It's been a little over two months since Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe has been acquitted of allegations of manslaughter in Prague, after a fan of the band, Daniel Nosek died from injuries sustained while stage-diving at a Lamb of God show. You can read our previous coverage of the trial here.
Other than a quick burst of comments on his Instagram page after being acquitted, Blythe has remained relatively silent on the matter, until today. With only one day until he heads back on the road for his band's first tour since the trial, Randy penned a message preaching safety at shows and recounting the hell he just experienced.
While Blythe normally communicates via Instagram, he decided to pen a very long essay on his Tumblr page, which we highly recommend reading in full.
Here are some highlights…
Blythe went into great detail about the trial, and how his defense attorney and he had to explain to the court the type of behavior that occures at metal shows, and that it's normal:
Over and over throughout my trial, the witnesses and myself were asked if we knew what “stage diving” and “moshing” were, then asked to explain these things. Slowly, through a translator and with the help of videos we put together, we tried our best to show that the aggressive nature of our music and other bands like mine was not an expression of malice. My character was questioned again and again, several witnesses saying ludicrous things like how my quick onstage movements, my deep voice, my profuse sweating, and how I dumped water over my head (astoundingly, I do it because I’m sweaty and hot) was clearly evidence of the fact that I was drunk, on some sort of drugs, and yes, even evil. I was sober as a judge that night, thank God, and I know I never intended anyone harm, otherwise I would not have been able to fight for my freedom.
Blythe then thanked the family of Daniel Nosek for never smearing his name and revealed that Nosek's uncle actually withdrew their motion against the vocalist before the verdict was read:
Before the verdict was delivered, the uncle of Daniel (who was the family’s representative in court) told the judge that no amount of money was going to bring their boy back, and after hearing the evidence, withdrew the family’s motion against me for damages. He also wanted me to know that Daniel had died on his father’s birthday, and that Daniel’s mother had been unable to function at her job since Daniel’s death.
That was it. They didn’t want anything from me in that courtroom except for me to understand how this had affected them. There was no malice, just the real, honest, pain that I was already regrettably so familiar with. It was one of the most amazing displays of strength and dignity I have ever witnessed.
Blythe explained his reaction to being exonerated:
When the verdict was read, that I had been exonerated, I tried my best to act with dignity, to show no emotion. Perhaps one day I will be able to express what I felt when I finally learned I was to remain free, but right now I am still trying to understand it. Relief, certainly, but there was a greater part welling up in me, something like disbelief saturated with a deep sadness. A fan of my band was dead, and a family had been shattered. I did not feel like celebrating. I did not feel like going home. I did not feel like staying. I did not know what to do or where to go.
Blythe went into detail about meeting with Nosek's uncle and mother after the trial was over:
I cannot tell you what it is like to look into the eyes of a mother whose son is dead as result of attending a concert by your group, his favorite band. I cannot tell you what it is like to hold her tiny hands as she weeps for her dead boy; to hold those hands in your large hands, the same hands accused of killing her son. I cannot tell you in any words what it’s like to feel that grief for her lost only child pouring off of her small frame in a massive dark wave of sorrow, to see that pain again in another, so visceral that your body shakes with the awful power and totality of it. These are things that mere words will never be able to convey.
Certain details of the conversation I had with Daniel’s uncle and mother I will never write about, because I do not feel it would be proper or respectful. Suffice it say, they were very kind to me, and let me know they didn’t have any sort of vendetta against me, or wish to see me to suffer further because of Daniel’s death. But there are two things they said that I will write about here, because I think that it is in accordance with the only two things his family ever asked of me.
As we sat on a couch crying, the first tears I had allowed myself since my arrest, Daniel’s mother asked me if one day I would play a song for him somewhere. I was astounded by the grace with which she asked me this. Her small request was an immense gift to me, a man who was trying to figure out how he would continue to do the only thing he knew how to do after so many years.
I will sing many songs for him.
Then, as Daniel’s uncle and mother began to leave my rented apartment, his uncle reiterated something he and the mother had brought up earlier.
“Remember- you can be a spokesperson for safer shows. You have that power. Good luck, man. Go live your life.”
I promised I would.
This all led to Blythe eventually saying that he is placing a renewed emphasis on safety at his shows. He said his band will leave if proper security is not provided. Fans will not be allowed on a Lamb of God stage , and if somebody tries to come up, they will be ejected immediately.
Once again, the entire entry is worth reading.
Lamb of God are heading out on a tour with Decapitated and in certain markets The Acacia Strain or Anciients. Dates are available here.
