January 17, 2007 12:24

Fall Out Boy clash with venue over stage brawl

Pete Wentz: 'I’m not going to let my friends fight alone'

Fall Out Boy have clashed with the owners of the venue where an altercation occurred between Pete Wentz and a security guard.

As previously reported Wentz was caught on camera grappling with a security guard at the Sunshine Theater in Albuquerque.
and telling the audience: “That’s what you get when you fuck with my friends…fucking asshole!”.

Wentz has now defended his actions, saying he sees the incident as the result of an aggressive security guard acting out against his friend - the band's own security guard "Charlie".

He told MTV News: “When I watch the video, I know what I see: I see their dude push Charlie…A lot of people were like, ‘Oh, it was just a security guy', but I’ve know Charlie since he was 16... I’m not gonna let me friends fight alone.

"Nine times out of ten, that security guy would have kicked my ass because I’m not really into fighting. But you know, it was my friend.”

However, Joe Anderson, owner of the Sunshine Theater, said he believed that the situation could have been avoided if Fall Out Boy had not allowed audience members from going on stage - something that is against the venue's policy.

Anderson commented: “They said that the incident happened because the house security guard was grabbing on some kid, and that’s not totally true. Of course, they’re gonna ride the hype of the whole thing, because the video got out there, but I’ve read their explanation and they glossed over some things.”

He said that the security guard involved was a “total sweetheart” and was “shocked” that the situation occurred.

Anderson continued: “We have a policy at the Sunshine that we don’t permit audience members on the performance area. It’s a liability. You just can’t have 800 people running to get up on stage. Now whether or not the band was made aware of this before the show is up for debate.”

However, he added that staff at the venue made this fact clear to Fall Out Boy’s security team, saying: “I’ve worked with Fall Out Boy in the past, and I don’t know if I will do it again. Who knows?”