Paparazzi

MANCHESTER, Tenn. (June 14) - Pearl Jam wowed the Bonnaroo crowd with a three-hour performance late Saturday night, returning the band to the grand stage of a music festival.In the midst of their concert - which went almost an hour longer than scheduled - lead singer Eddie Vedder acknowledged that the band thought they might never again play such a show - and "with good reason." In the summer of 2000, nine fans were trampled during Pearl Jam's performance at Denmark's Roskilde Festival - an experience that shook the band.

There were no mishaps at Bonnaroo, though, and Vedder's faith in festivals appeared to be restored."After seeing B.B. King and Jack Johnson and Cat Power, it makes you realize how it can work and be really ... great," Vedder said, referring to acts that played earlier Saturday. Pearl Jam also played Lollapalooza last year.If he wasn't already, Vedder appeared completely converted to the joys of mega festivals when the band played "Better Man." The audience sang along and lifted lighters in the air, and only then did Vedder realize how large the crowd was. He muttered, "That's ... beautiful."Pearl Jam was the main stage headliner Saturday at the annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, which is held on a giant 700-acre site south of Nashville. Kanye West was to play a glow-in-the-dark set beginning at 2:45 a.m. Sunday.The Friday night bill was led by comedian Chris Rock, who was followed by Metallica. Though the heavy metal band played a generally admired set, the Pearl Jam audience seemed larger and arguably more enthusiastic.