Shortly before boarding his plane to return to the U.S. after a month-plus in a Czech prison, Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe conducted an interview with the Czech Republic’s TV Nova (via Metal Injection), about his incarceration in Prague on charges of manslaughter. Blythe was arrested on June 27 allegations that he led to a fan’s death following a 2010 concert.
“I am relieved to be out of Pankrác jail,” he told a reporter. “It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t exactly fun. If it’s necessary for me to return to Prague to go to this court thing, I certainly will. I’m no flight risk.” He later described his living situation in jail as being acceptable. “I had three meals a day, a roof over my head and clothes on my back, so I try to be grateful for what I have instead of what I don’t have,” he said. “I read a lot. I wrote a lot. Wrote some new songs and exercised and talked to cellmates. There’s not much to do in prison.”
Blythe said everyone involved knew who he was and his story. “I signed some autographs for [some prisoners] and for some guards,” he said. He later added, “Everyone, the inmates, were very cool to me. Nobody was mean to me at all. I had no problems.”
Regarding the alleged incident that landed him in jail, Blythe said it was just one of thousands of concerts he played and that he did not know anyone was hurt. He also tried to allay the way the Czech media was portraying his onstage persona. “To people who’re not used to this type of music, I know it must seem crazy and violent in appearance, but that sort of activity is normal at a concert — that kind of dancing,” he said. “It is very tragic that a young man died. I feel very bad that a fan of my band is dead, that his family has to go through it. It’s terrible. I feel awful for them. It’s a tragic coincidence.”
As the interview wound down, the Lamb of God frontman expressed again that he’s not a flight risk. “I’m an international touring artist,” he said. “I have to clear my name. So yes I will come back here if I’m called to court.”
As previously reported, the band’s reps confirm Blythe’s return to the States, and add that Lamb of God will perform at Knotfest on August 17 in Council Bluffs, Iowa and August 18 in Somerset, Wisconsin. “The band is currently targeting October 26th as the start date for a U.S tour,” the statement reads. “Dates and cities will be released as soon as possible. Randy will be making a public statement discussing his time in Prague and thanking fans worldwide for their support in the next week.”
