Wiltshire Police: “Babyshambles’ Fans Incite Violence” – Moonfest Cancelled
It just really isn’t BabyShambles’ week. First we reported in our article Pete Doherty Misses Babyshambles Appearance, how the band didn’t get to perform at a Festival in Salzburg, Austria last Saturday, August 16th, due to guitarist Pete Doherty missing his flight… Now they have been banned from headlining The Moonfest festival in Wiltshire, resulting in the entire festival being CANCELLED.
The festival, due to take place 29th – 31st August has been cancelled by organisers, on the grounds that the Babyshambles have been banned from headlining by police as they are “too likely to incite violence”.
Festival Organiser John Green was none too happy, about the cancellation saying: “due to the ramifications presented to us by the actions of the police they had no choice to come to the end decision.”
Trying to defend their decision, Superintendent Paul Williams of the Wiltshire Police said:
“The issue is not the act itself, it is the profile of fans that follow the act. Wiltshire Police do not have an issue with Pete Doherty or Babyshambles.”
The police claim that its the caliber of the fans that are likely to incite violence, not the band themselves.
The band had their own response, Babyshambles drummer Adam Ficek said he thought the police had completely over-reacted in their decision.
The band are said to be hoping to re-organise another gig in the Wiltshire area to avoid disappointing fans.
If Babyshambles don’t improve their reputation, between fans “inciting violence” and the band cancelling appearances at the last minute, festival organisers will eventually run out of patience!
I’m sure the Moonfest organisers are already feeling a little sore about the money they will have to refund in tickets sales.
I completely agree with Adam Ficek in his response to this farcical descision by the Wiltshire Police. They are in essence saying “We don’t want to do our jobs”. The Police are meant to be trained to control crowds. The thought that they are tarring all of the Babyshambles’ fans as trouble makers is pretty much how they have handled their anti-terrorism laws – “Everyone is a troublemaker”.
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