Bruce Dickinson stops Iron Maiden concert after fan is 'beaten by ten security guards'
Bruce Dickinson lambasted security at Iron Maiden’s show at the Tacoma Dome in Washington last night (5th September) after he allegedly witnessed a fan being beaten by ‘ten security guards’ at the front.
Temporarily stopping the gig before encore opener ‘The Evil That Men Do’, an angry Bruce Dickinson addressed the audience to tell them there’s a bloodied Iron Maiden fan backstage.
“We’ve got an Iron Maiden fan backstage who’s had the s*** kicked out of him by ten security guards. Right here,” Bruce told the crowd. “I saw one security guard lean over the barrier and punch a kid half his size in the face four times.”
Following boos from the crowd, he continued. “There were ten people. TEN people! This is not the f***ing Mixed Martial Arts. If it was the Mixed Martial Arts you’d have a referee y’know. This is not that.
“We’ve played to several hundred thousand people so far on this tour. This is the first time anything like this has happened. I don’t know if this happens in this building all the time, I don’t know if this is an act of fing madness, and I hope that kid is getting hospital treatment now because he’s bleeding from head wounds. I hope that kid takes this building to the fing cleaners.
“If anybody has any footage – camera footage – or anything then we would be pleased to help facilitate it to find the bullies and the f***ing criminals who are responsible. It’s not big, it’s not clever, it’s just called ‘bullying’, it’s as simple as that. So this is a very appropriate song, it’s called ‘The Evil That Men Do’”
Several fans have taken to social media to share clips of Bruce addressing the crowd:
> https://t.co/cRo8fLD1uR pic.twitter.com/AKXrVJTdo7 > > — Nicole (@RHandLMindCole) September 6, 2019
> Dickenson told crowd he hopes the fan takes the venue "to the cleaners" after "bleeding from head wounds."
> Security at the door declined to comment and declined to say who was in charge.
>
> — Jimmy Lovaas (@jimmylovaas) September 6, 2019
UPDATE (7th September): In a statement to KIRO 7, Tacoma Marketing Director Tammi Bryant said staff received multiple complaints at the concert about "an overly aggressive individual who when addressed, physically attacked a security professional."
Bryant claims the individual was arrested by Tacoma police for investigation of assault after security guards "engaged to remove (him)." He was then arrested and booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of assault.
"Safety is the number one priority at the Tacoma Dome with a focus on a positive experience for all," Bryant added in the statement.
TMZ have also quote Tacoma Police who said an intoxicated 26-year-old male was "causing problems with other fans, and when he was asked to leave he refused."
The website added: "He then allegedly punched a security guard, who called for police assistance. We're told the guy was removed and cited for the alleged assault ... and he declined medical aid."
The North American leg of Iron Maiden’s Legacy of the Beast Tour continues at the Portland Moda Center tonight (Friday 6th September) and wraps up at Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City on Monday 30th September.
The metal legends then play arena and stadium shows in South America in October.
The setlist on the tour is as follows:
1. Aces High
2. Where Eagles Dare
3. 2 Minutes To Midnight
4. The Clansman
5. The Trooper
6. Revelations
7. For The Greater Good Of God
8. The Wicker Man
9. Sign Of The Cross
10. Flight Of Icarus
11. Fear Of The Dark
12. The Number Of The Beast
13. Iron Maiden
Encore:
14. The Evil That Men Do
15. Hallowed Be They Name
16. Run To The Hills