Yesterday we posted about Firefest 2014 ending with 20 arrested and four being injured in a violent outbreak that ended the festival a day early to much controversy. MetalSucks pointed out that the festival's venue The Foundry's owner Mark Witherspoon has made a statement about the ordeal on his Facebook page. I feel bad for Witherspoon, because now his venue has gotten a bad name over something he didn't control… so best of luck Mark! Here's to hoping those responsible get bagged and metal can stay out of the negative limelight.
"Still pissed about yesterday. Seeing all these statuses of people ASSUMING they know what happened makes it worse. There is only a tight group of 10-15 that know EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. Anyone who thinks this is scene related is an idiot…this was a CREW RELATED BEEF between FSU and SOSF. This WAS NOT a product of the wonderful scene that we all represent and have built together!! Most involved in the brawl yesterday had no intentions on coming to the show to watch music and had every intention to cause a fuckin ruckus. Those patrons who ended up stranded at the club for 6 hours while a crime scene investigation ensued CAME TO WATCH MUSIC. So don't get it twisted…. I repeat….THIS WAS NOT RELATED TO THE COLLECTIVE CLEVELAND MUSIC SCENE!! If you're in it, then you know who you are and you know that WE ALWAYS HAVE EACH OTHERS BACK NO MATTER WHAT!!! I refuse to sit aside and listen to the rhetoric spewed by those who were not witness to the events that took place. THIS IS OUR LIFE!!! The actions of those few individuals involved DO NOT REPRESENT THE BELIEFS OF THE COLLECTIVE CLEVELAND MUSIC SCENE!!! It's a shame that a few assholes are about to give a whole new stigma to what aggressive music entails and/or represents in our area. The Non-Violent advocates of all forms of music in Cleveland stand UNITED and we DETEST anything otherwise! I WILL NOT let this tear us apart, YOU WILL NOT let this tear us apart, and UNITED WE WILL NOT let this tear us apart!!! To all my staff involved, it was a crazy night and a lot of emotions were let out. I apologize to anyone that was in my path, and I thank all of you very keeping our patrons safe and disallowing that nonsense from entering the venue. THIS TOO SHALL PASS!!! I love you all!!!"
