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Fans accuse bouncers of being heavy-handed at Pete Doherty gig

Crowd members from Southampton gig claim security was 'over the top'

March 20, 2009 | 10 Comments
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Fans have accused bouncers at Pete Doherty's Southampton gig last weekend (March 15) of been overly physical and aggressive towards them.

According to those at the show, a disturbance erupted after the crowd began to take exception to the treatment of audience members by the security guards at the town's Guildhall.

Speaking to NME.COM, crowd member Ian Easton claimed that "the way the security were acting was disgusting. They were so over the top".

Tearful fan Vicky McIntosh added that "the security guards were being very heavy handed with both men and women. I will think twice about going back to Southampton Guildhall if that is how fans are treated".

Doherty himself expressed his disapproval from the stage, criticising the bouncers between songs.

The security at the venue on the night refused to comment about the fans' claims, while calls to the Guildhall have gone unanswered in the wake of the gig.

However one of the venue's bar staff who wished to remain nameless told NME.COM they did not think there was any particular problem at the gig.

"From where I was stood it just seemed like they [security] were doing their job," they explained. "There is clear signage saying that people will be thrown out if they crowd surf. Why should this crowd be treated any different?"

Were you at the gig? Have your say and send any pictures or video to news@nme.com now.

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Comments (10)

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marciwilmslow

Mar 20, 2009

I was at this gig myself and have also been to many other gigs at the Guildhall. Crowd surfing has never been allowed and there is no reason why this gig should have been any different. However, I have crowd surfed at this venue before knowing I'd be thrown out and I do agree the bouncers are too heavy handed. Once thrown over the crowd into the arms of a bouncer I knew it was time to leave the gig, I didn't need my arm painfully twisted behind my back in order to get me to leave. This venues security should realise that crowd surfing happens at events like these and the people crowd surfing aren't trouble makers just 'lads' caught up in the emotion of a good night out. There really isn't a need for 15stone meat heads to be so heavy handed!

barrinho

Mar 20, 2009

I was @ the Nottingham gig and was disgusted by the majority of fans in the mosh pit , some were throwing full beer cans onto the stage, booing the support, throwing water over the tech guys (nearly ruining equipment). Dot Allison had to finish her set early and nearly got knocked out from a can of beer. The security did what they could and ejected people they caught throwing stuff. Pete made a smart remark to the crowd at the end that they couldn't hit him once all night.

tannertron

Mar 20, 2009

the securtiy were heavy handed to people, and true there is clear signage, but at the end of the day thats the problem with the guildhall, its a shite venue, whats wrong with a bit of crowd surfing?! the security at the guildhall are all miserable and basically at the end of the day it feels as though they don't want you to have fun, and as for that bar worker, they dont deserve to comment for their ridiculously over-priced pints!

challisest1989

Mar 21, 2009

agreed the guildhall is a shite venue and the bouncers are too heavy handed... said from experience

[Sm]Emily

Mar 21, 2009

barrinho I was in the mosh pit and Nottingham and I can asure you that you aren't the only person who was disgusted. I'd taken a friend and it was her first proper gig and this is what she sees of his fans? Must point out though from where I was standing it was not the majority of fans although it did look pretty goddamn awful on us all.

tayski

Mar 21, 2009

i was another one at the southampton gig, and whilst the security can be accused of being heavy handed (crowdsurfing is one thing, trying to access the stage is another issue altogether) certain sections of the crowd were throwing bottles at pete, generally being aggressive towards younger members of the audience (one guy i saw shove his way to the front practically threw 2 young kids off the barrier).yes, security was rough at the gig, but in my opinion it was as a direct response to a minority of the crowd being moronic - its worth noting that it wasnt the younger members of the audience causing trouble, it was people of an age where they should really know better.

Jamie_W

Mar 21, 2009

tannertron, what's wrong with crowd surfing? Try being the person underneath getting kicked in the face or having a 12 stone bloke land on top of your head nearly breaking your neck and see how you feel about it. It's a horribly selfish way to act at a gig - do what you want so long as it doesn't negatively effect someone else.

joerock

Mar 21, 2009

I t was the same at the Nottingham gig, at the end Pete came out to me the fans round the back and everything was fine, till about 8 bodyguards ran out and picked up the barrier fencing in the car and pushed it back crushing people.The bouncers were using loads of abusively language and really physically kicking people out of the car park and grabbing 15 year old lads by the neck and throwing them onto the street. Pete was so sound at the gig he was letting people take pictures with him and sing his shirt and talking to people. The bouncers really over reacted. Personally I thought the support acts where a bad choice and went that impressive. Quite a few people thrown out for smoking as well in the crowd. I think that days of rock city have gone down hill now.

addntox2003

Mar 21, 2009

I was there- I agree that security are always a bit rough there and there is a strict no crowd surfing rule. But is there any need to drag people roughly out once they got to the front-and young adults in particular. The mood changed once Pete had broke the 11pm curfew (and lost he's fee for the evening?). I could see nothing wrong with Pete giving value for money and wanting to play on. The security were too eager to shut the place down causing a them and us atomsphere and the way they shut things down was wrong. If it was handled better there would of been no problem-surely as it was "junkie Pete" playing they were being too heavy handed and would not of done the same for other acts (Spiritualized went over the curfew at the venue a few years ago was allowed to finish without all the house lights coming on and without the sound being cut!)Poor old Pete he gets into trouble if he don't turn up or plays only a few songs-but when he wants to give a full set he's not allowed to do that!

dean3020

Mar 21, 2009

I am all for moshing, po-going, crowd surfing, human pyramids etc. do whatever its all fun and that and in most cases I feel it neccessary to do this to enjoy the music, but is it really neccessary at an acoustic gig? I went to see Pete and it was very much enjoyable but I didn't feel the need to jump up and down to a song being done on an acoustic guitar? It just didn't provoke the same reaction from me that a Babyshambles gig would because its not as hard or as fast. It was an immensely enjoyable gig but I just can't see how you can jump around to acoustic music? Surely it would be as enjoyable stood about with a pint in your hand?