Safety at shows

meme

So, I've been listening to a lot of old old boots lately.

I know about the band's comments in the aftermath of Roskilde, that they wrote a song for the victims and so on. But what really has been driving home for me how devastated the must have been is the fact that in EVERY SINGLE SHOW I've been listening to (about 30 now) between 1990 and 1992, Ed talks about safety... "be careful" "take care of each other" "is everyone ok?". EVERY SINGLE SHOW.

This seemed a good time to bring this up, just before their playing a festival again... and before a long streak of General Admission shows (one of which I'll be lucky enough to be at).

Take care of your neighbors, be civil... you should do this out of sheer concern for human life, but if you can't grasp that do it because if something happens this time I don't think your favorite band will survive it.

neartodeath

moshing went out with acid wash jeans

fraude

I agree with you, safety is has, is and always will be a big issue at events like this. I think that we as PJ fans should set the example and start acting upon the beliefs of the band we so dearly love. Care about your complete total stranger standing behind you at a PJ concert pushing you in the back. Justy ask him/her nicely to stop doing it and that is one step closer to something we, in the end, we all want. Which is, to enjoy the best fuckin' band in the world.

lurkin

hope you have better luck with that than I did in san fran 1st nite.

I had to abandon my position, about 3 off the rail, mike's side, just after maybe 5 songs in, due to unending supply of large, out-of-control, just bulling their way in cause they could, fuck-wad males, feeling entitled to best spots in the house even though they obviously hadn't spent their entire day waiting in line for those spots. I was spending all my energy just trying to stay near my friends. The crushing was a little crazy a times. And when I did try to push back to get some people literally off my back, it just resulted in a surge coming back at me twice as strong. Wasn't feeling safe with that either.

I was pretty surprised to hear Ed saying, later in the show, that it spoke so well of the crowd that there appeared to be an equal amount of women as men on the rail. Must have meant people were taking care of each other. What he maybe didn't get, was that if you didn't have a couple of strong people, generally a gal's man or a strong woman, around you, or maybe the rail itself to hang onto, as a female you really had no protection. At least that was my situation.

It was great thru Sonic Youth, no trouble even though the house was mostly full, everyone was cool and civilized. But as soon as PJ came on, out came the assholes. Such a bummer. I always thought we were a better crowd than that.

Sorry for the long rant, but I guess I just had to get that out. Thanks for the opportunity, and I really do wish you all luck with so many GA shows ahead. Perhaps you can give us a better example.

Take good care, stay safe and rock your socks off !!!

stonesgstring

Generally speaking GA shows are safe. You always get the few stupid fans but that goes with every band.

If you don't like being squashed though avoid the middle of Ga pits. It's gets pretty tight but people tend to look out for each other.

meme

Sorry to hear that.
I've only ever been in first row once, at a Springsteen concert...18 years ago or so . I swore I'd never do it again, cause as you said all my energy went into trying to stay up. But this will be my only chance to be in first row at a Pearl Jam show, so I'm thinking about trying again... at 35

I'll have Verona to enjoy the music, and Milan to get squashed

lurkin wrote:

hope you have better luck with that than I did in san fran 1st nite.

I had to abandon my position, about 3 off the rail, mike's side, just after maybe 5 songs in, due to unending supply of large, out-of-control, just bulling their way in cause they could, fuck-wad males, feeling entitled to best spots in the house even though they obviously hadn't spent their entire day waiting in line for those spots. I was spending all my energy just trying to stay near my friends. The crushing was a little crazy a times. And when I did try to push back to get some people literally off my back, it just resulted in a surge coming back at me twice as strong. Wasn't feeling safe with that either.

I was pretty surprised to hear Ed saying, later in the show, that it spoke so well of the crowd that there appeared to be an equal amount of women as men on the rail. Must have meant people were taking care of each other. What he maybe didn't get, was that if you didn't have a couple of strong people, generally a gal's man or a strong woman, around you, or maybe the rail itself to hang onto, as a female you really had no protection. At least that was my situation.

It was great thru Sonic Youth, no trouble even though the house was mostly full, everyone was cool and civilized. But as soon as PJ came on, out came the assholes. Such a bummer. I always thought we were a better crowd than that.

Sorry for the long rant, but I guess I just had to get that out. Thanks for the opportunity, and I really do wish you all luck with so many GA shows ahead. Perhaps you can give us a better example.

Take good care, stay safe and rock your socks off !!!

chadwick

ive never seen PJ yet so i cant add a memory of their show.i can add a
lil story or two tho.i was at the rolling stones steels wheel show in Ames,IA
back in the late 80's.the opening act was living color.this was at cyclone stadium.a football field/stadium.we had our 4 seats,folding metal chairs.
right smack in the center of the field.everyone was seated during the living color gig.soon as mick and the boys came out everyone jumped on their chair.
to see, we had to do the same.im a large dude so i guess i was blocking the view of the dude behind me.he pushed me off my chair.im cool so i calmly get back on my chair.were rockin out, then yet again, im pushed off my chair.
im calm and cool.i get back on my chair and look @ the dude.hes kinda pissed off @ me.so were jammin to the stones when yet again im pushed, but this time quite hard off my chair by this asshole.i looked @ him like i was going to rip his head off his shoulders and stuff.he never pushed me off my chair again.2nd lil story is my bro and his buddy went to a poison gig..haha..
front row sum pricks were smashing these chics, chics is why they went to the show anyway..haha..but yea some assholes smashing chics, everybody..
my bro,big dude like myself,grabs this chic who got thrown around and knocked down.shes cryin and bruised up.my bro saves her.shes glued to him the rest of the night.

end of story..

meme

Hi Chadwick, I lived in Ames for a couple of years!

Well, since you bumped this thread up from the dead... I really thought I would die in Milan. I was in fourth row or something. I made it through 3 songs or so and then had to go back for my life. I really enjoyed the show after I went back. I guess pits are not for me... I'll stay away in London

JanetWeiss

I thought I would die in Bologna. First PJ show after 10 years and the biggest disappointment of all. I gave up (central) front row after a hour and I don't know how I could stay there so long. Didn't enjoy almost anything, I was too scared.
At the following shows I found a spot Stone side, which was really nice and things went better.
But that show was a nightmare.

chadwick

i dont do front row or mass confusion, pushy shoving very well.
i'll start crackin skulls if sum dude/dudes wanna get to stupid..
i feel bad for the ppl who get hurt tryin to enjoy a wonderful time with
a band they love..im cool sittin in my seat @ a distance..heck with it..
sum folks are outta hand..

Kirkwood

Paris was also not fun to be in front, couldn´t focus on the music at all. But in Prague it was awesome, friendly surrondings. And I rememeber that Prague hade like 40 % of the standing area reserved, a little bit expiencier tickets but it was totally worth it. Why couldn´t all arenas have that?

Pegasus

JanetWeiss wrote:

I thought I would die in Bologna. First PJ show after 10 years and the biggest disappointment of all. I gave up (central) front row after a hour and I don't know how I could stay there so long. Didn't enjoy almost anything, I was too scared.
At the following shows I found a spot Stone side, which was really nice and things went better.
But that show was a nightmare.

really?
it was really really hot, but otherwise the pushing wasn't particularly bad compare to some other shows (Paris, and though I wasn't in the pit I know Milan, in particular, also Pistoia).

I've seen the footage of SF II, and it looks really comfy to me

so a word of advice to the americans coming to Europe this June:
if you thought SF was bad, stay the hell out of the pits here!
it's not nasty in general (although there's always some dicks), but it's always densely packed, hot and agitated.

tips: it's always calmer on Stone side, and the more on the side you are (both sides)
Also, it generally calms down 5-10 rows back (but that said, Pistoia was moshing 20 rows back).
and it pays to have friends around you... you make some quickly in GA queues, especially if following part of the tour.

JanetWeiss

Pegasus wrote:

really?
it was really really hot, but otherwise the pushing wasn't particularly bad compare to some other shows (Paris, and though I wasn't in the pit I know Milan, in particular, also Pistoia).

Some friends of mine told me that the pushing in Milan and Pistoia was very bad, worse than Bologna. I was Stone side and on the side and there was no pushing, because people usually push towards the center.
I think I'll try to be there next June.
No way that I'll go Mike side or to the center anymore. I simply can't do it.

Pegasus

JanetWeiss wrote:

Some friends of mine told me that the pushing in Milan and Pistoia was very bad, worse than Bologna. I was Stone side and on the side and there was no pushing, because people usually push towards the center.
I think I'll try to be there next June.
No way that I'll go Mike side or to the center anymore. I simply can't do it.

I was in the centre in Bologna (Stone side of the T base), and it was ok apart for some complete dick at the end.

in Milan I was in the seats on the side (I added that show later and when I was offered that seat, I didn't even try to find 10c..I'd been warned about the Milanese..), but a friend, who was front row centre EVERY show last year, including the festivals, had to pull out of that one and was shaken afterwards.

Pistoia, I was at the end of the T, it was rough at first but calmed down..but I could see a hell lot of moshing on Mike side, even as far back as I was, for most of the show (and it was the longest of the leg).

I'm not sure the T arrangement is really making things safer... much prefer the 2 pits. the 2 places where they had them, Dublin and Prague (Reading doesn't count as the barrier was so far it was useless..), it was really fine.

einatshaul

Madrid worked well for me, I was lucky not to get kicked in the head there and so was Athens, really great, even on mike's side!

But I do advise you all to take Stone's side if you're newbees at this...

And Pegasus - you forgot reading just watch out for that face under that sweet colorful hat in first row, it looks happy when it's in pain!

Pegasus

einatshaul wrote:

Madrid worked well for me, I was lucky not to get kicked in the head there and so was Athens, really great, even on mike's side!

But I do advise you all to take Stone's side if you're newbees at this...

And Pegasus - you forgot reading just watch out for that face under that sweet colorful hat in first row, it looks happy when it's in pain!

not pain...just not much room to breath..
seriously, Reading might have been the tightest, but it was cool.

Off I Go.

My first ever! for any band GA ! Was in Bern last year,I was right at the front
and for the first five songs especially it felt really wild --very squashed and hard to breath at times!! I nearly got kicked in the head too!but was lucky and escaped injury, never experienced anything like it in all my 53 years!!I wouldnt have missed it for the world and am now looking forward to Wembley In June !!COUNTING the days !!! and WAITING, WAITING as all of us that are lucky enough to be going are!!! The dividing line between having a really rocking good time and getting hurt can be very fine, We must all take care and have a good time too!!!

Heineken Helen

Well the three I was at last year were probably the easiest... the Astoria I was at the front and it was a struggle to stay there but I still really enjoyed it. Looking back on it, it seemed to be a walk in the park, although I'm not so sure I felt it at the time... although maybe shock had set in anyway.

Dublin was just brilliant... the two pits worked excellently and the padded barrier made it much more comfortable too.

Verona was seated

SoonForgotten2

I think they really, really need to use the separate pit concept. If that should mean it's 10C only so be it. Especially at the mini-PJ festivals. The T just does nothing to prevent assholes who arrive at the venue 5 minutes before PJ take the stage from pushing their way up no matter who they hurt or annoy in the process.

redrock

Heineken Helen wrote:

Dublin was just brilliant... the two pits worked excellently and the padded barrier made it much more comfortable too.

The padded barrier was luxury!

Heineken Helen

redrock wrote:

The padded barrier was luxury!

I could just put my elbows against it and give myself lotsa room. All venues should do that I think

Heineken Helen

Heineken Helen wrote:

I could just put my elbows against it and give myself lotsa room. All venues should do that I think

When ya think of it, it's quite a simple safety idea... why DON'T they all have it? I mean, surely it couldn't possibly cost all that much?

Housing Jim

Heineken Helen wrote:

Dublin was just brilliant... the two pits worked excellently and the padded barrier made it much more comfortable too.

Yes, for those of you who were in the front pit.

Dublin was f**king awful for anyone directly behind the 2nd barrier thanks to all the drunken assholes who seemed to comprise the majority of the crowd there. All of us who had waited by the barrier patiently for 2 hours had our night ruined as we all had to get dragged out after a couple of songs.

I'm not going to do my Dublin Safety speech again, it'll just get my blood boiling again.

Brisk.

i fucking hate those people who are like, can you just let me through i want to get to my friend.

many people asked me at astoria, but i saw straight through them and was like no

Dercheef

Arnhem was very peaceful at the front except for one little dick on drugs who was running basically through the people standing on mikes side. It would have been ok if everyone acted like him but since noone was moshing it was pretty annoying. But apart from him it was great.

Bern was intense! The pushing on Mikes side was crazy. Especially annoying was this kid right behind me who shoved his fucking elbow the whole time in my face so that he can hold his camera up high. I thought about shouting at him to stop it but he looked so happy that I decided not to do it. After the first set I went a few meters back where the moshing took place and there I had much more fun.

Berlin was perfect. A bit moshing, a bit pushing but nothing too bad.

meme

I BrisK I wrote:

i fucking hate those people who are like, can you just let me through i want to get to my friend.

many people asked me at astoria, but i saw straight through them and was like no

I do too... in Milan I just told him: "I'll call your friend so he can come back with you". I felt like a bitch though... and the two fellas I met at the airport the following day... I apologized

Scratchin a Letter

The shows I've attended have been mixed, only one was on the unsafe side. It also depends on what the setlist is like. If they walk out to a noisy and energetic crowd and open with Go or Severed Hand there won't exactly be swaying and lighters in the air.

Astoria was perfect, there was pushing and pogoing but nothing painful. Reading was tight but fairly calm. Marseille.... I can't remember. Bern was probably the worst for me, on the barrier on Mike's side... I came out with more bruises than a month old apple. I got a few elbows and a crowdsurfer kicked me in the back of the head... Pistoia was energetic but not too bad in terms of rowdiness. I had a good view and it wasn't physically challenged.

Pegasus

redrock wrote:

The padded barrier was luxury!

sure was, Gitta and I looked at each other in disbelief

Housing Jim wrote:

Yes, for those of you who were in the front pit.

Dublin was f**king awful for anyone directly behind the 2nd barrier thanks to all the drunken assholes who seemed to comprise the majority of the crowd there. All of us who had waited by the barrier patiently for 2 hours had our night ruined as we all had to get dragged out after a couple of songs.

I'm not going to do my Dublin Safety speech again, it'll just get my blood boiling again.

I heard about it afterwards.
I think it was because people were not aware (because you could not take drinks inside so they went in a t the last minute) there was another barrier so they were pushing to get closer thinking there was a lot of room.

Could easily be solved by putting up signs warning people there's 2 barriers (or simply letting people take drinks inside..what a stupid thing not to do)

Scratchin a Letter wrote:

The shows I've attended have been mixed, only one was on the unsafe side. It also depends on what the setlist is like. If they walk out to a noisy and energetic crowd and open with Go or Severed Hand there won't exactly be swaying and lighters in the air.

ALL concerts in Europe last year were heavy on hard songs at the beginning, if not the very first one then the next 3-4 anyway (which was great).
So it really depends more on the crowd (and also barrier arrangement, and security clamping down on the assholes)

Housing Jim

Pegasus wrote:

I heard about it afterwards.
I think it was because people were not aware (because you could not take drinks inside so they went in a t the last minute) there was another barrier so they were pushing to get closer thinking there was a lot of room.

Could easily be solved by putting up signs warning people there's 2 barriers (or simply letting people take drinks inside..what a stupid thing not to do)

Yeah, I think you're absolutely right. Some better signage warning folk that they couldn't get any further forward may have made the situation a lot better, and yes, the no drink in the auditorium rule didn't really help matters.

It did take a lot of people by surprise just how rough it was.....I've stood at the front of many concerts over the last 15 years from Oasis to Rage Against The Machine and I've never felt pressure like I did at Dublin.

Still, lesson learned, I'll be going nowhere near the front at Wembley

ediger

neartodeath wrote:

moshing went out with acid wash jeans

when did acid wash go out?

msuthy

Agree with everyone mentioning better signs to show that their is a barrier is they way to stop idiots thinking they can push right to the front only to be actually crushing fans against a barrier.

The barrier worked so well in Dublin but can appreciate the commentss from those in the back part of the crowd. Was just the same at T In The Park last year - had a front pit area but those further back didn't know and were crushing fans into the barrier.

However, only seen this once before at an Eminem gig. 3 half circle front barriers!! They spilt the crowd into 4 parts. I was up in the stands at Hampden and got a great view of the arrangements. The front part was some sort of fan club thing, ok, then the 2nd and 3rd and 4th parts were for the rest, but those who'd waiting outside for ages could get in and get into the 2nd and 3rd split areas easily, then the rest in the 4th part. Not sure if i've explained that well but worked really well and gave some of the fans that'd been there for a good while before the show some breathing space without the thought of last minute idiots coming through the crowd. Had big marker cards at the end of each barrier to warn people that they were there.