I "shit" you not...

Wanna start off with a huge thanks to all the feedback for my last post regarding Gorillaz and their cancelled shows. I've had many compliments and comments both here on Definitive Hysteria and on the Facebook group Gorillaz should be playing in the North of the UK . Hopefully we'll get some answers soon. I read a news item today that made me glad that at least Gorillaz did give us two months notice. (More on that particular news later) It's not unknown for a gig to be cancelled at the last minute or worse still DURING the gig itself. Obviously sometimes this can be due to ill health. Elton John for example had to cancel his Metro Arena gig at very short notice due to influenza last year. It's just the way it goes sometimes. Here are some of the more memorable reasons (some of which are frankly hilarious) that bands and singers have cancelled their shows or in some cases walked off mid-gig.

Guns N' Roses, Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, Missouri July 2nd 1991



Where to begin with Guns N' Roses? Axl Rose is synonymous with on stage rants, walk offs and cancellations. This incident known as the Rocket Queen riot however is possibly the most infamous. As the band performed 'Rocket Queen' deep into their set, Axl spotted a fan taking photos, something with which he was unimpressed and well... you can see what he did here...



Yes. So this unfortunately incited the infamous riot as the band refused to go back on. Rose was charged with having incited the riot a year later and paid tribute to the incident with a simple 'Fuck You St Louis' in the liner notes of 'Use Your Illusion I' and 'II' While many were injured, fortunately no one was seriously hurt to the best of my knowledge.

Black Label Society, Manchester Academy, June 18th 2005



10 minutes before Zakk Wylde's group Black Label Society were due to go on stage in Manchester the waiting fans were told that the show was unfortunately cancelled. Why you ask? Allegedly biker gang 'Satan's Slaves Motorcycle Club' had taken issue with the logo used by the band which fans were using as patches on their jackets. The BLS official website posted the following days later:

"...The BLS Gig in Manchester [Sat 18th] was pulled due to the violent behaviour of the biker gang ''Satans Slaves Motorcycle Club''

Reportedly, The Satans Slaves attacked a dozen fans in Manchester Saturday for simply wearing a BLS t-shirt or an item or clothing with the BLS emblem on. This was apparently due to the fact that the bands logo shares a strong resembelance to that of the emblem of the SSMC.

As a result of this band managers advised fans to remove all items of BLS merchandise clothing.

The situation soon worsened, however, as the Satans Slaves threatened to attack all those present at the gig if it commenced and as a result Zakk Wylde chose to pull the gig for the safety of his fans..."

Scary stuff.

Morrissey, Liverpool Echo Arena, November 7th 2009



Unfortunately getting bottled seems a fact of life for live bands. Here's a hilarious video of Nickelback walking off after getting bottled in Portugal.

If it turns out they were getting rocks thrown at them maybe you can't blame them. But if Daphne and Celeste can survive the barrage of bottles of piss they got at Reading in 1999 then no one has any right to moan over one solitary, non-piss stained bottle. However Morrissey wasn't impressed when a bottle got him perfectly on the head.




Amy Winehouse, Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, March 2007



A lighthearted one now that doesn't involve riots or biker gangs. Amy Winehouse was scheduled to play two gigs at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in 2007 but axed both shows; initially without giving any reason at all. However a week or so later she revealed the mysterious reason for the cancellation. Transport problems? Nope. Illness? Well sort of but not really. No the reason given was that she 'fell on her face while drunk and damaged her tooth'. No really! "I broke a big tooth. I had a massive gap in the front of my mouth." Amy confirmed. Well I guess we've heard it all now? Not quite my friends...

Kings of Leon, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, St. Louis Missouri, July 23rd 2010,



The very same venue where Guns N' Roses sparked the Rocket Queen riot, the now renamed Verison Wireless Amphitheater in St. Louis played host to Kings of Leon last Friday night. However three songs into the set the band walked off and the lights went up. The show was cancelled. The fans started chanting 'Bullshit' and 'Refund!' As the fans went home and the dust began to settle, Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill tweeted the following, explaining the short set:

@doctorfollowill So sorry St. Louis. We had to bail, pigeons shitting in jareds mouth. Too unsanitary to continue.

I shit you not (get it?) A PIGEON shat in Jared's mouth. Maybe I should be more sympathetic but I find this simply hilarious. Of course it's the venue's fault if they're keeping pigeons in the rafters but as a band surely you toughen up and keep playing. That being said bird shit can be rather toxic so let's hope he's just exaggerating. All I can say is that pigeon obviously has one hell of a shot!

So fear not Gorillaz fans! At least you know before getting to the arena!




(That last photo isn't mine but how great is it?)