VIOLENCE MARS LIMP’S
AUSTRALIAN VISIT

An 18-year-old woman suffered a heart attack and was clinically dead when security pulled her out of the "pit" shortly after the first song of Limp Bizkit's set.

In response to what Limp Bizkit called the "cavalier attitude toward fan safety by festival organizers," the band pulled out of the three remaining Big Day Out concerts in Melbourne (Sunday 1/28), Adelaide (Feb. 2) and Perth (Feb.5), citing concerns of fan safety.

"We'd like to express tremendous sorrow over the injuries suffered by our fans during the Big Day Out concert," Limp Bizkit said in a statement. "We pray for the life of the heart attack victim."

The teen was resuscitated backstage and was taken to Concorde Hospital in Sydney. While her condition has improved from critical, she remains under observation there.

All hell broke loose when members of the 55,000-strong crowd rushed the stage while Limp Bizkit played. The band stopped the show for 20 minutes, and frontman Fred Durst asked the crowd to calm down and "chill out."

In a statement issued late Friday (1/26), the rock group said it wanted to immediately stop the show, but was warned by local police that that might cause a riot. The band reportedly continued playing, but stopped several times to calm the crowd as organizers attempted to reduce "the temperature and volatility of the situation."

The band said it alerted the promoter, Creative Entertainment of Australia, about crowd-safety issues after the first Big Day Out show in Auckland, New Zealand, on Jan. 19. Limp Bizkit requested additional security and a T-style barricade, but said it was rebuffed by co-promoter Vivian Lees.

"We basically begged this guy to increase the security measures," Durst said in the statement, "and were told he has been doing the event for 10 years and that he knows what he's doing and to leave him alone."

"Though we tried to explain that crowds are different from 10, or even three, years ago, we were ultimately frustrated by his insufficient response," noted Jeff Kwatinetz of Limp Bizkit's management company, The Firm. "Any promoter who sticks his head in the ground and refuses to believe that audiences have changed is asking for a tragedy. Although many fans will be disappointed, which we all regret, I personally commend Limp Bizkit for not wanting to put their fans in harm's way."

Big Day Out organizers initially commended Limp Bizkit for their "full cooperation ... through this difficult situation and their commitment to the safety of their audience," but in a later statement the organizers expressed "relief at the departure of Limp Bizkit."

"The Big Day Out has a principal commitment to crowd safety and security of all patrons," the organizers said. "The measures proposed by Limp Bizkit were substantial, untested and radical changes to the existing structures and procedures in place for the show as understood by the Australian safety authorities, including the police and planning bodies."