Babyshambles Brixton Gig Stopped Twice

Just back from another eventful Babyshambles gig.

About an hour before Pete and the boys tumbled onto the stage it was already rammed at the front and it got worse the closer to the mythical 9:50 when 'shambles were due on. During the first song, Killamangiro, the whole crowd just started moving in that way wher eyou know someone is going to fall over. And eventually someone does a little way into the second song. To his credit, Pete is lucid enough to work out what's going on and stops the band. We all shuffle back, give the people at the front some space and the gig continues.

The next stopage is the one everyone will be talking about. Some people behind me said they saw someone on stage (form the audience) attack Patrick. From where I was standing this is what happened. Pete fell against Patrick in that half cuddle half bear hug way he does when he gets his feet tangled. In the ruck Patrick stumbles and his guitar unplugs itself from the amp. Words are said, tempers boil and Pete swings at Patrick and cracks him pretty hard on the side of the face. Patrick (still tangled in his guitar) kicks back, they both go over and the secuirty staff jump on them and pull them apart.

It takes a good 5 minutes with the house lights up and the guitar techs retuning guitars for the band to come back out. It was probably about 50/50 as to whether they would come out again and everyone around us was getting jumpy as situations like this are likely to cause a riot (like the last time Pete no-showed at hte Astoria). Some dick brhind me kept saying "it's going to kick off, I'm going to get on stage this time!". Twat.

Anyway the band make it back on stage and Pete and Patrick stay apart (like caged tigers) for a couple of songs and then they seem to forget about it and are best of mates again.

Will this be the end of Babyshambles? I don't know, but I doubt it. Will this be all over the front pages tomorrow - you can believe it.
- posted by Nigella @ 11:47 PM