Iggy And The Stooges & crowd safety - have your say

Iggy and those stage invasions

So - Iggy gets himself another UK gig at 'Rock The House' in Leeds, a great event promoting The Children's Society - a rather important charity that, as with most charities, could do with a boost - being something of a punk God Iggy had an amazing opportunity to draw massive attention to children in need and the stunning work undertaken by the people who work with this particular charity.

So what did Iggy do to draw appropriate attention to this charity? how could he have ensured that the future of children really benefited from his performance at this gig? Is there an interview about the charity, its work and how Iggy supports it? - well not that we've seen so far, of course that doesn't mean that there won't be - just that we haven't yet seen it!

There is, however, news about Iggy instigating yet another stage invasion at this particular gig - yet another action that can only cast doubt on the commitment toward crowd safety by all those involved in organising and arranging this event who hold ultimate responsibility for public safety.

It appears to anyone with a modicum of understanding about safety issues that Iggy himself has little understanding about crowd safety and it further appears that he is seems to be ill educated about the potential consequences of his actions. Clearly as a person seen to be a major star in his particular field such concerns appear to be of no consequence to Iggy - it's all just rock and roll after all - it's one thing to stick it to the establishment and make a clear statement - but who exactly is Iggy sticking it to by inciting actions that put people at risk? - who is going to get hurt if it all goes horribly wrong? - you can bet it won't be Iggy himself.

We reported on the stage invasion instigated by Iggy at this years Glastonbury - see previous article. It wasn't a good place to be and without doubt placed the crowd at risk - this was officially recognised by those involved at the time.

Sadly - nothing really changes does it? and here we are two months down the line and Iggy does it again - this time with a massive stage invasion at the Leeds gig as reported in NME.

Iggy just can't stop putting fans at high risk at his shows - is he worth it anymore?

Makes you question just how seriously some organisers and those involved with certain gigs and certain artists really do take crowd safety.

The fact that Iggy instigates stage invasions regularly at his gigs is well known and it certainly looks like there were no procedures in place to deal with the latest escapade at Leeds, if there were then all those who hold responsibility for public safety seem to be saying quite clearly that instigating a massive stage invasion is considered to be a safe practice. There can be no doubt that all those dealing with this artist know that it is probable that he will instigate a stage invasion during his set.

Aside from the fact that stage invasions ruin the gig - well I don't know about you but I go to gigs to see the artist on stage - not the crowd I can see them all the time - in fact more often that not my view of the crowd is much better than my view of the performance! there is the rather un rock and roll and rather boring subject of crowd safety to be considered.

Dense crowds do present certain risks and the potential for injury is ever present - a lot can go wrong and if the crowd is encouraged to run riot by a performer they will do just that - and that increases the risk of an accident significantly - a major performer who incites a crowd to invade the stage in this situation can be clearly seen as jeopardising the health and safety of members of the public, it is our opinion that the act of instigating a stage invasion of the magnitude we saw at Glastonbury, and that which is reported at Leeds could only have placed the public at risk and it is probable that if nobody was hurt this was due more to luck than judgement - a fact that was not lost on the production manager at the Glastonbury festival who conceded that public safety was compromised by the stage invasion instigated by Iggy at the Glastonbury festival.

If those responsible for public safety cannot manage to have some degree of control over a performer like Iggy who is known for this type of behaviour then questions have to be raised about how seriously those charged with responsibility for public safety at major events are discharging their responsibilities - do we have to wait for another major incident where people are seriously hurt before this subject is given the prominence it deserves?

As for Iggy himself - well in our opinion the man displays an arrogance and disregard for others that now far outweighs his talent - the last throws of an ageing rocker?