St. Patty's fight

Fender05

Fender05

Oct 20, 2008
148
120
4,571
Indianapolis
#1
This was a first for me in nearly 1100 shows. I'm not sure exactly what caused it (other than alcohol, obviously), but Dude A walked up and sucker punched Dude B in the face (a coward move, to be sure, but in all fairness that punch was executed with perfect form and connected HARD). They fall on stage, another guy jumps in, then another guy, and all hell breaks loose. My guitarist goes to jump in (still holding his guitar) so I grab him and pull him away. Singer did beautifully...screamed over the mic to stop fighting and get off the stage, but didn't ever get involved physically. Finally some big dudes jump in and break everyone apart. Surprisingly, nothing broke. Couple cables pulled out from the monitors and that was it. We calm down, get the crowd settled, and finish the set, which ended up being one of the best we've ever played. Hell of a night, sorry for my poor story telling skills (i'm no BassCliff, that's for sure!), but it was interesting and I thought I'd share.

How about you guys? Ever had a fight break out and end up on stage? Tell me your stories, lets laugh at drunk idiots together
 
  • Like
Reactions: ReggieRochester, Jimmy4string, SLO Surfer and 9 others
#2
Singers ex’s new boyfriend decided he wanted to be a hero and suckered him as he walked off the stage at end of second set. Well....

Had my jazz in my hand still. The bottom got him good in the nose...had it by the upper horn and neck joint when I speared him over the top with it...invision spearing a fish lol!!!! Lots of blood not a scratch or a drop on my bass though;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Florinda4, Jakeman, Aqualung60 and 3 others
#4
TerenceE said:
Singers ex’s new boyfriend decided he wanted to be a hero and suckered him as he walked off the stage at end of second set. Well....

Had my jazz in my hand still. The bottom got him good in the nose...had it by the upper horn and neck joint when I speared him over the top with it...invision spearing a fish lol!!!! Lots of blood not a scratch or a drop on my bass though;)
Click to expand...
Careful with that axe, Eugene!
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowplaces, GregC, SeSt and 14 others
#10
Fender05 said:
This was a first for me in nearly 1100 shows. I'm not sure exactly what caused it (other than alcohol, obviously), but Dude A walked up and sucker punched Dude B in the face (a coward move, to be sure, but in all fairness that punch was executed with perfect form and connected HARD). They fall on stage, another guy jumps in, then another guy, and all hell breaks loose. My guitarist goes to jump in (still holding his guitar) so I grab him and pull him away. Singer did beautifully...screamed over the mic to stop fighting and get off the stage, but didn't ever get involved physically. Finally some big dudes jump in and break everyone apart. Surprisingly, nothing broke. Couple cables pulled out from the monitors and that was it. We calm down, get the crowd settled, and finish the set, which ended up being one of the best we've ever played. Hell of a night, sorry for my poor story telling skills (i'm no BassCliff, that's for sure!), but it was interesting and I thought I'd share.

How about you guys? Ever had a fight break out and end up on stage? Tell me your stories, lets laugh at drunk idiots together
Click to expand...

St. Patrick's day is like a lot of other drinking holidays: time for amateur drunks to do something stupid. Question: why is the heck was your guitarist going to "jump in?" Did he know someone in the fight? Or just needing to prove his bravado? Either way, I'd make sure that never happened again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RSBBass, Jimmy4string, Duder and 4 others
#11
In 40 years of gigging I have seen many fist fights, cat fights (gals really throw down!) and even a couple of free-for-alls.
There have been a couple of fights involving knives and a few involving guns.
Thankfully the shootings happened outside the clubs each time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deak
#15
guy n. cognito said:
St. Patrick's day is like a lot of other drinking holidays: time for amateur drunks to do something stupid. Question: why is the heck was your guitarist going to "jump in?" Did he know someone in the fight? Or just needing to prove his bravado? Either way, I'd make sure that never happened again.
Click to expand...
I think he panicked and was just trying to break it up. Keep in mind, it's mid-set, not 2 feet away from his board and stuff. He realized pretty quick after I grabbed him that he shouldn't be in the fight and left to guard his amp. So, no harm no foul on his part, he just got caught off-guard like the rest of us
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jimmy4string, Wisebass and Tanner5382
#16
I've seen entire bars rise up as one man and start swinging-- had full bottles of beer heaved at us-- plenty of bar fights that spilled onto the stage-- that was when I discovered that a Jazz Bass lends itself well to weapons kata-- Seattle is a lot calmer now (or maybe just better medicated) than it was in the 1970s--
 
  • Like
Reactions: BeauZooka, bassestkkm, catcauphonic and 3 others
#18
Every show I ever played up until I broke out of my particular area involved some level of violence. Brawls, stabbings, you name it. I think that particular band may have been cursed because it happened wherever we went and it wasn’t like we were inciting it. It was just the type of places we were playing that I’m glad to have left behind since. St. Patrick’s Day just gets silly at a certain hour when people who don’t necessarily drink often decide to start drinking at 11am and continue on till something bad happens and they are made to go home. It just brings out an element that can’t hold their liquor or have a few drinks without having some kind of emotional crisis or similar. It’s a dumb holiday and I say that as an Irish-American.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Oddly
#19
bholder said:
I remember being really glad I carried my weapon of choice for mass mayhem, the Mighty T-40, when the last band I was in played some seedy biker bars and parties. :D You swing that at someone once, they won't be coming back at you. ;)
Click to expand...

They won’t, but their twelve friends might break it off in your arse when they see you’ve used it as a weapon against one of theirs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Aqualung60, Son of Wobble and bholder
#20
Lbsterner said:
This is the point at which you should have started playing Yackety Sax.

Click to expand...

Great! Now I've got Yakety Sax and Bennie Hill chasing babes all around the countryside playing in my head.
So yea . . . thanks for the mental break bro!

My experience consists of young bucks rutting at about every high school dance and beer Hail Mary passes at college frat parties.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lbsterner and bholder
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back