Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose made the difficult decision to end the band’s decades-long tradition in order to ensure the safety of concertgoers.
Guns N’ Roses performed live on November 29 in Adelaide, Australia. The band’s performance went well, and as is customary, Rose threw his microphone into the audience before taking a bow.
However, things went wrong when a woman claimed she was injured as a result of the action.
On Friday, the lead singer issued a statement on Twitter, explaining that he never intended to hurt anyone when he tossed his microphone into the crowd. As a result, he decided to discontinue the tradition in order to avoid a repeat of the incident.
Rose said:
“Having tossed the mic at the end of (our) show for over 30 years, we always felt it was a known part of the very end of (our) performance that fans wanted and were aware of to have an opportunity to catch the mic.”
One of the most popular parts of the band’s live performances has been Rose tossing the microphone. Unfortunately, it will no longer occur in the interest of public safety.
The decision was made after the woman, Rebecca Howe, told the Adelaide Advertiser that the microphone struck her in the face and caused her pain.
He remembered seeing the frontman take a bow and then throw the microphone to the audience. She felt it hit the bridge of her nose a few seconds later.
The news organization’s Facebook page also posted photos of her injuries, including a broken nose and black eyes.
According to Howe, the incident left her in shock and hyperventilating, but she was helped by an off-duty police officer. She noted that if the microphone had landed in a different location, she could have lost an eye, broken her teeth, or killed herself.
However, this was not the first time a fan was struck by Rose’s microphone. A man was struck by it during a Guns N’ Roses concert in Perth in 2013. It prompted them to pay his $5,000 in dental fees.
According to 7 News Australia, the man, Darren Wright, received $14,000 from the band’s insurance. Although it had occurred previously, only the most recent incident prompted Rose to discontinue the practice.