Most Dangerous Band / Concert experiences

[eakinj]

Since this threat got a little side tracked http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79808 I decided to start a new one.

What in your opinion is/was the most dangerous band - This goes for personas (Danzig) or concert happening (The Who where concert goers got killed) Make sense?

Ok - I know Metallica doesn't get a lot of love now, but when AJFA came out I was already a huge fan of them. I got to see them at the Concord Pavillion in Californa for AJFA and it was a great show.

I give this one the most dangerous show (by a profession band) I have been to because there was multible people I saw get get the holy hell kicked out of them by some jocky-looking-rednecks. These guys were obviously only there to start shit and it could have gotten out of hand. I was happy that I was in the seated area and now the green. I have friends up there and went to visit with them inbetween Faith No More and Metallica. You could see the jockassholes starting all sorts of shit with people.

(Sorry no stories from other metal concerts, they are usually pretty safe and sane in a not so controlled way.)

I give the most dangerous show (by an unsigned band) to my friend and guru Dannys band at The Omni (the year escapes me). Now the Omni is in Oakland and not in the best part either. I got talked into doing roadie stuff for the show and was all for it (A rock and roll experience, weee..) well unfortionately the other guitarist for Dannys band was a smart ass and got into it with a local, at some point using that oh-so-popular N word that just makes the black community so happy... Needless to say there was a large group of black gentleman waiting after the show to discuss his choice of words. Dude got the crap beaten out of him multible times by multible people until security surrounded him and the car he was in and they left. A guitarist for one of the other bands got a gun flashed at him and he bailed with a bunch of his stuff still there.

I was scared shitless because A) I didn't drive there and my ride just bailed. B) I was "with the band" that had causes the issue and didn't feel like getting beaten for someone elses BS.

That sucked, I think I was 19 at the time and was niave to say the least. I ended up getting a ride with the drummer until he stressed out and made me drive the rest of the way to Livermore.

One a side note Danny's sister was the lead singer and was actually dating the guitarist, at some point on their drive him he back handed her and Danny tossed his ass on the freeway. No one heard from him again so far as I know. I know he didn't come around the shop anymore after that.


These are kind of weak compared to some of the stories I have heard. But I'm actually kind of glad these were the two bad experiences and nothing worst happen.

[Endrik]

most dangerous bands... those big rockstars who have decadent lifestyle and who deal with some scary people... also gangsta rappers

most dangerous concerts... some underground hardcore punk or noisecore shows... can't reveal any details

[åron]

The World's Most Dangerous Band? It's either Deathlok or these guys...
:ROTF:

Seriously though, I almost died at an AC/DC show. It was a classic pit situation where the crowd ebbs and flows, crushing toward the stage. Some fell down and the fun began. I remember people underneath me crying for help and people on top of me. Damn scary. Eventually, adrenaline kicked in and I somehow pulled out of the tangle. I had foot prints on my back and chest.
A few days later, a fan died in the same situation in another state, same tour.

Ok - I know Metallica doesn't get a lot of love now, but when AJFA came out I was already a huge fan of them. I got to see them at the Concord Pavillion in Californa for AJFA and it was a great show.

I give this one the most dangerous show (by a profession band) I have been to because there was multible people I saw get get the holy hell kicked out of them by some jocky-looking-rednecks. These guys were obviously only there to start shit and it could have gotten out of hand. I was happy that I was in the seated area and now the green. I have friends up there and went to visit with them inbetween Faith No More and Metallica. You could see the jockassholes starting all sorts of shit with people.

I was at that show! Was my first metal show. I remember my mom's worried face as she drove me and my friend Rob through the parking lot. To this day, I'm not sure how 2 6th graders managed to talk their parents into letting them go to a metal show unattended and it's a testament to how cool mom was that she didn't turn around after seeing the fans.

I remember looking to side lawn areas during the show and seeing what looked like a hurricane of headbangers flying around. IIRC, the seats had there own dangers in the form of seats getting ripped out and thrown around near the stage.

[AfterForever]

I didn't feel at home when I saw Slayer for the first time.. people are insane. Many drunk and violent people there. I never saw so much blood and injured people at a concert before.

[Rsmacker]

Any GG Allin gig? Not that I ever saw him.

I was at Donington in 1987 with my little brother when 2 people got crushed to death during GnR's set, and I was in the thick of it. However, me, nor anyone else there knew anyone had died until right at the very end of the day when the crowds were leaving and there was a vague announcement on the PA. We staggered home at 2am, to find dear old Ma sat up worrying herself to death, she burst out crying then gave us a bollocking for not phoning home.
We were totally non-plussed, didn't see any reason to phone home, it was just another day out to a gig, on the piss, we were unaware of the news footage of un-confirmed numbers of unidentified people crushed to death during GnR, and Ma knew where I would be, down the front. She was sure I was lying in the morgue awaiting identification and of course the phone lines were jammed. She got a few grey hairs that day. We, however, had a great time!

A month previous to that I had been in LA for the Monsters of Rock at the Coliseum, and was gutted to find we had seats at the sides. The stadium floor was neatly sectioned off. Nice.
Then Metallica came on, I went mental, started my English Football Hooligan impression, was swiftly joined by others in ripping the mesh fencing down and poured onto the stadium floor. The crowd there had already surged forward, the barriers were down, the seats were gone, the security were gone. Mayhem.
As far as I know, no-one was hurt or killed that day, scariest thing was the big crush barriers being passed forward over the crowd towards the stage. I say "passed", but only because they were too heavy to be hurled. By the time they had a few hands on them, propelling them, they were going at a hell of a lick, there was no stopping them by the time they reached security at the stage, they just dived for cover and BANG!!!! They would have done serious damage to anyone who got int the way of them.
And yes, by then, I was in the thick of it down at the front. (And collected a pick from Mr Newstead, ta!)

[levantin]

None of the underground shows I've been to have been that dangerous, as mostly the guys slam dancing and in the circular pits are not genuinely trying to hurt each other and if someone falls they get picked up. The only time I've been worried I wasn't going to get out was a Metallica stadium gig. There were no barriers sectioning off the crowd, no security guys, just 20,000 guys on the stadium turf. There were times when my feet didn't touch the ground. I thank my lucky stars that I was able to keep my balance. I have no idea what would happen if someone fell.

Nowadays I prefer to keep my distance at a gig. Have a few beers, chill and listen and watch, instead of clinging on for dear life at the front of the pit. I'm taller than everyone else so I have no problems seeing the stage! Either that or I'm backstage anyway.

[yard dawg]

Great White nuff said..

[Hellraiser6502]

Any GG Allin gig? Not that I ever saw him.

A month previous to that I had been in LA for the Monsters of Rock at the Coliseum, and was gutted to find we had seats at the sides. The stadium floor was neatly sectioned off. Nice.
Then Metallica came on, I went mental, started my English Football Hooligan impression, was swiftly joined by others in ripping the mesh fencing down and poured onto the stadium floor. The crowd there had already surged forward, the barriers were down, the seats were gone, the security were gone. Mayhem.
As far as I know, no-one was hurt or killed that day, scariest thing was the big crush barriers being passed forward over the crowd towards the stage. I say "passed", but only because they were too heavy to be hurled. By the time they had a few hands on them, propelling them, they were going at a hell of a lick, there was no stopping them by the time they reached security at the stage, they just dived for cover and BANG!!!! They would have done serious damage to anyone who got int the way of them.
And yes, by then, I was in the thick of it down at the front. (And collected a pick from Mr Newstead, ta!)

I was there! That was by far the scariest show I was ever at....chairs flying and the fencing being ripped to threads...I remember Hetfield onstage in his usual stance at the mic belting out 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' while armageddon was happening all around me....very surreal.

After the song he stopped the show and tried to calm everyone down

Fucking crazy...I saw lots of blood where I was....the bleeding ones were on their feet and I didn't see anyone carried away. A day to remember for sure but I don't mind saying I was terrified.

[El Chiguete]

I want to see a Slayer show, but I will NOT be on the floor for that one. Up in the side.

[toejam]

I was up front at a Gwar and White Zombie show at Roseland Ballroom in NY in the early '90s. Somebody in the crowd floated down on top of me and my neck was pinned on top of the metal guardrail/barrier. I thought I was gonna choke and die until they finally got off of me!

On Metallica's Justice tour, the Lady Justice statue's head fell off and almost hit Lars... he looked pretty shaken up, too! :ROTF:

[toejam]

I want to see a Slayer show, but I will NOT be on the floor for that one. Up in the side.

I saw them a couple times in the early '90s, once at the Felt Forum (basically Madison Square Garden's basement) and seats were being thrown everywhere!

[missionguitars1]

The Omni! Wow - I remember seeing a LOT of bands there in the 80's, including Cacophany (got to hang with Marty for a good hour before the show - my buddy worked with his girlfriend at a law firm at the time - one of the nicest most humble guys you'd meet. Why he EVER agreed to work with an ass like Mustaine is beyond me...but I disgress! :ROTF...

As for brutal shows, it would have to be anything next to there at Ruthie's - Exodus, Slayer, Possessed, Death Angel, etc. - you'd wake up SORE the next morning. That being said, everyone was pretty respectful back then - the code was you'd help people up off the flooor, etc...

And you're right - once Metallica, Slayer, etc got too big to play clubs like the Keystone, the larger gigs usually meant the drunk fratboy/redneck contingent showed up to cause problems...

Now there was the time that there were metal chairs flying all over the place during Motorhead at The Warfield...but at the time that was considered fun, not dangerous! :ROTF:

[Bengal]

When Slipknot started to tour on the last cycle, the first show was here in Des Moines at a place that holds 3,000 people. I'm sure it was oversold. I pushed my way up front to the baracade. It was my old self and a bunch of 13-15 year olds. I got crushed against the baracade and came home with 4 bruised ribs. Hurt like a bitch...

I do tend to see more blood at a Slayer show than any other band. It's a rite of passage, bleeding at a Slayer show...

There was 1 show I heard and saw pics of but wasn't there. Last time Slipknot played in Cleveland. A bunch of Mushroomhead fans came out and starting throwing D Cell batteries at the band. Paul got hit in the face with one. Jim got hit in the head with a 9 Volt. Stupid shit. Both Paul and Jim jumped in the crowd and started beating people. Show stopped, Paul and Jim were ushered back on stage and they finished the set...

But nothing beats Itallians. Show me any other people who will throw bottles of piss at you. Yep, bottles of piss, with the cap off. I've even heard about fecal matter being thrown...

[åron]

But nothing beats Itallians. Show me any other people who will throw bottles of piss at you. Yep, bottles of piss, with the cap off. I've even heard about fecal matter being thrown...

Hah! I'm with you there. Some local pissed on me off his balcony as I walked down a street in Italy. Crazy mf'rs! :ROTF:

[Ace]

I've seen so much violence at shows that it's absurd. I've been in many, many fistfights and I've even been stabbed at a show.

The most violent major band that I've ever seen is pre-NuMetal-era Slayer. I've been to Slayer shows where cops got killed. Huge bonfires with people getting thrown on them, absolute bloody carnage.

The most violent shows that I've been to on any scale are for my own old band, DUDEFUCKINHELLYEAH! We would always play the shadiest neighborhoods to the drunkest crustiest punks and metalheads you've ever seen. I've had shows where 250 people came out to see us, and a quarter of them end up throwing blows at each other. I've had to carry a gun at shows, I almost had to beat a promoter half to death with a bat once. Rock 'n Roll can get violent my friend. We had the cops come to 7 of our shows in a row!