Jerry Lee Lewis - "Great Balls of Fire" - Manchester, Iowa - July 2002

[rodrigoraulsuarez]

He did a great version. I think he couldn't hear himself while performing.

[busseybootlegger]

It doesn't show it in the footage but during the song they let off a couple huge Hiroshima mushroom clouds of fire directly behind the stage, we could feel the heat off of them clear up in the grandstand!! The Killer probably thought - I'm outta here, not only do they have a crappy sound system, now there trying to burn my butt cheeks off!!!!

[busseybootlegger]

Thank you for posting, one of the few songs the sound system was working ok from that night. Kenny Lovelace going out on a limb at the end of the song thanking the sound guys..........

[busseybootlegger]

Yes it was a debacle, not the Killers fault though he's not in charge of the sound system. Short 1/2 hour show, maybe that's all the fair payed for, or maybe JLL rapped it up because of the terrible sound system. As I recall, he sang 8 to 10 songs quickly, only around 4 of them the sound was ok. During the others the sound was cutting in and out, buzzing or as mentioned, several songs no sound at all. At one point the Killer says-"I don't know who the Hell's in charge of this sound system"!!

[ToSpeakIsASin1982]

JLL typically walks off during the middle of his final song. It has been like that for decades. Under the circumstances it is understandable why people might question why he did so. The show was a debacle but that was because the PA system quit working for 2 songs (couldn't hear him). Not his fault, but he kept playing still strangely He is an older man and may not have realized that wasn't the right thing to do. It was short...should have been at least 45 min. I did film the entire show..

[kc7fys]

Now my Dad, who gets 85% of his information either from James Dobson, Rush Limbaugh--or that Tutton up there at the barbershop--says this show was mistaken for the soundcheck, and that people were completely shocked that he walked off when he did. This shakycam video is an excellent relic from that time. Thank you again for posting it, and please put up any more snippets if you have them--aong with your account of the evening.

[kc7fys]

I have looked and looked for footage from this. Thank you! I hear his performance there was a debacle. I hope to hear the complete story, and see more video.

Thanks,

Jonathan Haynes, Manchester

[peterdchecksfield]

Wow, a real rarity, love it!!