHO. I *do* think that it should be limited to the first few rows...it sucks when you're further back, but really, it's *really* not fair to those down front. And it just makes for a madhouse if you have the entire theater converging on the front row. I think maybe the first 10 rows or something should have the ability to go down there, not during the *entire* show, but the encore or whatever. You know? Give it a time and space limit.

(So says she who has admittedly seat-hopped like crazy, including one memorable night in Detroit where she never even saw her 17th row seat, and got to shake Stevie's hand because of it. However, there's a line you have to draw between fandom and assault. Running forward and squeezing a bit to try to get closer is honestly to be expected at a rock concert...shoving and punching and clawing and yelling is just wrong, and I think it's up to fans to be a little more respectful and venue security to remove people who are doing these things.)

[LoriOberg]

I was a Stevie concert virgin till last week so I would like to see the Edge Walk kept in hopes that one day I will be able to get close enough to shake her hand too! I think it's nice that she does that BUT I think that just the people in the first rows should be allowed to do it. It should be a part of their experience for scoring the "hot" seats.. lol. I really do think it's disgusting though that people feel the need to shove & HURT people just to get to her. If everyone "behaved" it would give more people an opportunity to experience it without feeling like cattle during a stampede.. lol.

[ShangriLaTroubl]

Take AWAY the edge walk? Our longest held tradition as fans? That's blasphemy! I would venture to say that most people in the front row who don't want people "blocking their view" or encroaching on their precious space, are not real hardcore fans anyway. We all know that generally those who score front row seats, half the time don't give a crap about the artist they are seeing.

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by sodascouts

It's easy for those who have had the opportunity to touch Stevie's hand to just shrug and say "Stevie should drop it!" You've got yours, after all. But people are forgetting not everyone is as hardcore as they are. The assumption that there will never be a new fan eager to touch her hand for the first time - maybe someone who's never been that close before - is flawed, IMHO. I assure you that it is not accurate that 100% of Stevie fans who want to touch her hand have done so. I daresay many on this forum can attest to that fact.

I absolutely agree. If she ever comes back to Europe I'd have the time of my life, Edge walk or no, but I'd hate to think that it was dropped after all this time because of people being rough. A few posters say it's "got too dangerous" -- was it less rough a few years back, or when she started doing it in the 80s? Just curious...

Nobody complained about the rush when Lindsey let people touch his guitar at the end of GYOW. I remember very well getting crushed at Mac shows at that point, and it wasn't any more spontaneous than the Edge walk. What's the difference?

Good point.

The idea about multiple walks during the show doesn't solve the problem; the same people in the front couple rows will get to touch her hand again and again because no one else will be able to get down in time - although you can be sure some folks will try, causing even more chaos. That seems kind of pointless.

Yeppers.

I believe that limiting the amount of people who can come up is a good practical solution, if not ideal. The first few rows, such as the pit section, would be enough.

True. It really isn't fair to have people from ten and twenty rows back getting their moment because they were rough.