Megadeth Cut Paraguay Show Short After Stampeding Crowd Breaks Through Barricade

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Aug 22, 2016

A Megadeth concert in Paraguay over the weekend nearly turned deadly after barricades collapsed in front of the stage, injuring three security guards in the process and forcing the metal vets to cancel their performance after only playing a handful of songs.

As AFP reports, the scene at the concert on Saturday (August 20) at Sport Colombia stadium was apparently quite rowdy, with fans rushing towards the stage as Megadeth played. As explained over Twitter by frontman/guitarist Dave Mustaine, the band opted to cut the show short once a series of barricades came crashing down and people started getting hurt.

"Dear Paraguay, after all three barricades broke and hundreds of fans crushed three security guards, almost killing one female fan, we regretfully had to cancel the show," he wrote. "Please understand that your safety is just as important as ours and after all the security went in the pit, someone ran onto the stage, a bottle was thrown, and we'll let you know as soon as we can reschedule and come back."

A photo uploaded by Mustaine suggests that safety measures had not been put in place properly, as the barricades had been held together by string. 
 

Adding to that, vendors had apparently been selling glass bottles of beer inside the stadium, which is how Megadeth crew members were pegged off by beverage containers during the melee. All of this left Mustaine "disappointed."

Below, you'll find some fan-shot footage of people hurling debris at the stage once the show was cancelled.


Mustaine hopes Megadeth returns to the city in the future, though added that they would "make sure...to use a different venue, security, and promoter."

As previously reported, Megadeth have a U.S. tour coming up this fall with Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies and Metal Church. However, it will not feature Havok.



 

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