David Cassidy Concertgoer Says Light Glare Happened After Singer Requested Restraint

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to your article and the accompanying video regarding the David Cassidy concert in Peekskill last Friday night.

I am a resident of Cortlandt Manor, just a few minutes drive from the Paramount Theater in Peekskill, and I was in attendance at the concert. I've seen David Cassidy in concert once before, and he was fabulous. He still has a great voice, a wonderful stage presence, an amazing band, and he tells fantastic stories.

Friday night, at the beginning of the show, David walked out on stage while his band was jamming. He explained, very calmly, that he has had 5 eye surgeries (one very recently), and that he has a hard time seeing on stage with the spotlights and stage lights. He very politely asked the audience to turn the flashes and lights off on their phones and cameras, because it made it even harder for him to see. Immediately, phones went away. The few that stayed out were dimmed. The show began.

Midway through one song, someone in the balcony decided to press their luck and shone a light on David. You could tell it was affecting his performance. He stopped mid-song, the band soon followed suit, and he pointed towards the person and begged them to turn the light out. They refused (or feigned ignorance), and his tone grew harsher. He threatened to end the show, and understandably so because it was difficult for him to perform. When the person still refused to kill the extra light, David yelled out for an usher to step in. I couldn't see from my seat if the person was ejected or they took the hint and turned their phone off, but the issue was resolved, and David went on to finish the concert with the same energy and talent he displayed prior to the disruption.

This was not about ego. This was not about a former teen idol being a jerk. This was a musician asking for some consideration from his audience. These people don't owe us flash photography or a YouTube video, they owe us a concert. I paid to see David Cassidy perform live in front of me, not to watch him through my phone. He doesn't owe us likes, tweets, shares, thumbs up, comments, or views. We paid for a performance, that's all we were entitled to. And David could not stress enough how much he loves his fans, how grateful he is to be doing what he does, and how much he wanted to put on a good show for the crowd. It's unfortunate that one person almost spoiled it for the rest of us, and that only half the story is being told in the aftermath.

Having seen David twice in concert, I can say without doubt that he is a fabulous performer, and worthy of more respect than the recent reviews and the videos are giving him.

Thank you for taking the time to read my response.

Sincerely yours,
Margaret Canning
Cortlandt Manor, NY

SEE: David Cassidy Peekskill Concert Marred by Fan Flash Filming: Video