Canceled rock show triggers melee

Philadelphia Daily News | 12-7-02 | Kitty Caparella

[Temple Owl]

Canceled rock show triggers melee

By KITTY CAPARELLA

caparek@phillynews.com

Welcome to the Jungle.

At least that's what some Guns N' Roses fans could have screamed last night as they ducked and ran for cover when a melee broke out at the First Union Center after the rock band turned out to be a no-show.

Police said two people were sent to the hospital and several others were also treated after some in the highly charged crowd began hurling debris and slugging one another upon hearing that the band had stood up some 20,000 concertgoers.

The concert was canceled, officials said, because the band's lead singer, Axl Rose, was ill.

There were no arrests, according to Capt. Tom Nestel, head of the Police Department's highway division.

Initially, Comcast-Spectacor officials denied there had been any problems during or following the concert.

"We had no problems here at all...people left in an orderly fashion," spokesman Ike Richman said.

"It's very simple. We were informed Axel was ill and wasn't going to appear in the building, and we made an announcement. We emptied the facility and everybody went home," said Peter Luukko, president of Comcast Spectacor Ventures, which owns and operates the center.

But later, Luukko admitted that there had been a disturbance but that officials had been prepared and that "damage was minimal."

Nestel said that about 100 cops responded and that it took about 60 to restore order inside.

"You name it, it was thrown, even a Christmas Tree was thrown," said concertgoer Joe Pudla, 20, of Glen Mills.

Witnesses reported that bottles, clothing and even binoculars had been tossed from upper levels of the center and that some fans even began to tear up the seats.

The trouble lasted about 45 minutes, Pudla said.

Things went awry shortly after the opening act, Mix Master Mike, ended its set about 9:45. Witnesses said about a half-hour later, fans began to realize something was amiss when stagehands began packing up their equipment and leaving.

The crowd grew increasingly agitated watching the stage crews leave and wondering when Guns N' Roses would begin.

Pudla said an announcement that the concert had been canceled was made about an hour after the opening act had finished. Luukko confirmed they made the announcement at 11:15, in part to have police and fire crews on hand in case a problem arose with the crowd.

Fans, some of whom paid as much as $67 per ticket, will be permitted to get a refund at their place of purchase. There's been no word yet on whether the band will play its scheduled concert tomorrow at the center.

[Temple Owl]

I heard they just wanted to take the day off.

[Temple Owl]

PING

[Super Snake]

I work at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh and they were there about two weeks ago. That a-hole Axel Rose didn't get in the building until 10 after 10, and they didn't take the stage until 11 at a concert that started at 7:30. I thought we might have a riot on our hands that night, thank God they chose to do it in Philly instead.

[Temple Owl]

I think you described him perfectly.

[SamAdams76]

I'm glad I outgrew going to rock concerts. I don't think I've been to a single one that worth all that money and aggravation. Most of the time, it was a miserable experience. Doped up or drunken kids. Pot smoke everywhere. Filthy bathrooms. All that loud noise. Those $5 paper cups of watered-down beer that half of it gets splashed out by the time you jostle through the crowd back to your seat. $40 T-shirts with all the tour dates printed on the back (I don't get it). The idiots that insist on standing on their seats through the whole performance and shouting inanities like "YEAH! PLAY FREEBIRD! YEAH!" People lighting their cigarette lighters for the obligatory "power ballad." The band's inane chatter between songs along with the obligatory references to the town they are in like "I just want y'all to know that Boston rocks like nobody else, you guys are great, really you are. This is our favorite town to play in." The rent-a-cops with the walkie-talkies and sunglasses playing at Secret Service agents. The people sitting next to you that cannot get through a 15-minute period without getting up to go to the bathroom or for refreshments, forcing you to stand up or move your legs so they can get by. The interminable wait in the parking lot to get out after the show and the morons parked next to you that insist on playing the band's latest CD at full volume.

Yeah, I sure don't miss going to rock concerts.

[Temple Owl]

I've never been to one. But, that's only because I am very old.

I went to see the Rockettes in the Radio City Music Hall's Christmas show last week. It was really great. I was amazed at their precision dancing. I remember that after 13 weeks of close-order drill in basic training, we had guys who still could not keep in step.

I was pleasantly surprised by New York. The streets were spotless, the cops were friendly and polite and so were the natives. I love New York.

[razorback-bert]

How did you forget the puking in the parking lot?

[canuck_conservative]

They served beer at your concerts? At every one I've been to, the cops checked everybody entering for booze, and none was for sale inside. Hence the pot everywhere.

Axel pulled the same crap on their opening nite in Vancouver last month. Is he "dancing with Mr. Brownstone" again? (i.e., heroin)

[Pappy Smear]

Sam, may I be the first to break the news to ya, you are now officially a geezer!

[Nitro]

Thanks Dude or Dudette... whichever!!

[King Nothing]

G&R sure is good at starting riots... Axl started a big one in canuckistan back in 92 (93?) when they were touring with Metallica. Metallica's frontman the great James Hetfield was hit by a misfired pyrotechnic and severely burned, thus Metallica couldnt finish the set... instead of being a hero and playing the rest of the show out, Rose up and left.. chaos insued soon after.

[wcbtinman]

Pucking in the parking lot is passe.

Now they urinate all over the place and in full view of everyone.

[stainlessbanner]

"I just want y'all to know that Boston rocks like nobody else, you guys are great, really you are. This is our favorite town to play in."

I like that Southwest commercial where the lead singer tells the crowd this is his fav. city to play in, but names the wrong city. Classic.

[Nitro]

I was Security at Madison Square Garden for the GNR show on the 5th and I share your relief at not having to deal with the riot!!

[KneelBeforeZod]

In this file photo, Axl Rose of Guns N'Roses performs during the 'Rock in Rio 3' music festival in Rio de Janeiro January 14, 2001. Late Thursday night in Vancouver, the start of rock band Guns N' Roses' first North American tour since 1993 turned into a disaster as angry fans rioted when lead singer Rose failed to show up for the concert. Dozens of people threw rocks at police and security guards and smashed windows at the General Motors Place arena in downtown Vancouver when promoters canceled the show at the last minute. Photo by Paulo Whitaker - Nov 08 12:13 PM ET

[SamAdams76]

Sam, may I be the first to break the news to ya, you are now officially a geezer!

It hurts, but it's true. I officially crossed the threshold of geezerdom three years ago when I picked up my nephew's Limp Bizkit CD and said "What the hell is this! You call this music?"

[vikingchick]

Guns N' Pizzas.

[Lorenb420]

Axl started a big one in canuckistan back in 92 (93?) when they were touring with Metallica. Metallica's frontman the great James Hetfield was hit by a misfired pyrotechnic and severely burned, thus Metallica couldnt finish the set... instead of being a hero and playing the rest of the show out, Rose up and left.. chaos insued soon after.

I think he's still banned from Montreal because of that stunt.

[Rightwing Canuck]

Axl started a big one in canuckistan back in 92 (93?) when they were touring with Metallica

That was at the Olympic Stadium here in Montreal. I remember the news reports; that incident signalled the beginning of the end of Guns 'N' Roses.

[SamAdams76]

I like that Southwest commercial where the lead singer tells the crowd this is his fav. city to play in, but names the wrong city. Classic.

Cracks me up everytime I see it. I also like the one where the father secretly teaches his young daughter a hockey game cheer for her piano recital, horrifying the wife.