Collective Soul Kicks Off U.S. Tour With A Bang (Of Sorts)

By MTV News Staff

March 30, 1999 / 2:00 PM

After spending most of March on the road in Canada, Collective Soul has returned for a stateside tour in support of its new album, "Dosage," which has already spawned two hit radio singles, "Run" and "Heavy.

To kick-off the American leg of its current tour, the band literally had to climb the mountain -- as the inaugural gig was held at snow-covered Stratton Mountain in Bondville, Vermont over the weekend.

Inclement weather at the resort contributed to a few technical glitches, but according to frontman Ed Roland and guitarist Ross Childress, those problems didn't damper audience reactions to the show.

In fact, the classic-rock concert move of holding a lighter aloft during the ballads apparently wasn't enough for one attendee, as Roland was beaned -- and temporarily knocked out -- by a lighter hurled at the stage by one over-zealous fan.

[article id="1441651"]"This tour, so far, has been what I always dreamed it would be,"[/article] Roland said, [article id="1441651"] "'cause now whatever I want to do, I'll do it. Wanna hit somebody, then I'll hit 'em. I don't care. We've been hit ourselves, so --

How's that going by the way,"

[/article] Childress asked Roland, [article id="1441651"] "is that doing all right?
I got knocked out the other night,"
[/article] Roland explained. [article id="1441651"] "Somebody threw a lighter and popped me.
At the very end of the show,"
[/article] Childress interjected.

[article id="1441651"] "And I was out for a second,"[/article] Roland said.

[article id="1441651"] "We were on a ski mountain,"[/article] Childress said, [article id="1441651"] "playing outside in the snow, and at the very end, somebody threw a lighter and smacked him right on the side of the head.

I kinda have a devil's horn thing happening over here,"

[/article] Roland said as he pointed out the bruise on his forehead, [article id="1441651"]

"but it was cool. It was a good way to end the show." [28.8 RealVideo][/article]

Collective Soul will finish up a two-night stand in New York City on Tuesday, after which the band will head to Hartford, Connecticut for a show on Thursday. Trinket will serve as Collective Soul's opening act until April 5, after which the Marvelous 3 will assume the slot for the rest of the tour.

The dates for Collective Soul's spring tour: