during the first Bacchanal to the Future in 2004.
Editor's note: The following is the second in a series of articles which revisit past NFFA Newswire coverage of significant events in the history of the league. This week, we commemorate this weekend's eight annual Bacchanal to the Future with a look back at our coverage of the very first Bacchanal.
BEELZEBUBS, BAKERS PLAN BACCHANALIA TO THE FUTURE
By Faith Popcorn
12th Avenue Bakers
11/24/2004 2:18:00 p.m.
The West Nashville Beelzebubbas and 12th Avenue Bakers have announced plans to wear vintage "throwback" uniforms for their big crosstown rivalry game this weekend.
Bakers' marketing minx Faith Popcorn revealed the uniforms, modeled by Steve McNair of the Bakers and Terrell Owens of the Beelzebubbas, at a press conference this morning. The most striking difference is that the uniforms will include the padded, facemask-less helmets worn by players in the 1930s. "We're getting back to manly football," Popcorn said.
Popcorn also announced one other notable uniform change for this week. At the request of Atlanta Smackdaddies' TE Alge Crumpler, the Beelzebubbas and Bakers will wear specially designed "Buddy's Buddies" patches on the seat of their pants. "The players and owners wanted to find a visible way to show that they are thinking about Coach Ryan and miss him," Popcorn said. She added that she did not know whether the teams would continue to wear the patches once they switch back to their contemporary uniforms.
In conjunction with the uniform change, the Bakers and Beelzebubbas will hold a massive Bacchanalia to the Future event at the Parthenon in Nashville. "We are expecting to be monetarily penalized by the league for unauthorized uniform changes," said Bakers owner G.Q. Denney in a statement. "So we're asking fans to bring donations to the party to help defray our fines." Any excess funds will be donated toward the Buddy's Buddies Foundation.
"It's going to be a real, old-fashioned Roman saturnalia," explained Popcorn, "such as has not been seen in Nashville since the last time Antonin Scalia was in town years ago. Mr. Denney says it's time to put the D back in debauchery."
Among the planned activities at the bacchanalia/wine kegger will be a "Goat's Head Ball" in the Parthenon's main room around the massive statue of Athena. An audience-participation reenactment of Mithraic cult rituals is planned for the lower level, along with showings of Fellini Satyricon ("for the artsy-fartsy crowd," said Popcorn). Along the northwest side of the building, organizers will set up what is believed to be the world's largest outdoor vomitorium for revelers who overindulge.
The gala also promises to be a star-studded event. A stage set up on the southwest side of the Parthenon will host performances by Ronee Blakley and Henry Gibson, who appeared there in the movie Nashville in 1975. Gibson, reprising the role of Haven Hamilton, plans to sing patriotic duets with Beelzebubbas' GM Jorge Linardo, with both men wearing matched Nudie suits for the occasion. Also scheduled to appear, though unconfirmed as of Wednesday morning, are Steven and Liv Tyler, Marilyn Manson, Alice Cooper, AC/DC and the surviving Village People. Local restaurateur and bon vivant Mario Ferrari will serve as emcee in the role of Dionysius, wearing a costume of his own design.
"We just wanted to do something to bring the community together in a spirit of love," said Beelzebubbas coach/owner Boyd X. Biggs. "There has been too much rancor in this league and not enough fun. In fact, a lot of players have been complaining that NFFA stands for "No Freakin' Fun Allowed." So as GQ likes to say, "We're just gonna let our freak flags fly."
In confirmation of a rumor that spread wildly around the city Wednesday, Popcorn acknowledged that the Beelzebubbas and Bakers are considering benching their entire rosters and allowing the game to end in a 0-0 tie, to symbolize how much they miss the sideline presence of Ryan. While admitting that no final decision is expected until just before game time, Popcorn emphasized that this is only one option under consideration. Another possibility, she said, is that the teams will start only those players who agree to take part in a "Gay for the Day" program as a show of solidarity with the league's gay and lesbian players and coaches.
Although the event was announced just one day beforehand, ticket sales already have been what one Bakers' official described as "fevered." Long lines snaked around the offices of both teams Wednesday afternoon. A crowd upwards of 50,000 was expected for the bacchanalia, the official said.
3,000 ARRESTED AT BACCHANALIA; BIG GAME GOES ON
By Ariel Mutha-Tafoya
FSN Sports
11/26/2004 12:19:00 p.m.
More than 3,000 people — including 214 Metro police officers — were arrested yesterday at the inaugural 'Bacchanalia to the Future' event in Nashville's Centennial Park. The Bacchanalia, announced only one day earlier, drew an estimated crowd of 80,000.
Organizers said the event came off "pretty much as we expected, except for the cops." Almost all of the arrests, said a police spokesperson, involved charges of indecent exposure.
During the Goats' Head Ball in the main room of the Parthenon, some party goers began removing their clothes, which started a chain reaction, witnesses said. "Within 10 minutes there must have been several thousand people running naked in the park," said Rock O'Kane, Chief Legal Counsel for the 12th Avenue Bakers. "Next to a pep rally I once saw at Texas A&M, it was the damnedest thing I ever witnessed."
Police turned the Temple of Athena into a giant holding pen as they began arresting nude partiers, who appeared undeterred by the 40-degree temperatures. Efforts to book suspects were complicated by the fact that none were carrying identification. According to the police spokesman, some of those arrested identified themselves with names that included Ernest T. Bass, Devlin des Guyes, Barbara Bush, I. P. Freeley and Wun Hung Lo.
Further complicating efforts at crowd contral was the bizarre behavior of the more than 200 Metro police officers who had been hired to provide security for the event. Witnesses said that just after the mass streaking began, some of the officers also began taking off their clothes. Others began forming a human pyramid in an apparent attempt to reach the top of the James Robertson obelisk. Still others jumped into Lake Watauga and began swimming with the geese and ducks.
Police backup units had to be called in to arrest the officers. A department source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many of the arrested officers believed that bottled water they had received from event staff had been spiked with LSD. Police detectives were looking into the charge.
Though his name did not appear in any police reports available to the media, two department sources said that Metro Police Chief Andy Serpas was among those arrested for indecent exposure. "You have to remember," said one source, 'that he grew up in New Orleans.'
Except for the mass arrests and police riot, the Bakers and West Nashville Beelzebubbas termed the event a huge success.
Though the teams considering benching their entire rosters yesterday, their game kicked off as planned, with the Beelzebubbas holding a 22-0 lead on Friday.
JOPLINS APPEAR AT BACCHANALIA
By Ariel Mutha-Tafoya
FSN Sports
11/26/2004 1:43:00 p.m.
Highlighting the star-studded entertainment lineup at Nashville's Bacchanalia to the Future celebration yesterday were what were announced to the stunned but exhilarated crowd as zombified resurrections of Scott and Janis Joplin.
Performances by the two Joplins (unrelated) had not been listed in the afternoon's entertainment schedule. At the end of the event, however, 12th Avenue Bakers owner GQ Denney took the microphone and said that he was pleased to introduce two of the most powerful musical influences upon his life. He gave no further introduction, but a person appearing to be Janis Joplin, moving very slowly, walked on stage and launched into soulful versions of "Another Piece of My Heart" and "Me and Bobby McGee."
While the audience was still applauding wildly after her mini-set ended, stage hands wheeled an upright piano onto the stage along with a person who appeared to area music writers to be composer Scott Joplin, who played a frenetic version of “Maple Leaf Rag.”
Then Janis reappeared with Denney, Leon Russell and Jakob Dylan, who together with Scott Joplin performed a rendition of the blues standard “Mystery Train.”
Other highlights of the extended concert, later dubbed “Deadstock” by a Rolling Stoned writer, included an acoustic duet of “Sweet Emotion” by Steven and Liv Tyler; a long set by the surviving Village People, and a surprisingly rocked-out version of “The South”s Gonna Do It Again” by Henry Gibson and Beelzebubbas” GM Jorge Linardo.
At the end of the show, Janis Joplin was joined by AC/DC as she sang lead vocals on “You Shook Me All Night Long.” The event concluded with all of the performers onstage to sing “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” which provided the emotional highlight of the afternoon.
Asked later about the zombie performers, an inebriated Denney said that he was considering adding more members to the band and launching what he described as a “Grateful Undead Tour.”
CELEBS WEIGH IN ON BACCHANALIA
By Ariel Mutha-Tafoya
FSN Sports
11/29/2004 11:44:00 a.m.
Critical praise continued to pour in on Monday from celebrities and music journalists for the Nashville Bacchanalia”s Concert for Buddy.
The music spectacular, which featured an unprecedented combination of live and undead performances, left viewers and guests awestruck at times.
FSN Sports sampled some of the reactions, including what some of those in attendance regarded as the concert highlights:
• Leon Redbone and Jorge Linardo performing “Jesus Just Left Chicago” — Rolling Stoned magazine
• Parliament's performance of “Tear the Roof Off the Sucka” — Ron Wynn, City Paper
• (Tie) “Time Won”t Let Me,” by the Zombies and Outkast's cover of “Sympathy for the Devil” — Peter Cooper, The Tennessean
• Ronny Cox and GQ Denney on “Dueling Banjos” — Hank III
• Henry Gibson/Haven Hamilton with David Lee Roth covering “God Bless America” — Michael Moore
• Levon Helm and Jakob Dylan performing “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” — Little Jimmy Dickens
• Ike Turner's performance of "Bad Moon Rising" — Leon Russell
• GQ Denney and Steven Tyler's duet of "Puff the Magic Dragon" — Keanu Reaves
After the concert, Denney said the Bakers are pursuing the possibility of expanding the team's zombification efforts and taking the Bacchanal on tour. Maybe it”s time to resurrect the Lollapalooza and Lilith concepts, Denney said. There are all kinds of possibilities. You could have Hank Williams and Bocephus together, Nat King Cole and Natalie, a non-surviving Beatles reunion. Jorge said he'd give his left nut to be able to perform “Break on Through” with Jim Morrison.”
In separate developments, police found what appeared to be a meth lab in a basement room of the Parthenon. “They've found weapons dumps in Iraq smaller than this sh--,” said one detective. Among the drug-making paraphernalia was a voodoo doll of the Beelzebubbas' Priest Holmes with needles protruding from its right leg. Holmes has been on the disabled list for three weeks. Police could not explain the presence or possible significance of the doll.
POPCORN FOUND; BAKER NATION BRACES FOR ANIMALS
By PR Dept.
12th Avenue Bakers
12/2/2004 6:47:00 p.m.
NEW YORK—12th Avenue Bakers marketing maven Faith Popcorn, missing since last weekend's Bacchanalia to the Future celebration in Nashville, has been found wandering Madison Avenue barefoot and confused.
Ms. Popcorn was spotted by the NYPD in a purple and black Beelzebubba's cheerleading outfit turned wrongside out as she attempted to steal a black standard poodle from a pedestrian. After a short foot chase, Ms. Popcorn was apprehended.
“We”re just happy she's safe,” said team owner Warren G.Q. Denney. “They say she's a little worse for the wear but doing well considering the fact that she was flown to New York in a large animal carrier.”
Baggage handlers at Kennedy Int'l Airport reported a disheveled woman running from the tarmac after the carrier fell from hold, disgorging her body. Popcorn has made one statement to the NYPD — “I am Haven Hamilton” — as she continues to be held for observation.
“We'd obviously like to get her out in time for the big game this weekend with the Animals,” said Denney. “I can”t help but think this was some form of payback by Jorge and Boyd X. — I hear thee my Dark Lord and I obey — for the thrashing they took — a barbed penis will do nicely yes — at our hands on Sunday. The soul is but one part of the man.”
Meanwhile, preparations were being made at Magna Circus Stadium in Nashville to host the league-leading Cambridge eleven. An overflow crowd is expected and hopes are running high in Bakertown with the playoffs within sight. Adding to the anticipation is the reopening of the Cherry Bomb Cafe on Saturday night, the club considered to be the spiritual center of the Baker Nation.
“We have a name for animals down here,” said Denney. “Critters.”
Bakers' marketing minx Faith Popcorn revealed the uniforms, modeled by Steve McNair of the Bakers and Terrell Owens of the Beelzebubbas, at a press conference this morning. The most striking difference is that the uniforms will include the padded, facemask-less helmets worn by players in the 1930s. "We're getting back to manly football," Popcorn said.
Popcorn also announced one other notable uniform change for this week. At the request of Atlanta Smackdaddies' TE Alge Crumpler, the Beelzebubbas and Bakers will wear specially designed "Buddy's Buddies" patches on the seat of their pants. "The players and owners wanted to find a visible way to show that they are thinking about Coach Ryan and miss him," Popcorn said. She added that she did not know whether the teams would continue to wear the patches once they switch back to their contemporary uniforms.
In conjunction with the uniform change, the Bakers and Beelzebubbas will hold a massive Bacchanalia to the Future event at the Parthenon in Nashville. "We are expecting to be monetarily penalized by the league for unauthorized uniform changes," said Bakers owner G.Q. Denney in a statement. "So we're asking fans to bring donations to the party to help defray our fines." Any excess funds will be donated toward the Buddy's Buddies Foundation.
"It's going to be a real, old-fashioned Roman saturnalia," explained Popcorn, "such as has not been seen in Nashville since the last time Antonin Scalia was in town years ago. Mr. Denney says it's time to put the D back in debauchery."
Among the planned activities at the bacchanalia/wine kegger will be a "Goat's Head Ball" in the Parthenon's main room around the massive statue of Athena. An audience-participation reenactment of Mithraic cult rituals is planned for the lower level, along with showings of Fellini Satyricon ("for the artsy-fartsy crowd," said Popcorn). Along the northwest side of the building, organizers will set up what is believed to be the world's largest outdoor vomitorium for revelers who overindulge.
The gala also promises to be a star-studded event. A stage set up on the southwest side of the Parthenon will host performances by Ronee Blakley and Henry Gibson, who appeared there in the movie Nashville in 1975. Gibson, reprising the role of Haven Hamilton, plans to sing patriotic duets with Beelzebubbas' GM Jorge Linardo, with both men wearing matched Nudie suits for the occasion. Also scheduled to appear, though unconfirmed as of Wednesday morning, are Steven and Liv Tyler, Marilyn Manson, Alice Cooper, AC/DC and the surviving Village People. Local restaurateur and bon vivant Mario Ferrari will serve as emcee in the role of Dionysius, wearing a costume of his own design.
"We just wanted to do something to bring the community together in a spirit of love," said Beelzebubbas coach/owner Boyd X. Biggs. "There has been too much rancor in this league and not enough fun. In fact, a lot of players have been complaining that NFFA stands for "No Freakin' Fun Allowed." So as GQ likes to say, "We're just gonna let our freak flags fly."
In confirmation of a rumor that spread wildly around the city Wednesday, Popcorn acknowledged that the Beelzebubbas and Bakers are considering benching their entire rosters and allowing the game to end in a 0-0 tie, to symbolize how much they miss the sideline presence of Ryan. While admitting that no final decision is expected until just before game time, Popcorn emphasized that this is only one option under consideration. Another possibility, she said, is that the teams will start only those players who agree to take part in a "Gay for the Day" program as a show of solidarity with the league's gay and lesbian players and coaches.
Although the event was announced just one day beforehand, ticket sales already have been what one Bakers' official described as "fevered." Long lines snaked around the offices of both teams Wednesday afternoon. A crowd upwards of 50,000 was expected for the bacchanalia, the official said.
3,000 ARRESTED AT BACCHANALIA; BIG GAME GOES ON
By Ariel Mutha-Tafoya
FSN Sports
11/26/2004 12:19:00 p.m.
More than 3,000 people — including 214 Metro police officers — were arrested yesterday at the inaugural 'Bacchanalia to the Future' event in Nashville's Centennial Park. The Bacchanalia, announced only one day earlier, drew an estimated crowd of 80,000.
Organizers said the event came off "pretty much as we expected, except for the cops." Almost all of the arrests, said a police spokesperson, involved charges of indecent exposure.
During the Goats' Head Ball in the main room of the Parthenon, some party goers began removing their clothes, which started a chain reaction, witnesses said. "Within 10 minutes there must have been several thousand people running naked in the park," said Rock O'Kane, Chief Legal Counsel for the 12th Avenue Bakers. "Next to a pep rally I once saw at Texas A&M, it was the damnedest thing I ever witnessed."
Police turned the Temple of Athena into a giant holding pen as they began arresting nude partiers, who appeared undeterred by the 40-degree temperatures. Efforts to book suspects were complicated by the fact that none were carrying identification. According to the police spokesman, some of those arrested identified themselves with names that included Ernest T. Bass, Devlin des Guyes, Barbara Bush, I. P. Freeley and Wun Hung Lo.
Further complicating efforts at crowd contral was the bizarre behavior of the more than 200 Metro police officers who had been hired to provide security for the event. Witnesses said that just after the mass streaking began, some of the officers also began taking off their clothes. Others began forming a human pyramid in an apparent attempt to reach the top of the James Robertson obelisk. Still others jumped into Lake Watauga and began swimming with the geese and ducks.
Police backup units had to be called in to arrest the officers. A department source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many of the arrested officers believed that bottled water they had received from event staff had been spiked with LSD. Police detectives were looking into the charge.
Though his name did not appear in any police reports available to the media, two department sources said that Metro Police Chief Andy Serpas was among those arrested for indecent exposure. "You have to remember," said one source, 'that he grew up in New Orleans.'
Except for the mass arrests and police riot, the Bakers and West Nashville Beelzebubbas termed the event a huge success.
Though the teams considering benching their entire rosters yesterday, their game kicked off as planned, with the Beelzebubbas holding a 22-0 lead on Friday.
JOPLINS APPEAR AT BACCHANALIA
By Ariel Mutha-Tafoya
FSN Sports
11/26/2004 1:43:00 p.m.
Highlighting the star-studded entertainment lineup at Nashville's Bacchanalia to the Future celebration yesterday were what were announced to the stunned but exhilarated crowd as zombified resurrections of Scott and Janis Joplin.
Performances by the two Joplins (unrelated) had not been listed in the afternoon's entertainment schedule. At the end of the event, however, 12th Avenue Bakers owner GQ Denney took the microphone and said that he was pleased to introduce two of the most powerful musical influences upon his life. He gave no further introduction, but a person appearing to be Janis Joplin, moving very slowly, walked on stage and launched into soulful versions of "Another Piece of My Heart" and "Me and Bobby McGee."
While the audience was still applauding wildly after her mini-set ended, stage hands wheeled an upright piano onto the stage along with a person who appeared to area music writers to be composer Scott Joplin, who played a frenetic version of “Maple Leaf Rag.”
Then Janis reappeared with Denney, Leon Russell and Jakob Dylan, who together with Scott Joplin performed a rendition of the blues standard “Mystery Train.”
Other highlights of the extended concert, later dubbed “Deadstock” by a Rolling Stoned writer, included an acoustic duet of “Sweet Emotion” by Steven and Liv Tyler; a long set by the surviving Village People, and a surprisingly rocked-out version of “The South”s Gonna Do It Again” by Henry Gibson and Beelzebubbas” GM Jorge Linardo.
At the end of the show, Janis Joplin was joined by AC/DC as she sang lead vocals on “You Shook Me All Night Long.” The event concluded with all of the performers onstage to sing “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” which provided the emotional highlight of the afternoon.
Asked later about the zombie performers, an inebriated Denney said that he was considering adding more members to the band and launching what he described as a “Grateful Undead Tour.”
CELEBS WEIGH IN ON BACCHANALIA
By Ariel Mutha-Tafoya
FSN Sports
11/29/2004 11:44:00 a.m.
Critical praise continued to pour in on Monday from celebrities and music journalists for the Nashville Bacchanalia”s Concert for Buddy.
The music spectacular, which featured an unprecedented combination of live and undead performances, left viewers and guests awestruck at times.
FSN Sports sampled some of the reactions, including what some of those in attendance regarded as the concert highlights:
• Leon Redbone and Jorge Linardo performing “Jesus Just Left Chicago” — Rolling Stoned magazine
• Parliament's performance of “Tear the Roof Off the Sucka” — Ron Wynn, City Paper
• (Tie) “Time Won”t Let Me,” by the Zombies and Outkast's cover of “Sympathy for the Devil” — Peter Cooper, The Tennessean
• Ronny Cox and GQ Denney on “Dueling Banjos” — Hank III
• Henry Gibson/Haven Hamilton with David Lee Roth covering “God Bless America” — Michael Moore
• Levon Helm and Jakob Dylan performing “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” — Little Jimmy Dickens
• Ike Turner's performance of "Bad Moon Rising" — Leon Russell
• GQ Denney and Steven Tyler's duet of "Puff the Magic Dragon" — Keanu Reaves
After the concert, Denney said the Bakers are pursuing the possibility of expanding the team's zombification efforts and taking the Bacchanal on tour. Maybe it”s time to resurrect the Lollapalooza and Lilith concepts, Denney said. There are all kinds of possibilities. You could have Hank Williams and Bocephus together, Nat King Cole and Natalie, a non-surviving Beatles reunion. Jorge said he'd give his left nut to be able to perform “Break on Through” with Jim Morrison.”
In separate developments, police found what appeared to be a meth lab in a basement room of the Parthenon. “They've found weapons dumps in Iraq smaller than this sh--,” said one detective. Among the drug-making paraphernalia was a voodoo doll of the Beelzebubbas' Priest Holmes with needles protruding from its right leg. Holmes has been on the disabled list for three weeks. Police could not explain the presence or possible significance of the doll.
POPCORN FOUND; BAKER NATION BRACES FOR ANIMALS
By PR Dept.
12th Avenue Bakers
12/2/2004 6:47:00 p.m.
NEW YORK—12th Avenue Bakers marketing maven Faith Popcorn, missing since last weekend's Bacchanalia to the Future celebration in Nashville, has been found wandering Madison Avenue barefoot and confused.
Ms. Popcorn was spotted by the NYPD in a purple and black Beelzebubba's cheerleading outfit turned wrongside out as she attempted to steal a black standard poodle from a pedestrian. After a short foot chase, Ms. Popcorn was apprehended.
“We”re just happy she's safe,” said team owner Warren G.Q. Denney. “They say she's a little worse for the wear but doing well considering the fact that she was flown to New York in a large animal carrier.”
Baggage handlers at Kennedy Int'l Airport reported a disheveled woman running from the tarmac after the carrier fell from hold, disgorging her body. Popcorn has made one statement to the NYPD — “I am Haven Hamilton” — as she continues to be held for observation.
“We'd obviously like to get her out in time for the big game this weekend with the Animals,” said Denney. “I can”t help but think this was some form of payback by Jorge and Boyd X. — I hear thee my Dark Lord and I obey — for the thrashing they took — a barbed penis will do nicely yes — at our hands on Sunday. The soul is but one part of the man.”
Meanwhile, preparations were being made at Magna Circus Stadium in Nashville to host the league-leading Cambridge eleven. An overflow crowd is expected and hopes are running high in Bakertown with the playoffs within sight. Adding to the anticipation is the reopening of the Cherry Bomb Cafe on Saturday night, the club considered to be the spiritual center of the Baker Nation.
“We have a name for animals down here,” said Denney. “Critters.”
