The news is flooding in from the U.K.’s Reading and Leeds festivals, with online music fans chattering about the good, the bad, and the bottle throwers. The events’ Managing Director, Melvin Benn, told NME he was “ecstatic” with the turnout at this year’s festivals. “What a weekend. Two cities, Reading and Leeds, 214 different bands and performers playing in each city to a massive 200,000 people,” Benn said. Other websites are reporting on the weekend’s standout acts, which, according to U.K. paper The Mirror, include headliners Muse and Pearl Jam, as well as Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal, and Primal Scream. But it wasn’t all sunshine and sweet tunes during Carling Weekend: Both My Chemical Romance and Panic! at the Disco were pelted with bottles from festivalgoers, and Panic!’s Brendon Urie was momentarily knocked out by one of the flying projectiles.
Despite all the weekend’s highlights, the online community is sounding off about how My Chem and Panic! were subjected to bottling. Here’re the reports:
“While beginning their opening song, [Panic!’s Brendon Urie] was struck in the face by the projectile thrown from the crowd. Urie immediately collapsed on the stage floor, forcing the group to stop playing. The singer was then surrounded by his band mates and roadies for several minutes before he managed to get back to his feet.” — tmz.com
“Panic! At The Disco frontman Brendan Urie has spoken about the bottling incident during his band’s set at the Carling Weekend: Reading Festival, [sayin:] ‘I’m doing alright now, I could be way worse, I could be dead. What I remember is I got hit, got knocked out, woke up and finished the set! I was out for a couple of seconds, I guess. Then we played some music, it was good. I’ve got a bruise, but looks good. It makes me look rugged and tough.'” — nme.com
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“My Chemical Romance have been subjected to a heavy bottling while performing on stage at the Carling Weekend: Reading Festival. [Frontman Gerard Way] then introduced a track saying, ‘This song is called thanks for all the bottles, thanks for all the piss, thanks for all the golf balls, thanks for all the apples and thanks for all the sticky shit.'” — nme.com
Talk: Do you think Carling Weekend organizers will take measures to prevent bottle throwing at next year’s fests? COMMENT
On the Web: leedsfestival.com
readingfestival.com
