‘We always felt it was a known part of the very end of our performance that fans wanted’
Axl Rose has announced he will stop tossing a mic into the crowd at the end of shows, something Guns N’ Roses has done for 30 years.
The performer said the change was in response to claims from an Australian woman that she was left bloodied and bruised after being hit in the face with a microphone Rose launched at a concert in Adelaide.
Rebecca Howe was left with two black eyes and a bust-up nose after the incident at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night, the Adelaide Advertiser reports.
After singing the band’s last son, Take Me Down To Paradise City, Rose launched the microphone into the audience, where it struck Howe who was in the Diamond Stand, so “wasn’t even right at the front”. Howe said she felt like she had been “hit by a truck”.
Rose said he believed the incident has been taken out of context, nonetheless, the band would make changes to ensure the safety of their fans.
— Axl Rose (@axlrose) December 2, 2022
The 60-year-old said in a statement published on Twitter: “If true obviously we don’t want anyone getting hurt or to somehow in anyway hurt anyone at any of r shows anywhere.
“Having tossed the mic at the end of r show for over 30 years we always felt it was a known part of the very end of r performance that fans wanted and were aware of to have an opportunity to catch the mic.
“Regardless in the interest of public safety from now on we’ll refrain from tossing the mic or anything to the fans during or at r performances.
“Unfortunately there r those that for their own reasons chose to frame their reporting regarding this subject in a more negative n’ irresponsible out of nowhere light which couldn’t b farther from reality. We hope the public and of course r fans get that sometimes happens.”
Rose ended the statement by thank “everyone for understanding.”
Howe told the Advertiser how Rose had taken a bow and then “launched the microphone out to the crowd … and then bang, right on the bridge of my nose”.
While the microphone was caught by another attendee, Howe was left hyperventilating and in a state of “shock”.
“My mind went, ‘Oh my God, my face is caved in,” she said.
An off-duty police officer then helped move Howe to the side of the crowd.
She told the Advertiser her injuries could have been much worse: “What if it was a couple of inches to the right or left? I could have lost an eye … what if it hit me in the mouth and I broke my teeth?” she said.
“If my head was turned and it hit me in the temple, it could have killed me.”
In an interview with 10 News First, Howe said she felt like she had “been hit by a truck” and how she saw Rose throw the microphone “but never saw it coming”.
#Exclusive: 10 News First speaks with the woman who was hit in the face by a microphone thrown by @gunsnroses frontman Axl Rose at this week's concert at @theadelaideoval.
Rebecca Howe described the blow like being "hit by a truck" and that she "could have lost an eye". pic.twitter.com/3FLbUgVD3z
— 10 News First Adelaide (@10NewsFirstAdl) December 2, 2022
good fucking night indeed ☹️ ⚰️
guns n’ roses in adelaide, australia – the very last axl rose mic toss pic.twitter.com/Q1o3H89hHc
— J. ⚡️ (@TheGNRGiirl) December 3, 2022
Earlier this week, Rose slammed an Australian fan at the Gold Coast concert for attempting to film drone footage flying a drone in front of the stage. “To the anonymous Mr. Drone flyer, you’re a f–ing c–t,” he said on stage.
Later, he wrote an extended statement about drones on Twitter.
— Axl Rose (@axlrose) November 25, 2022
“Had a few drones in this leg. Last night (Gold Coast Australia) was probably the most intrusive,” the statement read. “Was a bit of a distraction as obviously someone thought it was just OK to be doing that but also it coming that close in front of the stage and then actually over n’ on the stage. “According to the police it happens more often than not lately especially with sporting events.” Rose also asked people to refrain from bringing drones to future concerts.
“We get it can b (sic) ‘fun’ to get ur drone bootleg vid but we’d appreciate it if anyone planning to be a drone pirate took the fans n’ the band into consideration n’ played w/ur toys somewhere else,” he wrote.
While the band’s current Australia and New Zealand tour concludes on December 10, Guns N’ Roses has been announced as the headliner for Adelaide’s BST Hyde Park concert.
Related links:
- Guns N’ Roses fan hit in face by microphone thrown by Axl Rose at concert
- Peter Kay breaks down crying on stage in first stand-up tour in 12 years
- ‘Sopranos’ star found dead in the street
