Opening act: 2 decades ago 'NSync was 1st headliner at Heinz Field
Bill Viola Jr. knows exactly where he was the night of Aug. 18, 2001.
“I was at Heinz Field for the ’NSync concert,” said Viola of North Huntingdon, who attended with wife Jenn and some friends. “That was the place to be. Everyone wanted to be at that concert.”
It was opening night at the newly constructed Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers. But instead of a football game on that evening 20 years ago, it was the venue for the ‘NSync concert.
The well-known boy band played to a sell-out crowd on a Saturday night in the first event at the venue, opening with the song “Pop.”
Heinz Field replaced Three Rivers Stadium, which was demolished. ‘N Sync also performed the final concert there.
Here is the setlist.
For the 20th anniversary of *NSYNC's #Celebrity, here are all 13 tracks from ranked from worst to best. https://t.co/zyqDw2nuJV
— billboard (@billboard) July 24, 2021
Viola said he attended a karate tournament on Pittsburgh’s South Side early that day before making his way over to the North Shore. Viola, who was 24 at the time, said the opening act — singer Debbie Gibson — was also a draw for him. Her song “Lost In Your Eyes” was the prom tune for Hempfield High School, from which he graduated.
According to concertarchives.org, singer Christina Milian also performed.
“When there is an event that’s the first one or something that’s unusual, you want to be a part of it,” said Viola, who lived in Los Angeles for a year and was in a Britney Spears music video and appeared on NBC’s “Days of Our Lives.”
East Deer native Rich Engler was the promoter for the inaugural Heinz Field show.
According to usmagazine.com, Lance Bass, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick formed ‘NSync in 1995 and went on to be nominated for eight Grammys and sell more than 2.4 million copies of their 2001 hit, “No Strings Attached,” within the first week.
Timberlake shared a thought on Instagram.
Being at the concert was a must for Christina Popojas of Lincoln Place. Aged 15 at the time, she wore a new outfit – including a tube top and white jeans — and screamed loudly with all the other teens, tweens and young people in attendance.
She said she still plays the band’s music today through Spotify — and her son and daughter know the words.
“I wanted to be part of that moment, part of something big,” she said. “It was a good time. My parents dropped me off, and I was so happy I was at the concert with my friends. We got dressed up and did our hair. They were the hottest guys with their frosted (hair) tips.”
Popojas said she had a poster of Timberlake from a Tiger Beat teen magazine hanging in her bedroom.
“Boy bands were the thing,” she said. “If there is a reunion tour, I would be there. Listening to their music just takes you back in time.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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