Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe facing possible manslaughter charge in Prague
Virginia-based metal band Lamb of God was forced to cancel a concert in Prague Thursday as lead singer Randy Blythe was detained for questioning in connection with the death of a fan at the band’s 2010 performance in the Czech Republic.
The band’s representatives maintain that Blythe has not been officially charged, but some reports indicate that the vocalist is facing charges of “bodily harm of 4th degree and resulting in the death of a fan,” which could carry a prison term of up to 10 years if convicted.
While Lamb of God’s aggressive sound isn’t exactly the ideal soundtrack for bunny rabbits frolicking in a spring meadow, the band’s publicist Maria Ferraro made a point of clarifying that the 2010 incident did not stem from a fight involving Blythe or the band.
“This incident deals with a fan that three times during the concert jumped the barricade and rushed Randy during the performance,” she wrote in an email to the media. “It is alleged that the third time, security was not able to reach him and that Randy pushed him back into the audience where supposedly he fell and hit his head. Again, until the investigation is concluded this weekend, nothing more will be released, but clarity and the facts needed to be addressed on this one reported point which is totally inaccurate.”
The band’s management told MTV News that it will not comment on the matter further until the investigation concludes. News of Blythe’s predicament shook the metal community on Twitter with voices chiming in with the band-originated hashtag “#FreeRandyBlythe.”
Lacuna Coil’s Cristina Scabbia, comic Brian Posehn and Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach are among those registering their support, including Gwar’s Oderus Urungus, who tweeted, “This whole thing reeks.”
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