Shaquille O’Neal joined by Warriors star for wild set
NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal had a pretty solid excuse for being tardy for his slot on the Twin Peaks stage on the opening day of the Outside Lands at Golden Gate Park.
- Advertisement -
“Sorry I’m late. I was chilling with Steph Curry and Draymond Green,” he said, kicking off his late-afternoon set Friday, Aug. 11, in Hellman Hollow as his musical alter ego DJ Diesel. “Where are my Warriors fans at?”
- Advertisement -
The electronic dance music star and festival circuit veteran made up for the transgression over the next hour with a wild, high-energy set packed with eardrum-piercing techno, dubstep and a barrage of shout-outs to the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco and the thousands of fans bouncing in front of him.
“Where my headbangers at?” O’Neal growled into the microphone, twisting knobs and ramping up the industrial beats.
Festival attendees listen to Shaquille O’Neal, also known as DJ Diesel, during the Outside Lands on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023.
Adam Pardee/Special to The ChronicleThe music was a far cry from old school rap that O’Neal has recorded across four albums, including the 1993 platinum-seller “Shaq Diesel.” Grinding, ominous, and relentless, it inspired several mosh pits as he cranked up the music.
Wearing casual gray sweats and a black tank top while sucking on a mouth guard (much like Curry), he teased the crowd with Warriors sightings throughout his set, which was also peppered with random samples of pop hits such as Frou Frou’s “You’re Not Alone,” Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” and Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle.”
Along the way, he welcomed a steady procession of stage crashers, who danced in front of his DJ console and took selfies with O’Neal. One underage fan even climbed atop his well-proportioned shoulders.
“Hey, you’re sexy. Take off your shirt,” he shouted at another young fan who ambled on stage and happily obliged Shaq’s request. “He’s sexy!”
DJ Diesel performs while a festival attendee rides on his shoulders during Outside Lands.
Adam Pardee/Special to The ChronicleEarlier this year, the former Lakers center said performing live on stage gives him the same rush as playing on the basketball court, and that was evident in the broad grin that remained on his face throughout the set.
“It’s like being in a basketball game and having people come and cheer you on and support you,” the 51-year-old “Inside the NBA” analyst told The Hollywood Reporter in February ahead of his annual pre-Super Bowl party, Shaq’s Fun House. “I just want everybody to have a good time.”
In the past year, DJ Diesel has performed at festivals such as Tennassee’s Bonnaroo, Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas and Lost Lands in Ohio. But at his Outside Lands…
Read More: Shaquille O’Neal joined by Warriors star for wild set 2023-08-12 03:13:23