To the person who grabbed me by the hair at Wembley Arena, London 1st November 2009

[Waterbowl1000]

You might not ever see this, but I feel like I need to write this now.

This morning I woke up and the memory came flooding back, even though it was almost 7 years ago to the day.

I admit, I was being stupid, I didn't know what I was doing, it was only my second gig. I was standing near the front of the stage, to the right of the walk out platform. My friend (who is very small) couldn't see at all and I felt really bad for her. Foolishly, I tried to push past some people to get to the front, hoping to get her a better view.

At the beginning of the show, I was trying to get through a family, then, out of nowhere, someone grabbed me by the back of my hair and dragged me backwards a couple of meters, people had to move away from me because it was so forceful.  I was really shocked, I did nothing, just had a cry and continued to watch Green Day.

I don't know who you are, I feel embarrassed for what I did, but seriously, why couldn't you just say "LOOK STOP BEING AN IDIOT, DON'T PUSH THROUGH" ??? That would have worked.

I've been blocking it out for so long, feeling ashamed by it, but it's not O.K. that no one spoke to me and instead resorted to violence with a girl. Yeah, I know people don't speak to each other in London, but seriously?!! I like Green Day, but I don't like the way they used to encourage aggressive behaviour like this, I found the other fans to be quite unfriendly and competitive.  

There you go, maybe this will help someone, maybe no one will read this, but this is the truth.

[JOE THE X-KID]

To be honest things like this make me not want to go to gigs haha. I'm seeing biffy clyro in December and it's my first time standing and in all honesty I'm terrified .

[Wretched & Divine]

Sorry you had a bad experience, but I don't think two threads for this are necessary  I also don't know where you get the idea that the band encourage aggressive behaviour when Billie has been known to stop the show when he spots violence in the pit 

[Waterbowl1000]

I'm sure you will be fine Joe X-Kid, just be aware of your surrounding I guess. Haven't had a problem since.

Wretched - I want to delete the other post but can't work out how to do it!    I think that the band didn't see it happen. I have read some interviews with Green Day in the past about how they used to stand up for themselves, get into fights, just guy stuff I guess, but I feel like some angry young people might read that and take it to heart.

 

 

[Wretched & Divine]

Sure, they've been known many years ago to jump into the pit to fight with people... who were inciting violence and being dicks already. They've never once been the cause of violence to my knowledge and only become involved in order to protect fans who are already being mistreated by other people attending or security.

[Waterbowl1000]

Yeah, you are right. I was just looking for someone to blame, but really it's just that one d**khead. They could be anywhere.

I still like Green Day though.

Glad I let it out.

[sara_gd]

38 minutes ago, Waterbowl1000 said:

 Yeah, I know people don't speak to each other in London, but seriously?!! I like Green Day, but I don't like the way they used to encourage aggressive behaviour like this, I found the other fans to be quite unfriendly and competitive.  

This is what I felt the only time I saw Green Day in London, too  I'm hearing from different people that this is what shows in London are like and I'm a bit worried about seeing them there again tbh. Green Day for sure don't encourage people to do this, as some people have said before. 

Of course trying to get to the front when people had been there from earlier than you wasn't very fair, but I admit to have done so myself too some times I couldn't get there earlier and I really wanted to see something (although I never push, it was always taking advantage of other people pushing ). But anyway, that someone did that to you wasn't nice at all  I suppose it depends on how much you were pushing, maybe that person was already very fed up and if Green Day were on maybe you couldn't hear her/him, Idk...

[Waterbowl1000]

OMG I don't want to put people off from going to see them!!

The standing area is a bit of a melting pot, guess I was unlucky. All the other shows I have seen in London have been great, and the Green Day show was good apart from that.

[tresexy101]

Sorry.  It was me.  You just stepped on my foot, man, my foot.  

[Slash]

I am sorry to hear this experience of yours, whoever that person was, he should not have done it, things can be talked out instead of being violet, but some people are assholes.

I can understand that this is a traumatic experience for you and it will never go away. 

But try to cheer up and try not to think about it. 

[Hermione]

Yeah sounds like a one off piece of shit of a person, not the norm at GD shows but I guess you can be unlucky and run into an unpleasant person anywhere. Pushing forward a bit to see better at a show is hardly the crime of the century and happens at every show, no excuse whatsoever for that behaviour in response.

I hope writing about it here was helpful to you, they don't deserve any more of your time and thought over it.

[Wretched & Divine]

22 minutes ago, Waterbowl1000 said:

Yeah, you are right. I was just looking for someone to blame, but really it's just that one d**khead. They could be anywhere.

I still like Green Day though.

Glad I let it out.

No worries, as long as you're not holding a misdirected grudge against the guys. It's no skin off their nose really, but it would be a shame if you let it taint the way you think of them. In fact, the knowledge they're so hardassed about looking after us (fans) is just about the only thing keeping my anxiety from bubbling over when I think about being in GA when I go to see them 

[Waterbowl1000]

3 minutes ago, tresexy101 said:

Sorry.  It was me.  You just stepped on my foot, man, my foot.  

LOL 

1 minute ago, Hermione said:

Yeah sounds like a one off piece of shit of a person, not the norm at GD shows but I guess you can be unlucky and run into an unpleasant person anywhere. Pushing forward a bit to see better at a show is hardly the crime of the century and happens at every show, no excuse whatsoever for that behaviour in response.

 

3 minutes ago, Slash said:

I am sorry to hear this experience of yours, whoever that person was, he should not have done it, things can be talked out instead of being violet, but some people are assholes.

I can understand that this is a traumatic experience for you and it will never go away. 

But try to cheer up and try not to think about it. 

Thank you

[Yaz.]

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you, I was at the end of the catwalk at the same show and it was definitely crushing. London shows are often incredibly rough and tumble with people giving an 'in it for themselves' attitude. If it's any consolation, Italy is just as bad if not worse, I had people pulling my hair/clothes to try and force me off the barrier in Rome 

[Waterbowl1000]

3 minutes ago, Yaz. said:

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you, I was at the end of the catwalk at the same show and it was definitely crushing. London shows are often incredibly rough and tumble with people giving an 'in it for themselves' attitude. If it's any consolation, Italy is just as bad if not worse, I had people pulling my hair/clothes to try and force me off the barrier in Rome 

WOW! Sorry about that.

Green Day do have that crazy effect on people.

[bloodymurderbitch]

wow I'm really sorry this happened to you! people push forward at shows all the time it's no reason to pull hair...honestly I would have grabbed their balls and dragged them to the depths of hell. 

 

hopefully your next GD experience will be devoid of rude ass anus wrinkles. 

[Maid Meringue]

Sorry, it's a concert. You have every right to push through, especially in the beginning. Fuck those people and do whatever you want to see your favorite band. If someone did that to me I'd start throwing elbows. 

[alexwetherell]

1 minute ago, Maid Meringue said:

Sorry, it's a concert. You have every right to push through, especially in the beginning. Fuck those people and do whatever you want to see your favorite band. If someone did that to me I'd start throwing elbows. 

And this is the reason fights start at concerts. how would you like it if you queued all day to be at the front and someone just barged past you and got ahead of you? youd be fuming. grow up and have respect for people.

[Maid Meringue]

8 minutes ago, alexwetherell said:

And this is the reason fights start at concerts. how would you like it if you queued all day to be at the front and someone just barged past you and got ahead of you? youd be fuming. grow up and have respect for people.

It's a concert. What starts fights are entitled people like you who think physically harming a fan to see a band 5 inches closer is okay. Everyone paid for the same ticket, every person for themselves.

 If someone intentionally hurts me because they couldn't hold their own spot, I'm going to make sure they won't be able to get it back. There's no room for bad sports at a group event. 

I was second and center for the club show in DC. I waited all day in line and I had to be strong to keep my spot. But if the 300lb drunk guy behind me managed to push through, that's just the name of the game. 

[alexwetherell]

Just now, Maid Meringue said:

It's a concert. What starts fights are entitled people like you who think physically harming a fan to see a band 5 inches closer is okay. Everyone paid for the same ticket, every person for themselves.

 If someone intentionally hurt sme because they couldn't hold their spot, I'm going to make sure they won't be able to get it back. There's no room for bad sports at a group event. 

I didnt say physically harming anyone was ok and its definitely not. but if someone barges past someone abruptly, they are going to be confronted. but if someone taps someone else on the shoulder and politely says excuse me, then 9 times out of 10 thatll be fine and no confrontation ever. its people with your attitude that turn up 10 mins before a band come on, and insist they get right to the front,that cause injuries and conflict. if you want to be at the front, get there early and don't be selfish.

[RougeRogue]

5 minutes ago, Maid Meringue said:

Everyone paid for the same ticket, every person for themselves.

 

Nah, some people shelled out $400 for a sandwich.

No seriously, though. This is an incredibly inaccurate statement. I doubt many people pay for the same ticket at all.

[Billie Hoe]

I saw them in London for the first time too and I was right in the middle of the pit right in front of the stage. The people, Londoners, were very friendly in my opinion and I was surprised by how many strangers just talked to each other. Especially to me, I was blown away by their friendliness as soon as I stepped on English ground. We Germans have inhibitions when it comes to that, so I can't share your opinion or experience on that at all. It sucks that you had a bad time and I'm sure, had Green Day seen this, they would have done or said something. Sadly they're already pretty busy up there so they don't see everything. It's not really their job, either, but the security's and more than often they seem to fail at doing their job properly.

Also you know this already but pushing to the front is an asshole thing to do so I get why people were furious with you. Hurting you back wasn't okay though.

[Brooklyn Baby]

I'm sorry you had this experience but honestly it's been 7 years..... I think you should let it go and move on. People act like dicks at gigs sometimes (okay, a lot), it's why I don't go to shows unless I have a crowd of people to be with or my boyfriend to hit people for me

[bloodymurderbitch]

I think it's important to understand that not all people are going to have the same response to an incident like that. telling someone to just let something go isn't helpful. it doesn't matter how much time has passed, it can still be a very jarring memory. 

 

i do hope that soon this memory isn't so ingrained into her GD experience. maybe writing that out will help it happen! 

[Yaz.]

27 minutes ago, Maid Meringue said:

It's a concert. What starts fights are entitled people like you who think physically harming a fan to see a band 5 inches closer is okay. Everyone paid for the same ticket, every person for themselves.

 If someone intentionally hurts me because they couldn't hold their own spot, I'm going to make sure they won't be able to get it back. There's no room for bad sports at a group event. 

I was second and center for the club show in DC. I waited all day in line and I had to be strong to keep my spot. But if the 300lb drunk guy behind me managed to push through, that's just the name of the game. 

The every person for themselves attitude is also what starts fights. If i've learned anything at all from gigs over the years it's that it's a community and people should look out for eachother. You see someone drop, or get crushed, you help them up. A 300lb drunk dude trying to push past a small person who's been in line all day shouldn't be entitled to that spot. It's just plain rude and ignorant and ruins the atmosphere for the people around.