Fed: Biebermania hits Australia

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2010
Fed: Biebermania hits Australia

Eds: Updating with comment from Network Seven, police and final figures from ambos



By Katelyn Catanzariti and Britt Smith

SYDNEY, April 26 AAP - They screamed at photos of him and they screamed at his name
on the TV screen.

They even screamed at his album cover.

But nothing compared to the high-pitched screeches that echoed across Sydney - and
quite possibly the world - when Justin Bieber waved to thousands of his adoring fans through
plate glass windows on Monday morning.

Biebermania has hit Australia hard, and probably ruptured a few eardrums in the process.

Girls - and a few boys - aged from six to 16 screamed, laughed and cried as they caught
a glimpse of the Canadian pop sensation during his appearance on the Seven Network's Sunrise
program.

But the morning was not without high drama.

His scheduled open air three-song appearance had to be called off by police concerned
about the safety of thousands of tweenage girls who had camped out overnight at the planned
venue in The Rocks, the historic CBD enclave on Sydney Harbour.

But the heartbroken, tear-streaked fans should have trusted in Bieber.

"I don't cancel," the 16-year-old tweeted.

"I love my fans...I love it here in Australia...and I want to sing."

Bieber had been scheduled to perform at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at 7.40am.

But mass hysteria quickly descended into chaos when 5,000 star-struck teenagers had
already arrived at the venue before dawn, forcing police to cancel the gig about 6am.

Network Seven's Sunrise weather presenter Grant Denyer said they had hired the "best
security you could imagine", but they were concerned that it might not be enough.

"We were expecting this to be the biggest concert we ever had, but we just couldn't
have foreseen this scale," Denyer told AAP.

"Some girls were collapsing at the front ... the last thing we wanted was for someone
to be hurt or injured ... and we just had to make the call."

Police defended the organisers, saying everyone had been prepared for the crowds -
just not for the hyped-up youngsters ignoring their instructions.

"They wouldn't listen to our directions, so hence they left us with no option," Deputy
Commissioner Dave Owens told reporters, adding it was a concern that so many youngsters
were out at night without their parents.

Several girls were treated at the scene, but eight, aged 12 to 16, had to be taken to hospital.

While one had fractured her knee cap, most were being treated for hyperventilation,
or "getting worked up", a NSW Ambulance spokesman said.

Monica Caruana, 14, arrived at 12.30am with her four friends, one of whom was "knocked
out" when the scene descended into mayhem.

"The doors were meant to open at 5(am) but they opened at 3(am) for some reason and
everyone bolted," she told AAP.

Thirteen-year-old Jessica Whatmore said girls were pushing and shoving and she was
terrified she'd be trampled.

"I couldn't wait to get out of there," she said.

Parents who accompanied their children said that the police had made the right decision
to cancel.

"Safety was an issue ... it was crazy," Melbourne mother Sonia Agresta said.

After the cancellation, crowds swarmed to the Network Seven studios in nearby Martin
Place, hoping their idol might turn up there.

"We want Bieber! We want Bieber!" thousands of them chanted.

And Bieber didn't disappoint.

Somehow managing the impossible of sneaking undetected into the studio, the heartthrob
greeted fans from behind a plate glass window before taking to the stage to perform his
hit song Baby.

It didn't even matter that they couldn't hear it: they sang along with Bieber at the
top of their lungs, word-for-word.

Then the teen sensation continued to melt hearts in an interview.

Asked by a viewer if there were any similarities between Canadian and Australian girls,
he said "both girls are hot" - but he added that he didn't have a girlfriend.

"So all you Australians - I'm single," he said. The already-frenzied crowd erupted.

He later tweeted: "Thank you for such an amazing warm welcome Australia ... that was amazing."

That was some understatement.

AAP kc/it/bwl

KEYWORD: BIEBER WRAP (WITH PIX AND VIDEO)

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