Fights in the pit happen all the time. Usually, they are just minor squabbles that are pulled apart quickly. Sometimes things get a little out of control, to the point where the band has to stop playing so things can settle down. But sometimes that isn't enough. Such an instance occurred during a Dillinger Escape Plan show. Guitarist Ben Weinman went into detail about a unique way to break up a fight in a recent interview:
We were playing in upstate New York a couple years ago and we look up and there is a giant fight in the mosh-pit area. It was getting out of hand, security couldn’t handle it, nothing was happening to stop it. Some of the band didn’t realize this was going on so they continued playing. Usually we don’t like to stop playing for anything, we don’t try to command the crowd in that way. If people want to participate and react in the way they want to then that’s great.
So this big fight was going on and we were still playing, some not realizing it was happening, some of us thinking it would be broken up or handled without us interjecting. We eventually realized it was out of control. Then Greg [singer] jumped into the crowd with a torch and started blowing fire into the fight. He went down onto the floor, right into the fight, and started blowing fire. And it just parted everybody, the crowd split to the sides of the club immediately. Then it started to get hostile again so he just blew more fire and people realized the fight was over.
It was really powerful. I saw Greg leap into a sea of people fighting, then a giant flame came up in the center of the crowd and everyone parted. It was a reminder. We’re the ones with the microphones, we’re the ones with the loudspeakers, we’re the ones with the guitar show, and if you’re not going to pay attention to that, we’re going come after you with a fireball. If it takes a fireball to get you to stop being dumbasses, then that’s OK with us. There’s the right way to do things, there’s the wrong way to do things, and there’s the Dillinger way to do things.
Wow! One thing DEP doesn't lack is balls. These guys are always doing shit that make my jaw drop, which is why I really want them to tour the US already. If you've never seen Greg's fire-breathing skills, I recommend you check out this video we shot a few years back to help familiarize yourself with his artful skills.
