If you were rioting outside the GM Place venue in Vancouver last November there’s a chance your picture is now online. Canadian police have put online pictures of 47 fans they suspect were involved in the riots that took place after a Guns n Roses gig at the venue was cancelled at the last minute.
As you’ll remember the launch date of G ‘n’ R’s North American tour was cancelled after Axl Rose was delayed getting into the country. The venue blamed Rose for the cancellation, Rose in turn accusing the venue of over-reacting, saying he would have made it to the venue on time if they hadn’t cancelled the show. Either way, a riot began when the fans waiting outside were told of the cancellation.
Talking about the 47 supsects Sarah Bloor of the Vancouver City Police Department told reporters: "We believe all of these individuals participated in crimes ranging from causing a disturbance to taking part in a riot, criminal mischief, and breaking and entering. The website allows us to go to a wider market internationally and nationally and might allow people from British Columbia or Alberta to help us identify these individuals.” The pictures are taken from media coverage of the riots, which were obtained after police served warrants on local media outlets to get the footage.
Barely a month after the Vancouver debacle there was another no show by Axl, this time at the Philadelphia date on the tour. After that the rest of the band’s tour was cancelled, causing many to question the future of the band, of which Axl is the only remaining founder member. However a spokesman last week confirmed the band were back in the studio continuing to work on their long (long, long) awaited next album ‘Chinese Democracy’.