David Cassidy in the News
Cassidy leaves upset fans behind
November 9, 2002
By Kathryn Torpy
The Courier-Mail (Australia)
FORMER teen idol David Cassidy was chased through Brisbane airport by a mob of frantic fans yesterday - and he had no intention of stopping to sign autographs.
Harking back to the days when songs such as Cherish and I Think I love You made him a '70s pin-up, singer Cassidy, on his first Australian tour since 1974, was pursued by a pack of swooning women as he touched down in Brisbane ahead of his Entertainment Centre concert tonight. But yesterday, the 52-year-old was a less than willing participant.
And instead of skipping school for the occasion, his admirers had dodged tuckshop duty to catch a glimpse of their favourite star.
The trouble began when Cassidy made a run for it after spotting placards and television cameras at his arrival gate.
His devoted fans would not take no for an answer - they pursued him as he shielded his face from the cameras, but the Partridge Family star refused to stop.
He scampered past the baggage collection area to find his limousine had not arrived, and only stopped after being cornered by fans in the carpark. Cassidy signed an autograph and kissed two women before breaking into a fracas with a Channel 7 cameraman.
"I go on stage professionally, but I do like to be able to walk through the world and be like everyone else," he said.
Upon the singer's departure, his fans, some of which had driven for hours for the occasion after a promotion by radio station 4KQ, expressed their disappointment at the singer's conduct.
Patsy Taylor, who ducked out early from tuckshop duty at her daughter's school, said the singer had shown no appreciation for his fans.
"It's absolutely disgusting - it would have taken him a few minutes to say hello to everyone," Ms Taylor said.
Cassidy's promoters were in damage control following the incident and claimed there had been a "communication breakdown" between the singer and a Sydney publicist who was liaising with 4KQ.
