[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U3drJ3YYmA[/youtube]
You know what’s punk rock? Smashing an instrument onstage. You know what the opposite of punk rock is? Throwing all of your band’s microphone stands into the audience, especially when playing for a bunch of kids at an amusement park. That’s what happened on Saturday at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ. During the park’s first (and now last) heavy show, the “FestEVIL,” Falling In Reverse frontman Ronald “Ronnie” Radke decided to give javelin throwing a whirl and chucked three microphone stands into the audience, injuring a 16-year-old girl and a 24 year-old-man. Following the incident, Radke was arrested for simple assault and aggravated assault then released on $25,000 bail.
The “FestEVIL”, which also featured We Came As Romans and Born of Osiris among others, was a little bit of a gamble for Six Flags, which is more used to having the likes of Gym Class Heroes or Pat Benetar play. Great Adventure spokesperson Kristin Siebeneicher tells the Asbury Park Press that there won’t be any more heavy shows. “This was the first metal show that we’ve ever had, and will be the last,” she says. “We have no plans to host another metal show.” Thanks a lot for ruining it for everyone, Falling In Reverse. It’s not like most metal bands would do something that irresponsible.
This is also not the first time Radke has been arrested, having spent two and half years in prison when he violated probation after being connected to the shooting of a man in Nevada (we assume that the throwing of musical equipment might have been involved as well). Metal shows, particularly festivals, always run the risk of getting rowdy. That being said, launching stage equipment at your fans doesn’t exactly make you or your contemporaries look good, and is probably the most irresponsible thing he could’ve done.
