Return to Joan Jett

KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL

Screaming fans dial 'M' for music

Joan Jett, Jag Star and Lifehouse rock Knox at U.S.
Cellular bash
By CHLOE WHITE, news@knews.com
April 29, 2007

You only turn 21 once.

So U.S. Cellular decided to celebrate the company's 21st birthday with a free rock concert Saturday at World's Fair Park. The U.S. Cellular Rox Knox concert included rock veterans Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Knoxville-based band Jag Star and popular rock band Lifehouse.

The company decided to host the event because it "wanted to celebrate with the community that helped us become so successful," said U.S. Cellular regional vice president Tom Catani. "This is a very changing industry, but one thing that hasn't changed is U.S. Cellular and this town."

Although the gates were not scheduled to open until 2:30 p.m., some music fans got in line as early as 7 a.m., said Scott Brooks, account executive with Moxley Carmichael. By the time the gates opened, the line wrapped from World's Fair Park along 11th Street all the way up Cumberland Avenue toward Henley Street.

Stephanie Hatcher said she was worried she would not be able to get in. Hatcher said she grew up listening to Joan Jett, and when she heard about the free concert, she "went right away" to get tickets for herself and her mother-in-law, Diane Hatcher, who is
also a Jett fan. Decked out in Jett T-shirts, they parked themselves early in front of the stage and decided to "make a day of it," Diane Hatcher said.

Vicki Galyon of Maryville got in line at 11 a.m. Saturday with her daughters, Kelley Quiett, 18, and Jessie Quiett, 16. As soon as the gates opened, the trio claimed their spot in the front row.

"Joan Jett is the only person I came here for. I've been a Joan Jett fan since I was 13," said Galyon, now 36. Her daughters grew up listening to Jett, said Galyon, and Jessie Quiett has been "waiting on (the concert) since (U.S. Cellular) first announced it."

Tammy Morrison and Ray Capps, both Joan Jett fans, arrived early to stake out a good spot in front of the stage with a blanket. Morrison's daughter, Kayla, 14, said she tagged along to hear Lifehouse.

Branda Giles of Knoxville remembers when she was in middle school and her mother took her to see Joan Jett in Johnson City.

On Saturday, Giles had the opportunity to bring her own children, Brianna, 8, and Corey, 5.

"These are my rocker kids," Giles joked.

Vanessa Cox also grew up listening to Joan Jett. "I'm an '80s child," Cox said.

Her daughter, Courtney, 19, grew up listening to Jett's music, and they both had the opportunity to see Jett live Saturday.

Christie Graves and a man who identified himself as E. Graves came from Nashville to see Jag Star. They brought their 6-month-old daughter, Sydney, "the youngest Jag Star fan," E. Graves said.

While music fans crowded around the stage, others enjoyed food and beverages from the numerous vendors or took advantage of the activities offered by U.S. Cellular, including a phone engraving station and a phone booth that contained a computer on which eventgoers could input the numbers printed on their wristbands and win a prize.

Prizes ranged from drink cozies to T-shirts to cell phones.

U.S. Cellular launched free registration for the event a month ago, but because of attendance limits at the park, the tickets ran out earlier this week. Catani said 20,000 wristbands were given out, but the park could only accommodate 10,000 at a time.

By the time Jag Star took the stage at 4:30 p.m., officials estimated attendance was already at 4,400.

"I'm very pleased with the turnout," Catani said. "We think 21 is a cool age. Now we just want to party."