Indie rock outfit Feeder have recalled the 90s' Belfast brawl that saw the band attacked by some "scary characters" during their first visit to the city. The punch-up happened in the city when the band were opening for West Country rockers Reef.
Photo: Press.
By Eamon O'Neill.
Indie rock outfit Feeder have recalled the 90s' Belfast brawl that saw the band attacked by some "scary characters" during their first visit to the city.
Speaking exclusively to eonmusic about the event, which happened after the band had opened for West Country outfit Reef at the city's Limelight venue on 6th March 1997, singer Grant Nicholas said that the brawl started when bassist Taka Hirose chose to take exception to a group of the wrong men.
Said Nicholas: "We were in the hotel bar. It was pretty late, and there were some real, dodgy characters in there. I don’t know what they were, but they obviously didn’t like us for some reason. One of them said something to me, and I don’t know, Taka had had a few beers, and he took offence to it. These guys were just being really rude, and then the next thing I know, [*laughing*] Taka actually hit them over the head with these trainers that he’d had in a carrier bag from the gig!"
Taking a gamble like our friends at Agamingclub.co.uk, it was that moment that unfortunately ignited the fuse, as Grant explained: "These guys went absolutely ballistic. It was one of those moments where, I think they had to call the police, and – we’re going back a while – but I think an armoured car turned up with the army and stuff, because I think they thought it might be something else kicking off there.
The singer went on to call the whole experience "pretty terrifying", adding; "I remember these guys chasing us up through the hotel, and some of our crew holding the doors back, and these guys were literally punching the door – you know the sort of [toughened] glass that’s got bits of wire in it? - A fist through that? He must have broken his hand."
The full interview is now live on eonmusic.
Feeder are due to return to the Limelight (minus the fisticuffs, all being well) for a gig on 22nd March as part of their 'The Best Of' tour. The duo also play Dublin's Olympia Theatre a night earlier, on 21st March.
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Feeder 'The Best Of' U.K. and Ireland 2018 Dates:
7 Mar - Bristol, O2 Academy
8 Mar - Norwich, The Nick Rayns LCR
10 Mar - Manchester, Academy
11 Mar - Glasgow, Barrowland
13 Mar - Leeds, O2 Academy
14 Mar - Birmingham, O2 Academy
16 Mar - Nottingham, Rock City
17 Mar 17 - London, O2 Brixton Academy
21 Mar - Dublin, Olympia
22 Mar - Belfast, Limelight
Indie rock outfit Feeder have recalled the 90s' Belfast brawl that saw the band attacked by some "scary characters" during their first visit to the city.
Speaking exclusively to eonmusic about the event, which happened after the band had opened for West Country outfit Reef at the city's Limelight venue on 6th March 1997, singer Grant Nicholas said that the brawl started when bassist Taka Hirose chose to take exception to a group of the wrong men.
Said Nicholas: "We were in the hotel bar. It was pretty late, and there were some real, dodgy characters in there. I don’t know what they were, but they obviously didn’t like us for some reason. One of them said something to me, and I don’t know, Taka had had a few beers, and he took offence to it. These guys were just being really rude, and then the next thing I know, [*laughing*] Taka actually hit them over the head with these trainers that he’d had in a carrier bag from the gig!"
Taking a gamble like our friends at Agamingclub.co.uk, it was that moment that unfortunately ignited the fuse, as Grant explained: "These guys went absolutely ballistic. It was one of those moments where, I think they had to call the police, and – we’re going back a while – but I think an armoured car turned up with the army and stuff, because I think they thought it might be something else kicking off there.
The singer went on to call the whole experience "pretty terrifying", adding; "I remember these guys chasing us up through the hotel, and some of our crew holding the doors back, and these guys were literally punching the door – you know the sort of [toughened] glass that’s got bits of wire in it? - A fist through that? He must have broken his hand."
The full interview is now live on eonmusic.
Feeder are due to return to the Limelight (minus the fisticuffs, all being well) for a gig on 22nd March as part of their 'The Best Of' tour. The duo also play Dublin's Olympia Theatre a night earlier, on 21st March.
Like this story? Like us on FaceBook and follow us on Twitter for regular updates & more of the same.
Feeder 'The Best Of' U.K. and Ireland 2018 Dates:
7 Mar - Bristol, O2 Academy
8 Mar - Norwich, The Nick Rayns LCR
10 Mar - Manchester, Academy
11 Mar - Glasgow, Barrowland
13 Mar - Leeds, O2 Academy
14 Mar - Birmingham, O2 Academy
16 Mar - Nottingham, Rock City
17 Mar 17 - London, O2 Brixton Academy
21 Mar - Dublin, Olympia
22 Mar - Belfast, Limelight
