MCD issue statement after last night's ill-tempered Guns N' Roses show
The promoter and the O2 venue "wish to apologise for any inconvenience caused due to late running of the show"
The Hot Press Newsdesk, 02 Sep 2010
Following Axl Rose and co's swift departure from the O2 stage last night (the singer stormed off just 30 minutes into the band's set, due to bottles being thrown onstage), MCD have released an official statement.
The promoting giants describe the events that led to Axl's decision: "During the second song Axl requested members of the crowd who were throwing plastic glasses containing unknown substances to immediately stop or he would have no option but to leave the stage. He confirmed band's wish to perform stating "we want to stay..one more bottle and we go home". Despite his continued appeals, having tried to continue performing for 22 minutes,
people continued throwing unknown substances leaving artist with no choice but to leave the stage."
"From the stage MCD promoter Denis Desmond again appealed to audience to refrain from throwing items and stated that the band would be back on stage shortly."
Following some backstage chit-chat, (oh to be a fly on the wall!) MCD then explain that they convinced the singer to return and complete the set:
"The artist was prevented from leaving the venue by the promoter, and following backstage discussions Guns N' Roses went back on stage at 23.20 hrs and performed their full set until 00.53 hrs."
The band had initially come on stage over an hour after support act Danko Jones finished. This late arrival seems to have angered the crowd, who were heard booing the band as they started their set.
MCD continues: "While the artist has a long history for being late on stage (Slane 1992 - crowd waiting two hours and last weekend's UK Reading festival), NO artist should be subjected to missiles and unknown substances being thrown at them. However, despite this the band went back on stage after people stopped throwing items performing their full set of songs in full."
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