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Ever been afraid for your life at a gig?
- Thread starter Mike JV
- Start date
I haven't been afraid for my life, but members of my seniors ukulele group were when just after we finished a one hour gig at 11 AM in a park under an open tent last August, I walked off to suddenly faint, the burly sound man catching me before I hit the ground. I hadn't had anything to eat or drink since about 6 PM the night before.
It was a mini county fair and I wanted to stuff myself with carnival eats, which obviously was a bad idea to hold off so long, especially since I had open heart surgery 6 months before to fix two valves damaged by radiation treatments many years before. I drank a small bottle of water and felt much better, but the organizers of the event called over the on-site EMTs. who checked my vitals, which were good, and harped on taking me to the hospital, which I nixed, having had that experience too recently.
The leader of my group and two other members then followed me to the food vendors as I did proceed to stuff my face with corn-on-the-cob, then spare ribs, then pot-stickers, then vegetable fried rice, then a cup of fresh fruit. I left there satiated, feeling good and stuffed.
It was a mini county fair and I wanted to stuff myself with carnival eats, which obviously was a bad idea to hold off so long, especially since I had open heart surgery 6 months before to fix two valves damaged by radiation treatments many years before. I drank a small bottle of water and felt much better, but the organizers of the event called over the on-site EMTs. who checked my vitals, which were good, and harped on taking me to the hospital, which I nixed, having had that experience too recently.
The leader of my group and two other members then followed me to the food vendors as I did proceed to stuff my face with corn-on-the-cob, then spare ribs, then pot-stickers, then vegetable fried rice, then a cup of fresh fruit. I left there satiated, feeling good and stuffed.
I will keep an eye out for your group. Always like original music, good musicians and live music. The name is catchy and hard to forget. Cheers on success. It’s not easy to find a band to get along with these days.
Is it the profession, or the choice of venues/geography?
I never had anything remotely like what you describe.
I played a large concert at Genesee park in Rochester, New York around 1972- 1973 that broke out into a full scale race riot, which brought in the riot squad on horse back. Our keyboard player asked one of the officers if he could stand next to him. the officer replied, “You’re not real safe hanging around me.” Our trumpet players car got danced on, and a few windows were broken on our van. The melee lasted about 40 minutes or so, until a radio personality got on the the PA and told everybody to stop, which oddly, most did, even in mid swing. Then he said “You’re all beautiful people. Go home!” The park cleared out in less than 15 minutes. Strangest thing I’ve ever experienced.
- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Aight... 2nd story, because I'm supposed to be cleaning the house today...
The Nerve, which was a pop punk band, got put on what we were told was going to be a super happening bill. There were a bunch of punk bands coming from out of state that booked a venue for the night, they promised 100s, and we could be the openers. They brought their hundreds, the place was packed.
They were all hardcore skinhead bands.
We had a song titled Resistance, which started with a bastardization of the Pledge of Allegience that went something like this:
"I pledge adherence, to the flag, of the untied states of America, and to the Republicans, for which it stands..."
Anyhow, lead singer was determined to not let anybody stop us from doing what we planned on doing. I'll add that he was Jewish, which intensifies things I little...
When we were done, next band jumped on stage and the bass player plugged into my amp.
If I didn't let him use it, they weren't going to play and everyone was going to be wicked pissed. Unsure what to do, and since we had other packing up to do, I'll told him go for it. At the same time, one of the bigger, more twisted looking dudes started questioning my singer on our music, where he was from, etc. He was acting friendly, but I knew he wasn't, and my singer wasn't the brightest light. I lured him away, and the skinhead guy started doing some talking with his friends, looking in our direction.
As soon as the 2nd band was done, I was on stage packing up my amp while the next guy was getting ready to plug into it. For some reason he didn't put up much of a fight, and we just bolted out of the place.
Nothing happened.
There were a few moments where I was certain something would.
That's all I've got.
I'll go grab a mop now.
The Nerve, which was a pop punk band, got put on what we were told was going to be a super happening bill. There were a bunch of punk bands coming from out of state that booked a venue for the night, they promised 100s, and we could be the openers. They brought their hundreds, the place was packed.
They were all hardcore skinhead bands.
We had a song titled Resistance, which started with a bastardization of the Pledge of Allegience that went something like this:
"I pledge adherence, to the flag, of the untied states of America, and to the Republicans, for which it stands..."
Anyhow, lead singer was determined to not let anybody stop us from doing what we planned on doing. I'll add that he was Jewish, which intensifies things I little...
When we were done, next band jumped on stage and the bass player plugged into my amp.
If I didn't let him use it, they weren't going to play and everyone was going to be wicked pissed. Unsure what to do, and since we had other packing up to do, I'll told him go for it. At the same time, one of the bigger, more twisted looking dudes started questioning my singer on our music, where he was from, etc. He was acting friendly, but I knew he wasn't, and my singer wasn't the brightest light. I lured him away, and the skinhead guy started doing some talking with his friends, looking in our direction.
As soon as the 2nd band was done, I was on stage packing up my amp while the next guy was getting ready to plug into it. For some reason he didn't put up much of a fight, and we just bolted out of the place.
Nothing happened.
There were a few moments where I was certain something would.
That's all I've got.
I'll go grab a mop now.
Last edited:
did a gig in the early 1990's at a pub with my then covers band and 2 rival gangs clashed in the pub and an all in brawl took place.... there were 8-10 people involved and we stopped mid song and drummer jumped over his kit and stood in front of his kit to 'guard' it from getting damaged... the fight lasted a few minutes and eventually the bar staff / bouncers ushered them outside - where they could continue fighting.... until the police showed up 5 mins later and they all quickly dispersed.....
I was worried they'd come back in the pub for round 2.... but the bar staff cleaned up the few broken jugs / bottles and we were told to 'keep playing' - which we did
I was worried they'd come back in the pub for round 2.... but the bar staff cleaned up the few broken jugs / bottles and we were told to 'keep playing' - which we did
s0c9
Supporting Member
Been seriously worried a few times but only ever once did I fear for my life.
We had just finished doing SR for a 3-day biker gig hosted by the Banditos at a venue 80 miles west of Ft. Worth TX. Yes, THOSE Banditos of 2015 Twin Peaks "shootout" in Waco, TX fame.
They had a rented a field (about football field size), put up a 10 foot high chain-link fence all around and the only way in/out was thru the main gate that they had "security" running. I could sit in the FOH tower and watch the cops driving around the perimeter roads
All in all very few issues over the 3 days, but I do have some seriously *** stories from that gig that I'll reserve for another time
We had put on a ton of bands. From Jerry Jeff Walker ("red neck mother") to Bugs Henderson (a well know Dallas artist) and some local "rock" bands. I can't remember all of them.. it was 30+ yrs ago.
Sunday night, we are tearing down and loading up the gear. The boss and I were in the drivers end of the 18-foot truck loading up when this monster of a dude (in leathers) appears at the back holding a gun on us and demanding that we go put it all back up, play some music or "I"m going to shoot you m****F****")..
Someone noticed, found the dude brother ( he was about the same mountain man size) and talked him down. The guy was high on something..
Neither the boss nor I were on top of the world at that point, but had to finish loading up and driving back to Dallas.
Looking back on it now I can laugh about it, but at the time, I don't think I've ever been quite so freaked out.
Played a number of biker bars/gigs since then, and most of them respect the bands and realize that if you mess with the band, you're messing with the entertainment, so lay off!!
We had just finished doing SR for a 3-day biker gig hosted by the Banditos at a venue 80 miles west of Ft. Worth TX. Yes, THOSE Banditos of 2015 Twin Peaks "shootout" in Waco, TX fame.
They had a rented a field (about football field size), put up a 10 foot high chain-link fence all around and the only way in/out was thru the main gate that they had "security" running. I could sit in the FOH tower and watch the cops driving around the perimeter roads
All in all very few issues over the 3 days, but I do have some seriously *** stories from that gig that I'll reserve for another time
We had put on a ton of bands. From Jerry Jeff Walker ("red neck mother") to Bugs Henderson (a well know Dallas artist) and some local "rock" bands. I can't remember all of them.. it was 30+ yrs ago.
Sunday night, we are tearing down and loading up the gear. The boss and I were in the drivers end of the 18-foot truck loading up when this monster of a dude (in leathers) appears at the back holding a gun on us and demanding that we go put it all back up, play some music or "I"m going to shoot you m****F****")..
Someone noticed, found the dude brother ( he was about the same mountain man size) and talked him down. The guy was high on something..
Neither the boss nor I were on top of the world at that point, but had to finish loading up and driving back to Dallas.
Looking back on it now I can laugh about it, but at the time, I don't think I've ever been quite so freaked out.
Played a number of biker bars/gigs since then, and most of them respect the bands and realize that if you mess with the band, you're messing with the entertainment, so lay off!!
This scene looks fairly unthreatening, right?
That's me with the guitar, playing for the folks at a teachers' gathering. The gathering was for a national strike, in El Salvador, in 1992, which I had been helping in organizing. That was the day that the government newspaper, Diario Del Hoy, ran an article on the front page about the strike, listing me by name as a "leftist foreign agitator" who ought to be killed for fomenting unrest. During the preceding 10 years, the police, army, and death squads had murdered hundreds of teachers, during a 15 year civil war. The union provided me with armed body guards until I left the country.
That's me with the guitar, playing for the folks at a teachers' gathering. The gathering was for a national strike, in El Salvador, in 1992, which I had been helping in organizing. That was the day that the government newspaper, Diario Del Hoy, ran an article on the front page about the strike, listing me by name as a "leftist foreign agitator" who ought to be killed for fomenting unrest. During the preceding 10 years, the police, army, and death squads had murdered hundreds of teachers, during a 15 year civil war. The union provided me with armed body guards until I left the country.
Had something like that happen to me once. Guy could have picked me up off the floor with one hand. I had to convince him that I couldnt see a thing past the par cans in front of me, and it was just the way I was turned on stage.
Played in a club thats now in its third iteration of a strip club.
Representatives from Two local biker clubs clubs show up late in the evening-
Things start to get on a rising slope of tension.
As we're ending for the night, a fight breaks out..two guys are on the floor getting it decided...
The GF of the guy on the bottom tries to help by going after the guy on top. He reaches back, fist to the face.
She hits the floor, right at my feet. I could tell by her eyes she was out cold.
A gun goes clattering across the floor.
My A$$ goes out the back door.
Representatives from Two local biker clubs clubs show up late in the evening-
Things start to get on a rising slope of tension.
As we're ending for the night, a fight breaks out..two guys are on the floor getting it decided...
The GF of the guy on the bottom tries to help by going after the guy on top. He reaches back, fist to the face.
She hits the floor, right at my feet. I could tell by her eyes she was out cold.
A gun goes clattering across the floor.
My A$$ goes out the back door.
Any gigs at the Rusty Nail in Sunderland by any chance? I grew up in that area and saw a few bands there.
John
funny I just posted about this decade old incident earlier today.
drummer books a gig
drummer disappears and stops returning our calls/emails
we check out the club and discover it's a folk place
we rehearse as an acoustic duo sans drums
we show up with acoustic guitars -- drummer shows up with his new band
we say, oh hey drummer we didn't know you were going to be here. Go ahead and play with your new band, we'll bow out
club owner sees their two 4x12 guitar cabs and says, "you can't bring those in here! get out of here with your heavy metal!"
we play the gig acoustically
drummer sits with his three bandmates in the front row, arms crossed, and all give us stares of death for 60 straight minutes
drummer books a gig
drummer disappears and stops returning our calls/emails
we check out the club and discover it's a folk place
we rehearse as an acoustic duo sans drums
we show up with acoustic guitars -- drummer shows up with his new band
we say, oh hey drummer we didn't know you were going to be here. Go ahead and play with your new band, we'll bow out
club owner sees their two 4x12 guitar cabs and says, "you can't bring those in here! get out of here with your heavy metal!"
we play the gig acoustically
drummer sits with his three bandmates in the front row, arms crossed, and all give us stares of death for 60 straight minutes
This is gold, Man, and proves what I have always said: Revenge is best dished out acoustically.
Got my ass kicked for being a longhair toward the end of the Public Image Limited show at the Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles 1980. I have to admit, it made for a memorable gig, as I always loved bands with auto-destruct finishes to their set. But getting auto-destructed myself took it to that next aesthetic level.
Here's the late Darby Crash (Germs) wild-posting for that gig.
Here's the late Darby Crash (Germs) wild-posting for that gig.
Lot's of biker bar stories.. funny, we played nothing but for about 10 yrs up and down the Myrtle Beach strand and never saw anything worth bringing up. But, play a sports bar out in the burbs, damn near riot between Red Sox and Yankee fans. Cops literally rolling around on the floor with these guys.. crazy fun times. Still can't remember being threatened onstage tho. There was one time I was sure the drummer would be broke in half by the end of the night but that wouldn't have been much of a loss.
OK, you win... I've thought I was going to have to fight my way out of a few bars, but never an entire country.
Back in the 80's I was in a cover band playing classic rock. We were playing a bar in Hamilton Ontario for the first time.
We arrive for the load in dance and the owner approaches us asking if we had ever played here before, no we have not.
He goes on to say that there will be a fight in the bar that night and likely every night we are going to be playing there and when it happens, what ever we do, DON'T STOP PLAYING!!!!!!! The bouncers will have it cleaned up before most of the patrons even knew what was happening.
So, there I am, playing away and out of the corner of my eye, I see a chair flying across the back of the room. Then another and another, then a table. I look at my band mates, they see it, but we don't miss a beat. The whole back of the bar is in full UFC mode!
I can't say I felt afraid for my life, but it sure was disconcerting to say the least.
Fishheadjoe
We arrive for the load in dance and the owner approaches us asking if we had ever played here before, no we have not.
He goes on to say that there will be a fight in the bar that night and likely every night we are going to be playing there and when it happens, what ever we do, DON'T STOP PLAYING!!!!!!! The bouncers will have it cleaned up before most of the patrons even knew what was happening.
So, there I am, playing away and out of the corner of my eye, I see a chair flying across the back of the room. Then another and another, then a table. I look at my band mates, they see it, but we don't miss a beat. The whole back of the bar is in full UFC mode!
I can't say I felt afraid for my life, but it sure was disconcerting to say the least.
Fishheadjoe
