Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe Falls Onstage, Owns It
"There are no ordinary moments." -- Dan Millman.
It's true, not everything in life goes as planned. Just ask Lamb of God's Randy Blythe, who had the best of intentions while pulling a stage move at a recent show but ended up with a war wound because of it.
The vocalist was playing in Camden, New Jersey at the BB&T Pavilion on Friday (May 24) night when during a performance of "Redneck" he attempted to pull off a high kick, but failed to stick the landing. But while it may be one of those "oops" moments, Blythe has totally owned his stage mishap, posting photos and video online and even writing about the incident.
"I’m well known as an energetic frontman. I’m constantly moving, jumping off shit, climbing on top of stuff, just generally running around like a rabid chicken w/his head cut off. This has always been my way, & this is what my favorite frontmen always did- you see, I came up seeing bands like Bad Brains & The Jesus Lizard- HR & David Yow WENT OFF onstage. So I give 110% EACH NIGHT, EVERY NIGHT. If you aren’t doing that, get off the stage, you damn weakling," starts Blythe.
He continues, "I’m also 48 years old. That means that I’ve played hundreds & hundreds of shows. That means... shit happens. Let’s take last night in Camden NJ for example- last song of the set. I’m feeling good. The band, we are a’ rawking. I’ve been running around for 50 minutes, screaming my head off, jumping, kicking, throwing down. It’s near the very end of the last song. Time for one more high kick before the audience sings the last chorus. I approach the two foot tall welded metal ego box. I plant my left foot, balancing on the edge of the ego riser, & swing my right leg up. EXHIBIT A, PHOTO # 1: YEAH, RANDY, YEAH! FUCK YEAH! Just look at that kick! Damn dude- you’re looking GOOD! What grace! What poise! What POWER! That kick would take someone’s head clean off! Freddy Madball would be proud. WAIT! Uh-oh... the ego riser is slick. Something crappy is about to happen... EXHIBIT B, PHOTO # 2: NO, RANDY, NO! TOO MUCH POWER IN THE KICK ON A WET SURFACE! Shit! Left foot slides out from underneath you! This sucks! Mid-air, you realize: RANDY, YOU ARE NOT LOOKING SO GOOD, YOU GODDAMNED IDIOT. SHIT! FUCK! CURL INTO A BALL LIKE WHEN YOU SLAM SKATEBOARDING! HERE IT COMES! BLAM! & you slam into the ego box on your side- OUCH!"
The singer recalls, "1st thought: please don’t let my ribs be broken. 2nd thought: PLEASE let @kevinwilsonnyc have caught that! Roll off ego riser, jump to feet in a split second, finish the song & the set. EXHIBIT C, PHOTO # 3- walk off stage. Tell horrified looking friends that you are not dead, & that nothing is broken. Notice imprint of metal box on back stamped into your flesh. Go ice down back. Wake up sore next day for last day of tour. Remind yourself that you are pushing 50. Walk it off, son... ROCK AND ROLL, BABY." Scroll through to see the photos and video below.
Having played last night (May 25) in Mansfield, Massachusetts, Lamb of God will now take a couple of weeks off, which should give that wicked scrape some time to heal. The band's next tour leg starts June 13 in Europe at the Nova Rock Festival. See all their scheduled dates here.
See Lamb of God in 50 Metal Songs That Defined 2009
10 Painful Falls Off a Stage