Metallica's Colombian Concert Sparks Violence, Chaos
Posted on Mar 12th 2010 10:30AM by Chris Harris
16 Comments

When Metallica rolls into town, expect the unexpected. This is the lesson learned by officials in Bogota, Colombia Wednesday night, when the Californian thrash legends invaded the city's Simon Bolivar Park as part of the band's World Magnetic Tour. According to reports, violence and chaos broke out during the concert -- Metallica's first Columbian gig in more than 11 years.
Bogota's Regulatory Center of Emergency Services claims four policemen and four civilians were hospitalized throughout the evening for cuts, lesions to the head and one fractured leg. One youth was stabbed in the hand with knife. By the end of the night, 130 people were arrested and property was vandalized and destroyed, as fans who did not have tickets tried to storm the venue in order to catch a glimpse of Metallica.
Prior to the concert, some fans organized on Facebook, with calls for fans to incite madness during the show. Colombian media claims the concert drew between 20,000 and 70,000 fans, and officials had more than 1,500 police on hand to keep things calm. It didn't work.
The riot reminded locals of one that rocked Bogota last March, when Iron Maiden's tour stopped in the city. Metallica's last concert there happened back in 1999.
Filed under: News



Comments
Cutieat 3.14.2010 9:24AM
Violence has become a way of American life. Recently the University of Maryland won a basketball game and as they do whenever they win a conference game their reaction is to cause mayhem.
perezhaasat 3.14.2010 9:45AM
Umm...even if you didn't know how to spell Colombia before this article, you should have learned by now after reading this article. As the fiancee of a beautiful, educated Colombian woman, not every body from or living in Colombia is a drug lord/dealer. Mexico is the hellhole now and it's Venezuela who is anti-American. So back to 69nr-ing your boyfriend.
Carynat 3.14.2010 9:58AM
The article is not about violence in America or violence caused by Americans. It's about violence at the concert of an American heavy metal band and from what I just read the band had nothing to do with the violence. It was planned by angry Columbians that did not have tickets for the show but wanted to see it anyway. Those are the ones that caused the mayhem and should be held accountable. Not the band! Or Americans in general.
If they're causing "mayhem" as you say at University of Maryland basketball games then obviously the campus security and local police have dropped the ball in regard to preventing such behavior. They should be on hand at every game, this way if the team wins they can control the crowd.
It's sad that events that should be fun for those attending are ruined by a few that feel entitled or just want to cause trouble. Hope all injured in the concert incident will be alright.
Mouseat 3.14.2010 10:59AM
Pathetic. Disgraceful. Disrespectful. These are a few of the words that come to mind. Yeah, you think that being violent makes you a bad ass? Try not jacking someone in the face who is calling you a punk and your dad a hypocrite. Yeah, I can stab somebody too. Yeah, you're real cool. Those who went on facebook to cause massive chaos should be arrested and charged with felony mob action and conspiracy to commit a felony while committing an act of violence.
glorytogod42at 3.14.2010 11:43AM
I agree, Mouse. Turn the other cheek, as someone famous once said. One day they will learn :)
thedayosat 3.14.2010 11:01AM
Sounds like th' good ol' days to me.
Nothing makes heavy metal sound better than a fight turned riot!
Nothing else matterz. XD
ycav4424at 3.14.2010 11:21AM
Whats the matter BUCK, do you have something against the freedom of speech? Is there anymore of our rights that you would like to eliminate, or all of them.
ominousman245at 3.14.2010 11:30AM
Give it up David, That will NEVER happen as the government would put down you unpatriotic asswipes in a hurry
stufferat 3.14.2010 12:14PM
GD hethans.... Talk about organized stupidity!
madgoldtopat 3.14.2010 12:25PM
you can not take anything to jail and thats where you would be
nasafan1ncat 3.14.2010 12:25PM
I hope to hell whomever recorded this is paying ASCAP and BMI Dues, or this band of Money-Grubbing Dingbat Has-Beens will SUE!
Dadden13at 3.14.2010 12:28PM
Who cares,they aren't anywhere near as heavy as they used to be. Ever since Cliff died they steadily feel off. Its all these doucebags that have no idea what Metallica used to be. THEY SUCK
cblogicalat 3.14.2010 12:55PM
never in my life have I witnessed a generation of angry, pissed off, mean spirited, respect demanding, 'gotta have it now' fakes and phoney's. As a sound engineer in a mainstream studio, I have to listen to the "screatching whine" of pissed off untalented, "musicians" who don't really have a clue. I my 40 yrs and looking back, I have been In the presence of some real talent that truely worked hard and payed there 'dues' to get where there at..
now it just seems like, lost, demanding, angry, screaming,
vile swill.
ambimasat 3.14.2010 1:21PM
Metalica is Beavis and Butt Head music!! they suck there music soundfs like Machine gun fire!! the lead singer looks like he is taking a constipated shit!
danat 3.14.2010 2:02PM
its not metallica. its that the colombian metalheads are insane. thats awesome. wish it was for a band that doesnt suck now though.
thebettersmithat 3.14.2010 2:02PM
Metallica - dinosaurs of a by-gone era - music for toddlers and the brain-damaged - good grief, enough already.