When two of rock’s greatest acts descended on Montreal on Aug. 8, 1992, followers anticipated a present for the ages. What they bought was a riot.
Metallica and Weapons N’ Roses had been within the midst of a North American tour once they arrived within the Canadian metropolis. Metallica can be the primary of the co-headliners to carry out, however issues took a harmful flip throughout their set. Because the band carried out “Fade to Black,” frontman James Hetfield was injured in a pyrotechnics accident that left him with second- and third-degree burns. Metallica instantly ended their set and rushed the singer to a hospital. Followers must wait one other two hours earlier than Weapons N’ Roses took the stage.
When GNR lastly started their set, singer Axl Rose, who had already complained about technical points earlier on the tour, was affected by vocal discomfort. Pissed off, he minimize the band’s set quick, introduced it might be “our final present for a very long time” and walked offstage. In response, the group went ballistic.
Followers smashed up elements of the Olympic Stadium, then spilled into the streets, overturning a police automotive, lighting fires, breaking home windows and looting. Police confirmed up in riot gear and used tear gasoline to subdue the mob. In whole, the riot triggered almost half one million {dollars} in damages and led to a dozen arrests.
Whereas the scene in Montreal that evening wasn’t anticipated, it additionally wasn’t unprecedented. All through rock historical past, there are lots of examples of concert events which have, for one purpose or one other, devolved into anarchy. We’ve rounded up 18 examples under.
Concert events That Turned Into Riots
Typically exhibits can get uncontrolled.
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