OLP outlawed in Springfield!?!?

Long Jonny · Post by **Long Jonny** » 9/28/2003, 12:03 pm

This account of a show they played in Springfield by Raine is hilarious. rich and shelley posted some old journals on the site due to the lack of news lately... read on...

We have played in excess of 500 live shows. We've played in front of anywhere from 40 to 40,000. You'd think that in playing that many shows and in front of that many people, you'd tend to see just about everything.

Not true.

Due to the nature of our music, stage diving and crowd surfing have become the norm at our shows. We've seen countless injuries because of this, but realize it has simply become a part of "alternative" music. Because we've also experienced shows where people have broken their necks, arms or backs, we understand why some of the places we play have strict rules about both stage diving and crowd surfing. Ultimately, the venue owner is responsible for any injury that occurs while we're on stage, so we understand why some places are more strict than others.

Springfield, Missouri was nothing like this. We had never done a show in Springfield, but we assumed it was like most smalltowns in the Midwest: laid-back and a touch more conservative than most. Conservative, though, cannot come close to describing what we experienced in Springfield.

Everything seemed fine during the day. The alternative station, Channel Z, was sponsoring the show and had set up a live broadcast from the venue. They gave away posters and we did an interview and then signed autographs for about an hour. The two opening bands played and we waited in our dressing room for Kevin, our road manager, to come bring us on stage. In other words, a pretty normal day in the life of Our Lady Peace.

We finally began our set at about 10 o'clock and the crowd seemed excited but a little restrained. They had never seen us before so we figured they were just easing into it. There were probably about 20 security guards, all decked out in their brightyellow jackets, but this wasn't anything out of the ordinary. It all seemed relatively normal until about halfway through the show I noticed that the crowd seemed frustrated. We played a couple more songs and it became apparent that no one was crowd surfing. There was no one moshing. There was no one moving. I finally stopped and asked what the hell was going on. Someone near the front yelled, "We're not allowed to surf! If we even so much as touch each other, they'll kick us out."

Apparently some fans had already been kicked out by security and the rest of the crowd was too scared of the same consequences. This was unbelievable! We had never played a show where they weren't allowed to so much as touch each other! I became irate and told security that this was unacceptable and that the fans were either allowed to have fun or we would walk off. We started into "Superman's Dead" and all of a sudden it turned into a real show. The security guards began to panic, but I kept reminding them to stay behind the barricade and leave the fans alone. We then played "Starseed" and as soon as we started I knew we were in trouble.

All of a sudden, I noticed police officers appearing. Halfway through the song, I counted 14! We finished the song and withhardly saying good-bye, ran off the stage. There were two officers waiting for us at the side of the stage, but they didn't expect us to be running. Kevin was well aware of what was going down. He went ahead and organized a van to sneak us out. He guided us straight to the van and while we were leaving, we watched the police enter our tour bus. Needless to say, we weren't on it and therefore, no arrests were made, but I don't think we'll be back to Springfield any time soon.

Raine Maida
OUR LADY PEACE(October 27, 1997)

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 9/28/2003, 12:28 pm

I think I've read that before... wow... I think I might've read it way back when I first got into OLP. :GASP:

Anyway, HILARIOUS. :lol:

Now I'm wondering if they've gone back there since then... *looks up on olp.cc* :lol:

They sure haven't. :lol:

Long Jonny · Post by **Long Jonny** » 9/28/2003, 12:33 pm

nikki4982 wrote::think: I think I've read that before... wow... I think I might've read it way back when I first got into OLP. Anyway, HILARIOUS.

Now I'm wondering if they've gone back there since then... *looks up on olp.cc* They sure haven't.

Really? they haven't? haha, i didn't check, but that is funny! someone should ask them about that experience next time! :lol:

ihatethunderbay · Post by **ihatethunderbay** » 9/28/2003, 12:38 pm

I heard they got banned from the Outpost here after they played because of moshing or something like that. That was way back in '94/'95.

Stupid Outpost.

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 9/28/2003, 12:38 pm

I wonder how they got all their gear back? :lol:

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 9/28/2003, 12:39 pm

And, I wonder how long it took the cops to get off their bus. :lol:

Long Jonny · Post by **Long Jonny** » 9/28/2003, 12:42 pm

i wonder if there is a warrant out for their arrest

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 9/28/2003, 1:07 pm

If they had been caught... do you think they would've been deported??? :lol:

Soozy · Post by **Soozy** » 9/28/2003, 1:10 pm

All I can say is hooray for Kevin

Furious George · Post by **Furious George** » 9/28/2003, 1:24 pm

It's kinda scary thinking that they might have made music industry headlines: "Canadian Band Arrested For Defying Police Officials"

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 9/28/2003, 1:30 pm

Oh My Good God. The "Powers That Be" in Springfield need remove the stick from their anus's.

Thats just plain crazy and calls for a :wtf:

Why the hell did the cops search their bus? What did they do wrong?

:wtf:

Stace · Post by **Stace** » 9/28/2003, 1:37 pm

They didn't search it, they went on looking for the band.

Tattooed Angels · Post by **Tattooed Angels** » 9/28/2003, 1:53 pm

That is the funniest thing I ever read. I for one hate Crowd Surfers, but as Raine mentioned it is part of the norm at shows so you deal with it, but to totally be banned-I have yet to see.

I do know that there are some venues that will eject you for stage diving, surfing and such. here in NYC, this is all pretty normal. I have yet to go to a show where there aren't surfers or moshers.

At Roseland there is actually about a 2-3 feet from the barricade to pull the surfers down. there is an opening at the end of the stage for them to go back in the audience. Same with Hammerstein and Irving Plaza. If someone is getting too annoying or out of control then they will eject them from the arena.

That seems like Something Kevin would do. He really takes care of the guys.

I love what someone posted earlier. "Canadian Band Arrested for Defying Police" I will tell you this though. Raine has on occasion scared the shit out of some guards with the way he was diving off the balcony in 2002,.Now with scouring the tower. They are so not expecting that. Shit, I have seen other singers do worse.

I look at it this way. As long it is within a limit I don't have aproblem with it. I have been hurt ( to the point of seeking medical attetion)at a handful of OLP shows form surfers and such. I was also knocked out by a surfer last year at a show I went to. A first for me. I usually duck my head or something. to each's own I say.

You also have to look at it this way. That place in paricular was probably thinking of safety. I have heard of no-surfing, but never no moving that is ridiculous. BTW-you can have just as much fun with out all that stuff. The two OLP/3DD shows I just went to out West had no surfing or moshing but people were really into the show by singing, dancing etc. It all depends on indiviual places.

It works reverse also. At the Toledo show last year the barricade was practically falling down> Security didn't care. I saw people being squashed against the front to the point of passing out. It was really bad.

this is an ongoing debate the past few years.

BTW-this is all nothing new. They were crowd surfing back in the 60's

Dabekk · Post by **Dabekk** » 9/28/2003, 3:02 pm

that's an awesome story, I'm just sorry i'd never read it before now.

Joanne · Post by **Joanne** » 9/28/2003, 3:52 pm

that was great, olp has some great times :lol:

Henrietta · Post by **Henrietta** » 9/28/2003, 4:02 pm

LMAO...I'm just picturing them running as fast as they can for a van.

dream in japanese · Post by **dream in japanese** » 9/28/2003, 5:05 pm

i've read that before :nod:

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 9/28/2003, 11:45 pm

psycho groupie wrote:Raine has on occasion scared the shit out of some guards with the way he was diving off the balcony in 2002.

That's so true. :lol:

I don't think I'll ever forget the look of terror on the security guard's face who was holding onto Raine and trying as hard as he could to stop Raine from jumping off the balcony in Philly last summer. :lol:

Course... he's also scared the crap outta fans by doing that. I honestly thought for sure the crowd had ripped Raine to shreds and the concert was over after that fall. :lol:

Guess that's what I get for not seeing OLP live til then. :lol:

Dabekk · Post by **Dabekk** » 9/28/2003, 11:58 pm

i've never seen one of the balcony jumps. just how high were these balconies?

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 9/29/2003, 12:29 am