Pearl Jam fans met by Donald Trump baby blimp at London The O2 gig
The band personally requested it
The Donald Trump baby blimp made an appearance at London’s The O2 last night (17th July) – at Pearl Jam’s personal request.
Fans walking up to the Greenwich peninsula venue were met with the infamous blimp that was used at President Trump protests in London on Friday and Edinburgh over the weekend.
It’s emerged that Pearl Jam, who are outspoken critics of the President, personally requested for the blimp – also known as the blump (a portmanteau of ‘blimp’ and ‘Trump’) - to appear at last night’s show.
Download Festival booker and Live Nation’s president of UK touring, Andy Copping, shared a photo of the blimp shortly before the show, writing: “When Pearl Jam want the blump, we get them the blump.
“Anyone coming to the Pearl Jam show at the London o2 tonight will get to see this as they come out of the tube station. #pearljam #eddievedder #jeffament #mattcameron #mikemccready #o2 #o2arena #blimp #blump #livenation”.
Many fans took to social media to post photos of the £17,300 blimp, which will travel to New Jersey next month for a protest.
According to the activists behind the crowdfunded blimp, the inflatable has "tiny hands and a malevolent, constipated expression on his face" and is dressed in a nappy while clutching an iPhone.
Pearl Jam’s gig last night was rearranged from 19th June when the band were forced to postpone due to Eddie Vedder losing his voice. It was the first gig they axed for this reason in their 28-year history.
Speaking in issue 8 of Planet Rock Magazine, Andy Copping listed Pearl Jam as among the bands still on his Download Festival wish list.
Asked if there’s a dream booking he’s kept chasing but hasn’t managed to secure yet, Copping replied: “There’s a few actually: Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Van Halen… we’ve been unbelievably close on all those acts. In fact, Pearl Jam and Van Halen have both confirmed previously, but had to pull out for different reasons.
“And with Foo Fighters, we thought we had them and then Dave (Grohl) broke his leg (from falling off the stage at Gothenburg’s Ullevi Stadium in June 2015).
“If Led Zeppelin ever decide to reform, I’ll definitely be seeking them out!”
You can read more about the Andy Copping interview right here