While LAMB OF GOD is currently destroying the United States in
support of their latest album 'Resolution' (available now via Epic
Records & Roadrunner Records), Randy Blythe's legal nightmare is not
over yet.
As previously reported, Blythe was arrested
on June 28 this year at the Prague Airport on charges of causing,
“bodily harm of the fourth degree, resulting in the death of a fan:” an
event that allegedly took place during a Lamb Of God concert on May 24,
2010. Blythe was detained in a Czech Republic prison for thirty seven
days before he was released on bail.
Blythe recently spoke to U.K.'s Metal Hammer about his legal affairs and
how he is killing time while he waits to hear from the
Czech Republic to see if he heas to to return to Prague in order to face
trial. Here are a few excerpts of the interview, which you can read in its entirety on the
October 2012 issue of the magazine.
Metal Hammer: The statement you put out was very respectful to the family involved and obviously that was important to you.
Blythe:
"It was hugely important. That's the worst thing about this. Going to
prison sucks, and being in prison is not fun, but what I went through
and the uncertainty I face now is absolutely nothing compared to what
this family is going through. They lost their son and that's about as
bad as it gets for a human being, to lose a child. That's not supposed
to happen. I can't claim responsibility for this because I am innocent, I
believe that in my heart of hearts; if I thought I was guilty, then I
wouldn't even have accepted bail. I was raised by very moral parents who
said you have to face up and take responsibility for your actions. But I
believe I'm innocent… I know I'm innocent."
Metal Hammer: Do you even remember the gig or was it just another show?
Blythe:
"It was the first time we'd ever played in Prague so I remember that. I
remember I read during the day, and I remember that gig and a lot of
people being onstage. Then as soon as I got off stage, my publicist
called, and told me Paul Gray [SLIPKNOT] was dead. This was right after we got off stage. All of that makes that show memorable."
Metal Hammer: You weren't aware of anyone getting hurt?
Blythe:
"No, there's people that get hurt at every metal show, but it's not
like we ran away after the show. We were there until late in the
morning, the crew was unloading and I was sitting out in the alleyway
calling people because people were blowing up my phone like, 'Is it true
that Paul Gray is dead?' I was very sad and I spent a lot of
time talking, but the show itself, I just remember a ton of people being
onstage who should not have been onstage. We had no knowledge that
anyone was hurt. But, like I said about the parents, my feelings about
the justice or injustice of this has nothing to do with the reality that
they are totally suffering through this. They need some answers and I
feel ethically obliged, if I'm called to trial, to at least give my side
of the story and explain to the best of my knowledge what happened so
they can get some closure. I don't have guilt over this because I am
innocent, but it feels awful inside to me, terrible. A fan of the band
is dead and his family suffering. It's a very unfortunate situation and
one I'd rather not have to deal with, but if you're a good human being,
an adult and a responsible, compassionate human being, then you show up
and do the right thing, and that's going and giving these people some
answers."
Metal Hammer: What does this mean, not just for
LAMB OF GOD,
but for future metal shows? Clearly there wasn't enough security, but
at the same time people do stage dive and it is dangerous.
Blythe: "Yeah, I had 44 stitches right in my head from a BRUTAL TRUTH show. I left the stage at Milwaukee Metalfest
and split my skull open and had to go to the hospital. When you crowd
surf or go into a moshpit, or somehow make it to the stage, you have to
realize you can get hurt. I have the scars and the broken bones to prove
it because I've been going to shows since I was a kid. If anything good
comes out of this, it would be the need for trained security who are
aware of what goes on at a show and the type of energy and dancing, so
they're not only there to keep the band safe, but to keep the audience
safe. We've seen kids coming over the barrier and we've often yelled at
security. I can't put on a good show if I'm worried about my fans
getting hurt. There needs to be adequate security because this stuff is
dangerous! There's an inherent danger in jumping off a stage and I've
done it again and again and again."
Metal Hammer: Does it make you more wary of inviting contact with the audience?
Blythe:
"Well, we're at a point where, long before this show, people don't need
to be getting on stage, because they run into you and can knock you off
or run into the equipment and you can't play. But the whole stagediving
thing is a real touchy thing and it's hard to explain to people who
aren't in this. Someone will come whipping past me who's made it past
security and got onstage, they run and jump, clear the barricade and I'm
often like, 'Good job! That was badass!' What am I gonna do, get mad? I
did the same when I was a kid! But at the same time, if you're gonna do
that, you have to accept the fact that you might break your fucking
neck, or someone else's. I've stagedived a lot in our career and I
always back way up and make sure people see I'm coming, because I don't
want to break someone's neck. This has definitely made me more wary
about stagediving myself, not for my security but for everybody's. I
skateboard and I've busted myself up. I could have broken my neck or
killed myself, and that's a risk I take and I accept that risk because
it's something I like to do. If people do this stuff, they need to
realize that."
Metal Hammer: Obviously you can't plan too far ahead since you don't know if you'll be facing trial. what's next for you?
Blythe:
"I don't know if I'll have to go back or not. I'm assuming I will. I'm
assuming it will be in December or January, but we'll tour the States
starting in October for a month or so. We have to make some money
because the legal bills are exorbitant. We had to borrow that bail money
and it's almost half a million dollars. None of us make the kind of
money to be able to pay that off no worries. And the way we make money
is by playing shows, but we can't play shows if I'm in prison. One tour
already got cancelled and we had a meeting today talking about the
mechanics of keeping the business running when money is just bleeding
out. It's difficult, but it's better than being in prison. And I will go
back. I'm a man of my word and I told the judge I would go back. As
I've previously expressed, I think it's the ethical thing to do."
Metal Hammer: What's the worst-case scenario?
Blythe:
"Ten years with no time off for good behavior. For my particular charge
— we're saying manslaughter, but it's assault in the fourth degree with
intent, resulting in the death of this young man — the sentence for
that is five to 10 years with no time off. So the worst-case scenario is
that get out when I'm 51, 52 years old. It's not something I really try
to dwell on too much, because it's scary. I don't want to go to prison,
I don't want that to happen, but the fact of the matter is it could
happen. I will deal with it as it comes, that's all! can do. If you have
one foot in the past and one foot in the future, you're pissing on the
present. And right now, all! have is the present so I prepare myself the
best I can. My band is behind me and my family's behind me and we're
gonna do our best to prove my innocence. But worrying about a nebulous
uncertain future, or being super-bummed out that l went to prison for 37
days does me no good."
Order the October 2012 issue of Metal Hammer, which can be ordered at
this location.
For now, Blythe will continue to destroy ear drums all over the U.S.! Here are the remaining tour dates:
16-Dec / Seattle, WA / Showbox SoDo / Friday September 21 / Buy Seattle Tickets Here
Click here for the link to the LAMB OF GOD Memorabilia site and here for the link to the Justice Now site.
Via Blabbermouth.net
Related links:
Lamb Of God's Official Site
