A good deal of the concern – lawsuits, even – about safety at concerts is aimed at protecting the audience. In Chicago, the E2 club tragedy ten years ago is STILL a lightning rod for all manner of regulation ostensibly aimed at preventing another stampede of the sort in which 21 people died.
And yet we now have to ask the question if the safety of performers isn’t equally at risk. This video of Jeff Mills performing at Atlantico in Rome went viral over the weekend. It shows a number of projectiles (drinks, you’d have to figure) thrown directly at him – one scoring a direct hit.
(Edit: As mentioned in the comments, the first couple of blurry things darting in the image do look like dancer’s arms or something. Thanks for pointing it out.)
The comments are mostly in Italian, and, unfortunately, quite wrong in their self-flagellation. “Only in a country like Italy could this happen, because the Italian is a jerk,” reads one comment. But it’s not just in Italy.
It’s pathetic that we need a Public Service Announcement featuring Jenna Elfman or someone lecturing people that it’s bad to throw projectile weapons at a DJ’s face, okay?
But I guess this is the reality of clubs with stage show-type “booths”, and new fans for whom an electronic music night is indistinguishable from the kind of imaginary punk rock show that really existed mostly in ’80s teen movies.
In the days when bar bands still existed, travelling musicians often told stories about The Gig From Hell, which usually involved playing in a club so rough they strung chicken wire around the stage. The legend (or not-legend) became so iconic that it made an appearance in a memorable scene in The Blues Brothers. Perhaps that’s where we’re going…
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Fucking idiots. No respect.
degradation of society on the face, it’s bad that happens in the 21st century
Boo on those people.
The first two at 44 seconds were not projectiles, it’s the arms of someone dancing.
Thanks – post amended.
The first two at 44 seconds are just fists yeah…
John Landis “Blues Brothers” / not Hughes… just saying ;-à
Used to DJ at a club in Brighton in 1990 that had a cage around the booth…quite handy when you were trying some experimental stuff…
As a personal friend of Jeff, growing up in Detroit during his rise, I’m so disgusted at this… This man has taken dj’s to another level and to have this happen to him is just a fucking shame… Fuck those who did this.
[…] – Okay, enough about those punks—who the hell throws stuff at Jeff Mills?! Here’s what happened to the techno master recently at a gig in Italy: (full story) […]
not just Italy?
how many times shits like this and various disasters happen in Italy? A LOT.
how many times these things happen out of Italy? NOT MUCH.
That’s why we put comments like those in the video – we do not deserve anything.
Jeff is my first and only inspiration for my music, and seeing him getting hit like that mad me really sad.
I’m really sorry for this man.
This is ridiculous.
FFS I used to worry about WW3 but you know with the way it’s all going I am starting to welcome the idea.
Straight disrespectful. Jeff Mills is a legend. It just goes to show, whoever threw it at him, and cheered it on is brand new…
if this guy is a legend as some of you claim he needs to learn to keep a better beat. i would of threw something to and want my money back lol that was one crappy opening set!
Man you need to take a funk pill. When your as talented as this guy, come back with another nonsense comment ‘n I’ll tell you he’s moved on to yet another level,
mofo!
bet you like Guetta
Unbelievable! These idiots are not music fans, they are just idiots. What are they doing at such events? They lead boring nonsense existences, these stupid actions help them become someone, in their eyes….Moros.
LAME. And what about the 909? Flying drinks don’t mix well…