Bands Behind Bars

posted in: Music News

What is it about musicians that constantly attracts the close observation of law enforcement? With bad habits and an even worse track record, musicians as a whole appear to be gifted rule breakers by nature. Perhaps there is rebellious mentality that not only inspires so much of their music, but also motivates the urge to push the boundaries set by “the man”. After all, that’s implied in the famous credo, sex drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, which has become more of a manual than a general expression. At the rate some artists get in trouble, there’s bound to be a current case on trial at any given time. And, of course, there is. One specific case seems to have caught the attention of many and is making headlines around the world. Here’s a quick rundown of the dispute, and just a few of the various possible trends and examples that can be picked out from a long history of unruly artists.

We’ll stay away from some of the cases that have been more drama than jury, but instead we’ll talk about one particularly peculiar instance of band-fan interaction that has been making international headlines. We’re of course referring to the exchange between Randy Blythe of the metal band, Lamb Of God, and a disruptive show goer at a concert in Prague on May 24, 2010. Blythe had allegedly aided security in pushing the man off the stage who later died from head injuries sustained during the scuffle. On July 3, Blythe was called upon and jailed over two years after the event with no notification prior, and was ordered to serve a 10-day sentence in a Czech prison. The band issued a statement thanking fans for their support and assuring the front man’s innocence. Since then, however, further evidence has been raised in the case. A friend of former Daniel Nosek told The Prague Post that “He got up onstage only once, at the end of the concert. Randy was brutal, and pushed Dan down where nobody could catch him. I don’t think he meant to kill Dan. But I hope he will be punished.” As the investigation ensued and witnesses were questioned, officers reportedly uncovered a tape that shows Nosek onstage up to four times, interacting with the 41-year-old frontman on multiple occasions. It’s still unclear, however, as to whether Blythe is entirely accountable for the injuries that led to Nosek’s death a month later.

Though seemingly bizarre, this case is rather similar to others in which metal bands and/or fans take to physical assault during altercations. The hotheads on the metal and hardcore punk scenes are generally the ones exchanging fisticuffs, so it’s not uncommon that they are throwing down against fans, other bands, or even their own members, as demonstrated recently by Cro-Mags founder, Harley Flanagan. Fans and musicians alike are, of course, drawn to these genres that express pent-up anger and aggression for relatable reasons, and their behavior often reflects that influence. However, there are always exceptions to the rule, so further investigation and judicial decision will have to determine whether Randy Blythe is the hot-tempered ruffian who threw a fan off the stage, or just a devoted musician who was caught in a very unfortunate scuffle.

Much like the way hardcore enthusiasts tend to be somewhat edgy, other general trends can be picked out from the last few decades of rock star mischief. One of the first tendencies, and possibly most obvious, has been the use and transportation of illegal substances. For decades, musicians have been drawn to mind altering narcotics, and this is still true today. Popular artists spanning all genres from Snoop Dogg to Never Shout Never to Jimmy Buffett, and many more have been caught smuggling or consuming narcotics in recent years. Drugs seem to go hand-in-hand with fame and stardom, undoubtedly attributed in part to the lavish, party-filled lifestyles so many musicians enjoy as well as to the mind-expanding inspiration famously sought by others. The Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix, and The Grateful Dead are just a few of the various groups that openly experimented with psychedelic creativity. However, contemporary popular culture’s use of narcotics is very much driven by the need to boast grandiose festivities with illegal party favors.

Although drug indulgence seems applicable to artists of all genres, there is a very consistent trend with regards to weapons that targets one section of the modern music world. Rappers and hip-hop artists are notorious for packing heat when traveling, and are also apparently the most apprehended when doing so. These artists may feel the need to protect themselves from potential rival attacks due to the generations of gang violence and mutual conflict that has famously influenced the history of rap music. Rappers like Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., and Mac Dre were all the victims of fatal assaults from opposing adversaries, so perhaps it’s not surprising that other hip-hop artists are often found in possession of self defense devices. However, arming oneself with weaponized protection doesn’t go well with TSA officials and traffic enforcement. This is why rappers like 2 Chaniz, T.I., and Lil Wayne have all been pinned with charges for carrying illegal weapons.

Of course, not all apprehended musicians are brawlers, druggies, and gangsters. Some are just trying to get to their venues, like the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, who were detained at London Gatwick Airport in June for having improperly stamped passports. Clearly, if you’re a group of foreign musicians trying to get into London without the proper papers, you’ll have to get through the Border Agency officials first. Good work, boys, we can all rest easy now. Others bands have been locked up just for trying to be heard, like Imperial Stars . The self-proclaimed hardcore hip-hop band from Orange County parked their tour truck across three lanes on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles in October 2010 and took to the roof of the vehicle to perform their aptly named song, Traffic Jam 101. It’s unclear whether the group expected to be arrested, but hey, any publicity is good publicity, right?

We can’t promise that your favorite bands will or will not be incarcerated for any given reason, but at least we can let you know what’s going on and provide you with some general patterns of what to expect on a larger scale. There are of course countless cases of bands having rather extensive run-ins with law enforcement, but one thing is clear: Whatever the reason, musicians will continue to push the limits of the law like it’s their primal instinct.

Just for fun, we’ll send you off with a list of some historical, and some of the worst musician mugshots, just to give you a look at what some of your favorite artists looked like from the other side of the bars.

Mick Jagger, 1967

Possession of narcotics

 

Sid Vicious, 1978

Murder of Nancy Spungen

 

Frank Sinatra, 1938

Carrying on with a married woman

 

Elvis Presley, 1956

Assault

Ozzy Osbourne, 1984

Public intoxication

 

Johnny Cash, 1965

Transportation of illegal narcotics

 

Kid Rock, 2007

Battery

 

John Mayer, 2001

Driving with a suspended license

 

Jimi Hendrix, 1969

Possession of heroine and hashish

 

Billy Joe Armstong, 1996

Indecent exposure

 

Tupac Shakur, 1993

Sexual assault

 

James Brown, 2004

Domestic violence