Disturbed’s Pyro Scorches Bulls’ Glory

Disturbed Live in Chicago

Disturbed’s latest Chicago gig, celebrating 25 years of The Sickness, didn’t just rock the house—it accidentally roasted a chunk of the city’s sports pride. The United Center took a hit, and now the Chicago Bulls’ iconic championship banners are getting a timeout for repairs. Let’s dive into this fiery tale of metal mayhem and basketball history.

Bulls Banners Meet Their Match

When the Chicago Bulls strolled back into the United Center this week, something was off—way up high. The six championship banners from their ‘90s glory days were nowhere in sight. Turns out, Disturbed’s blazing stage antics during their anniversary tour left the banners a little worse for wear. Minor heat damage, sure, but enough to send them to the repair shop while the team shrugs and carries on.

The Bulls snagged their first trio of titles in 1991, 1992, and 1993, led by the one and only Michael Jordan. Then, in a plot twist no one saw coming, MJ ditched hoops for the baseball diamond after ‘93, swinging bats with the Chicago White Sox’s minor league squad. Two years later, he sauntered back to the hardwood in 1995, and bam—the Bulls were back on top, clinching championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Six rings, one legend, zero chill.

Pyro vs. Polyester: The Aftermath

Disturbed rolled into town Saturday, March 8, with Three Days Grace and Sevendust in tow. Post-show, someone glanced up and noticed the Bulls’ banners looking a bit melty at the bottom. The culprits? Those signature flames that make a Disturbed concert feel like a heavy metal barbecue. The United Center’s rafters took the heat, but the Chicago Blackhawks’ banners? Untouched. Same goes for the Bulls’ lesser division and conference flags—still hanging proud, awkwardly flanking the empty spots where the 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998 NBA title banners once waved.

Repairs, Playoffs, and a Waiting Game

At first, the plan was to patch up the banners by Thursday’s game—optimistic, but nope. Officials now say the fix will drag on through the season’s end. With the Bulls gunning for a playoff berth, no one’s spilling whether those banners will make a dramatic postseason comeback. For now, the rafters stay banner-light, and fans are left wondering if MJ’s legacy just got a little too hot to handle.

Disturbed’s Hometown Scorcher

The band unleashed a 20-song onslaught for their sold-out Chicago crowd, revisiting The Sickness for its big 25th birthday and tossing in a slew of career-spanning bangers. “Chicago… wow! Tonight was special—a sold-out hometown show at a bucket-list venue. We can’t thank you enough! And thank you to our brother Fuzz for playing the first half of the set with us!” they gushed, giving a nod to ex-bassist Steve “Fuzz” Kmak, who crashed the party as a guest. Sweet, right? Well, except for the part where the pyro toasted some sports relics.

Disturbed’s fire obsession isn’t new. Back in August 2023, their scorching setup triggered the sprinklers at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey. And get this—it was the second sprinkler soak of the year, with Houston’s late July 2023 show getting drenched first. Seems like wherever Disturbed goes, water or warped banners follow. Maybe it’s time to dial back the “Inside the Fire” vibes—just a smidge?

The Takeaway: Rock vs. Rings

So, Disturbed turned the United Center into a literal hot spot, and the Bulls’ six-title legacy took a hit. It’s a clash of titans—metal riffs versus championship riffs—and for now, the banners are sidelined. Stay tuned to see if they rise again, or if Chicago’s sports fans will just crank “Down with the Sickness” and call it even.

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