MovieChat Forums > The Concert in Central Park (1982) Discussion > deranged fan during 'The Late Great John...

deranged fan during 'The Late Great Johnny Ace'

posted 19 years ago by beavinator
7 replies | jump to latest

Hi folks. Just wondering if anybody here happens to know any of the story behind the deranged fan who jumps up on stage during Paul Simon's performance of "The Late Great Johnny Ace" in this show?

(For those who haven't seen it, this is a song which mentions the death of John Lennon, who was shot to death by a deranged fan while performing on stage. As Paul is singing the song, a man jumps up on stage and comes toward him shouting "Paul I need to talk to you!" Security grabs him before anything bad happens and Paul continues the performance, but appears quite understandably shaken.)

[–] thenewanton 19 years ago

Yeah. I was wondering the same thing and didn't really know what that guy said since I've only seen it once at my friends house. Mabye Paul knew the person somehow?

[–] sammyusa123 16 years ago

i just saw it and was wondering the same thing. what was the guys deal?

[–] alpur2-1 16 years ago

Well, I definitely don't think Paul knew him, giving the reaction Paul had.

Obviously at a rock concert it's not so uncommon for a fan to come on stage and try to get close to the performer. But at this performance it was very strange, and actually looked a bit scary. I mean Paul was playing such a soft melodic song and to have a crazy person just run right up to you like that, well that would scare me for sure. And who know's what that guy could've done to Paul had security not grabbed him.

There have been rumors that it's possible he ran up after Paul sang the line "When a man walked up to me and asked if I heard John Lennon had died?". But still it was very strange. Glad he was ok and was able to finish the song.

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

Four-plus years later, I must point out that John Lennon wasn't shot while performing onstage but while walking outside his apartment, the Dakota.

As for the fan, it is a truly unsettling moment, and Paul looks very alarmed for the rest of the song. But Paul and Art recover well for "Kodachrome" (which, by the way, has now been taken away). I would love to learn more about this fan, but I suspect he's been lost to the history books – probably justifiably so.

[–] NobodymournstheWicked 11 years ago

I have no idea, but I do know who you are talking about. And at what point you are taking about, but as far as I know he could have disappeared into thin air. I don't think it has ever been known what happened to him. Or even as far as how he got on stage in the first. So I have not heard of any story of what happened, like if he had gotten any trouble, and I don't think he wanted to kill Paul Simon, but Security made sure that it won't happen.

[–] mia17532 10 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nap6bNPU4qU I don't know if you've seen it, but there's Paul talking about it. The part starts at about 10:42.

[–] beavinator 10 years ago

Wow...it's not often you get an actual answer to a question you asked nine years previously. Thanks!