quote:

---

Bomb threat clears Stone Pony

Published in the Asbury Park Press 9/03/01
STAFF REPORT

ASBURY PARK -- E Street saxophonist Clarence Clemons' first concert at the Stone Pony in several years was interrupted last night by a bomb threat that forced the temporary evacuation of the crowd of about 1,500.

Around 10:45 p.m., about an hour and a half into his first set, Clemons was called off stage and returned to say, "Folks, we have a situation here. We have to take a break. Please file out."

Security guards opened the back gates of the patio and fanned through the crowd, sending fans to the sidewalk on the east side of Ocean Avenue and the boardwalk.

Two bomb-sniffing dogs from the Monmouth County Sheriff's Department -- Chino and Diesel -- found nothing, and police allowed the crowd to return a half-hour later.

There were no injuries, and fans appeared to take the interruption in stride.

"I wanted fireworks for Labor Day, but not this kind," said Stone Pony owner Domenic Santana.

Santana was in a back office doing paperwork when fire engines, police cars and an ambulance arrived outside the club.

Santana praised the emergency services.

"They were superb, calm, very efficient and professional," he said.

Asked if he had any idea who could have called in the fake bomb threat, he said, "This is a shrewd industry and certain zealots who want to control the industry in this area may have done this.

"I hope they got their dime's worth."

Tom "Tuna" Vodola, head of security at the Stone Pony, had about 50 people working last night. As fans filed back into the patio area, staff members thanked each one for staying calm and cool.

Kerry Layton, 52, a Deal resident and local lifeguard who had been coming to the Stone Pony since it opened in the early '70s, said there was a similar bomb scare about 15 years ago when Bruce Springsteen was playing a benefit for the Monmouth County Food Bank.

Layton said he was "totally bummed" about the evacuation and the interruption of the music.

"Whoever called in this bomb scare is a rat," he said.

One fan who took the whole situation in stride was Mets pitcher Al Leiter, who lives in Berkeley.

When the club was cleared, Leiter went out to his car and watched the rest of last night's Yankees game.

Clemons, back on stage after the interruption, said, "Welcome back to the second half of the show that will never end."

Clemons is scheduled to play two more shows at 3 and 8 p.m. today.

He is recording a live album with the four weekend shows.

---