If Guns N’ Roses were on the ballot today, Axl Rose and his band might not do so well in Maine after scrubbing a concert in Portland on Monday night.
The concert, which had been scheduled for the Cumberland County Civic Center, was called off earlier in the day, with the band citing limitations imposed by local fire marshals.
In a news release, a representative for the band said, “Axl and the band are very unhappy about not being able to play for the fans in Portland but have been advised after several meetings with local fire marshals Nelson Collins and Bob Cadigan that they have made it impossible for the band to perform their show to the usual high standards that their fans deserve.
“More importantly,” the release continued, “we have been informed that officials intend to enforce rules and regulations that should not and do not apply in this venue.”
“Our production manager and crew have been in this building with Clay Aiken and Green Day, and none of the restrictions imposed on Guns N’ Roses were experienced by those artists. It is our opinion that they are going out of their way to target and single out Guns N’ Roses and the band’s loyal fans.
Portland fire marshals were not available for comment late Monday night.
A local TV broadcast reported Monday night that approximately 3,000 of 6,000 tickets had been sold for the concert.
Persons holding tickets for the canceled concert can redeem them at the band’s show in Worcester, Mass. on Wednesday night. Refunds for ticket holders who cannot make the Worcester show will be available where the tickets were purchased.
Monday was not the first time Guns N’ Roses canceled a show. In 1992, the band cut short a performance in Montreal after Rose complained of a voice problem. Opening act Metallica had already aborted its performance, and fans were outraged when GN’R cancelled. A riot broke out and windows were smashed, cars overturned and stores looted.
A riot had broken out at a show in Missouri a year earlier when Rose cut a performance short by jumping into the crowd and tackling a fan who had been videotaping.
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