A hardcore fan who allegedly injured three people at a Bring Me The Horizon concert in Colorado says his actions are just part of "genuine hardcore and punk culture".
Alex McCormick, a 23-year-old from Colorado, was charged with three counts of third degree assault after jumping from a balcony and subsequently spent a week in jail. (Kill Your Stereo reports that the balcony jump resulted in two people suffering head and neck trauma, and a third sustaining minor injuries; McCormick insists the charges are "bogus".)
"Not that being in jail is cool or anything," McCormick posted, "but its definitely hilarious, to me, to see how people twist things. Its a hardcore/punk culture atmosphere. If you didn't come to the show to get wild and have a good time then why would you even show up? Stay home, nigga.
"People are moshing; punching each other in the face, kicking each other. People crowd surfing on people i.e. Far more wreckless behaviour than my incident; "i jump. You catch me". Lol can't believe I spent a week in jail for this bogusness considering the "victims" were released from the hospital with no injuries according to a DT. Pff what ever dude.
"I gotta mic handed to me and got to help close out a set to one of my favourite bands (letlive) i got to jump off a 20ft balcony and be caught by numerous, eager, fellow funtime havers. I dont regret it. Ill remember that day for as long as i live. Welcome to genuine hardcore and punk culture, colorado!"
After McCormick's post was picked up by hardcore blog Lambgoat, McCormick posted that he had been "slandered, taken out of context and harassed" and that he was simply having "more fun then most people just standing around, not reacting to the band they came to see."
McCormick's post touches a nerve in Australia, where deathcore band Thy Art Is Murder were temporarily kicked off the Soundwave tour after encouraging fans to rush the stage in Brisbane. The band reportedly told the crowd, "There are thousands of you and dozens of security. Smash them. All of you get on the stage." The crowd subsequently broke through the security barricade, outraging promoter AJ Maddah.
Maddah later slammed the band for endangering the "lives of my staff, the police, security and injuring your own fans" via Twitter, adding: "Thy Band Are Fuckwits. Thy Band Are Kicked Off Tour." (The band later made peace with Maddah, apologised to "all affected by our set", and were allowed to continue with the Soundwave tour.)
Lochlan Watt, host of Triple J metal show 'The Racket', stood up for the band on ABC 612, noting that inciting the crowd comes with the territory: "That's sort of standard fare for a death metal kind of environment."
So, what do you think? Should a few minor injuries just be expected at a punk show? Is it a genuine part of punk, hardcore and metal culture? Is it "standard fare"?
