Fans excuse Simpson's late arrival

Lizz Zace and Chrissy Pollmann, both 22 years old, planned to wait three hours to see singer Ashlee Simpson at a Rolling Meadows Wal-Mart on Thursday.

They ended up waiting close to five.

"It's OK -- we're dedicated," said Pollmann, who with Zace was among the first people in the line of about 150 fans.

Zace and Pollmann brought sleeping bags and a DVD player in case the wait was outside. It wasn't, though the line snaked from the shoe department to the junior department inside the store.

Ashlee Simpson, younger sister of Jessica and girlfriend of Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, had a concert to play in Chicago later on Thursday night.

Simpson reps blamed traffic from Chicago for her late arrival. She was supposed to start signing items at 4 p.m., but didn't arrive until almost 6 p.m.

When a red-haired Simpson finally appeared wearing a dark top, leggings and boots, she didn't address her fans but instead dug in to sign autographs -- after posing for a few pictures with radio stations, that is.

Fans could only have one item signed by Simpson, who didn't pose for individual pictures.

None of that bothered many Simpson fanatics.

"I've been so super excited about this all day," said Lake Villa resident Jessica Varsek. "I've been looking forward to this all day."

She displayed her hand with the words "Ashlee Simpson" written in bright purple ink as proof.

Katie Sietsema, of Glen Ellyn, arrived at the Wal-Mart at 2 p.m.

"Worth the wait, totally," Sietsema, 20, said.

Some fans were a tad annoyed with the late arrival.

Sisters Allison and Colleen Getz drove from Northbrook with their cousin, Julia Lasinsky.

"If you say you're going to be here at 4, be here at 4," said Colleen Getz, 18. "It's a respect thing."

"But she is awesome," said Lasinsky, cutting in. "I mean she's beautiful and has a great raspy voice."

About four years ago more than 1,000 people attended an Ashlee Simpson signing at the same Rolling Meadows Wal-Mart, said Chris Toman, a Wal-Mart employee.

Simpson is currently promoting her new single, "Outta My Head."