Unless you have been in a minimally conscious state (http://oneloveforchi.com/) recently and you like Heavy music it probably hasn't escaped your attention that Richmond Virginia Heavy Weights Lamb of God have currently gone back to their roots.
IE they are at home without a singer and no prospect of touring.
So what has heralded this return to their Burn The Priest days?
The Czech legal system it would seem.
Having arrived a day early ready to play a show in Prague on the 31st June, David Randell Blythe was arrested at the airport and detained facing charges of Manslaughter for killing a fan at a previous concert in the country.
The alleged incident took place in May of 2010 when Blythe supposedly pushed 19 year old fan Daniel Nosek from the stage. The kid apparently suffered a head injury, lapsed into a coma after the show and died from the injuries 29 days later.
News initially broke on the Czech news site Novinky.cz, who reported the fan tried to get on stage a number of times leading to an altercation in which he was thrown from the stage, hitting his head on the concrete and suffering the fatal injury.
Having had to cancel the show in Prague and remaining dates lined up the remainder of Lamb of God have been flown home to await the fate of their friend and vocalist.
Despite have dumped up the 4m whatever the Czechs use for currency (equating to about $200,000) Randy Blythe STILL as of time of writing remains in jail pending release - first because of a delay due to there being a double bank holiday in the Czech Republic and then secondly because of an appeal by the Prosecution following the extended stay.
The wheels of justice turn slowly in the former Eastern Block country it seems…
So the question is, Is Randy Blythe guilty?
The answer of this probably lies deep in the psyche of any rockstar post 8th December 2004.
Look down to the bottom of this page.
Two words: Nathan Gale.
That night will forever remain in the memory of most metal fans, yet alone peers, friends and colleagues of Darrel Lance Abbot, cruelly gunned down in front of his fans, his band mates, his friends and his brother.
From that day on any member of a heavy music band, any band in fact, probably shits kittens every time someone else gets on stage these days.
There is plenty of video footage online with shaky cameraphone footage of the alleged incident, in fact the guys over at Metalsucks.net have covered this infinitely better than I will be able to here (http://www.metalsucks.net/2012/06/29/freerandyblythe/) and here (http://www.metalsucks.net/2012/06/28/breaking-randy-blythe-arrested-in-prague-on-charges-of-manslaughter/), but the crux of the issue is that of the three YouTube videos allegedly documenting the issue it is only on the third one that Blythe even touches the kid and even then the security guard with him actually throws him from the stage.
Kind of like in the second one where the kid is thrown off by security guards.
If anything it is this incident that would have done it and there is an interesting report at The Gauntlet of the venue security complaining about Nosek's behaviour here (http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/525/25720/Security-Guard-At-Center-Of-Randy-Blythe-Ordeal-Tells-Victim-To-Calm-Down).
The kid in question is seen rushing the stage and interfering with the show numerous times before Randy gets involved with what may as well be a love tap. Whilst the venue is a stage diving friendly club I doubt there was a standing invitation to get on stage and fuck with the band.
If anything this tragedy is a case of over exuberance and death by misadventure.
Having been in plenty of moshpits and suffered plenty of gig related injuries I have to point out that you go down the front at a metal show or you get on stage it's a full contact sport that you enter into at your own risk.
I'm not saying the kid deserved to die, but suing the 'wealthy singer of an American band' when evidence would suggest it was a security failure smacks of opportunism.
Frankly I may not be a Fancy Dan lawyer or anything but if Blythe is to be charged with manslaughter, what the fuck are the two security guards doing walking about free?
The circumstances of this trial are extremely bizarre as the band were not notified of the charges until they landed which would mean that the US Government failed to pass the information on. The family themselves certainly did not come forward quickly with the accusation.
More importantly right now due to the ridiculous wanglings of the Czech legal system the Prosecution having managed to string this along until the 9th July due to Bank Holidays filed their objection to bail, bail incidentally which had already been paid in a timely fashion, and as of the 9th July the Prague Municipal Court had failed to rule on this objection so Blythe has remained in a Czech prison since the 31st June.
For his part Randy has reportedly remained in good spirits and is sharing a cell with a Mongolian and the two are teaching each other their language skills, so at least someone is walking with him in hell.
For me this throws up two issues.
The Czech Republic is not exactly known for impartial judgement. Accusations of corruption, poverty etc still hang over the country and to me this seems like a ridiculous shakedown of someone who is perceived as being in a rich band. Plus he has paid his money, this move seems destined to extort more.
The amount of musicians who have rallied round the Lamb of God singer include Slash, Ozzy, Avenged Sevenfold, Unearth, Machine Head, Christ the most vocal has been Oderus Ungerus of Gwar.
How long before heavy bands aren't going to want to go to the Czech Republic if a case such as this is allowed to come to bare?
The worst part of this is that it has taken an online deluge of Twitterings to even get the attention of the US State Department, American news stations etc.
One of your own is essentially being held hostage in another country.
Jack Bauer wouldn't take this shit.
The last issue I have already touched on.
Metal shows, you should know the drill - this kid did.
If you are going to be a cock then you have to expect consequences. Again I am not stating this is anything but a tragedy and I am sure that Daniel himself would be mortified to learn that Blythe is being charged with this murder, but at the end of the day he put himself in this situation where he got manhandled by security.
Their job is difficult - I have been thrown about in the past, but then it was because it was a savage gig and some people were being dicks. I went over, got put down and thought 'That's enough for me'.
This kid kept going back and now a terrible accident has occurred.
To be fair to the accused in this case I can't see what he did that directly contributed to Daniel's death, (again why are the security no being detained?) yet alone warrant this treatment from the Czech's, it is not like All That Remains NRA windbag (and talented vocalist) Phil LaBonte who claims to carry a piece with him on stage after Dimebag, Randy showed fair restraint and patience and certainly didn't sack the kid in like the security.
Whatever.
Hopefully now that a full working week is in order pressure will be applied and hopefully next week will see Blythe back home with friends, family and bandmates.
In the meantime some of the eyes of the world are watching.
Spread the word:
#FreeRandyBlythe
Next time I promise I'll write about festivals...
