November 22, 1994, page C15.
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". . . But their
moment in the limelight was tarnished by a little-known band called Severe Tire Damage.
Knowing that the channel carrying the Stones was open to anyone,and wanting to take
advantage of the worldwide audience the Stones would attract, the group broadcast an
impromptu performance from the Xerox PARC offices in PaloAlto, Calif., directly before
and after the Stones concert. "We didn't want to stamp on the Stones broadcast, but we
did want to play before an appreciative audience."said Mark Weiser, who plays drums in
Severe Tire Damage and works at Xerox PARC,the company that helped bring about the
Internet service known as the Multicast Backbone,or M-Bone, which makes audiovisual
broadcasting possible. The M-Bone, however, is not quite ready to replace television.
The Stones show, for example, had low-quality sound and images and could be received by
few computers. Though the Rolling Stones claimed to be performing the first major concert
live on the Internet in their press releases, they weren't the first band ever. At least
three other groups beat them. A Seattle rock group called Sky Cries Mary claimed that
distinction when it sent a live performance over the M-Bone two weeks ago, although a
little-known band called Deth Specula was on the M-Bone in August, and Severe Tire Damage
performed an hour-and-a-halfshow in June 1993. . . . ". . . Mr. Jagger greeted the Internet audience and said he hoped the system didn't collapse. A spokesman for the group said the surprise opening act by Severe Tire Damage was a good reminder of the democratic nature of the Internet." |