The Brian Jonestown Massacre concert ends abruptly with onstage brawl
A recent The Brian Jonestown Massacre performance at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre descended into chaos last night when frontman Anton Newcombe had an onstage fight with guitarist Ryan Van Kriedt.
The show was the ninth of the band’s 12 that were planned across Australia and New Zealand but abruptly ended after just six songs as the brawl broke out. Clips have now been shared of what transpired, showing leader Anton Newcombe breaking into a physical altercation with Ryan Van Kriedt after instructing him to leave the stage.
“Cut off this guy’s mic, put down my guitar, party’s over, captain,” Newcombe told the guitarist. “We actually don’t need you. Go. Put my guitar down on the stage and think about what’s happening.”
Van Kreidt responded: “You better think about this one, man. Because this is forever”.
Following this, Van Kreidt put his guitar down and walked in the direction of backstage. However, as he entered the vicinity of Newcombe, the duo angrily got in each other’s faces and flipped each other off before pushing ensued. Then, the frontman appeared to smash his guitar over Van Kriedt. This led to a chase into the middle of the stage, with the pair tumbling over in a heap on the floor.
Security and members of the band forcibly separated Newcombe and Van Kriedt. After the situation had died down, Newcombe returned to the mic and addressed the audience, but his mic was promptly cut off, and the curtain slowly went down as the band leader perched on stage. This provoked angry boos and a drink being thrown in his direction. That was the end of the show.
Per Australia’s ABC News, the remaining dates of The Brian Jonestown’s Massacre’s tour have now been cancelled. Anton Newcome, the band and The Forum Theatre are yet to comment on what occurred.
The website for the venue of their planned show today in Castlemaine says it is cancelled “on medical grounds”. The status says: “Management and Australian promoters for The Brian Jonestown Massacre regretfully informs ticket holders that the Brian Jonestown Massacre show scheduled for this evening at the Theatre Royal Castlemaine has been cancelled on medical grounds.”
See the clips of the fight below.
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