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Seventeen Tool Fans Injured at Festival

San Diego's 22nd annual Street Scene Festival was marred by injuries this past weekend, as 17 people were taken the hospital during a headlining set by the prog-metal group Tool. Most of the injuries occurred when fans tried to rush the stage, crushing and trampling some of those nearest the front.

Frontman Maynard James Keenan paused between songs several times to consult with security and city officials and to urge the crowd to calm down. "Step back so you don't get trampled," he said after the band's second song. "It's just rock."

Only one of the crowd injuries was considered life-threatening, a spokesman for the fire department told the San Diego Union-Tribune. Several other fans were hospitalized over the course of the two-day festival for less dramatic reasons, including dehydration, heat-related exhaustion and twisted ankles, but authorities said they were pleased overall with the level of safety at the event.

Another kind of injury also marred the festival: headliners My Chemical Romance had to cancel their appearance, reportedly because the band was involved in a car accident that injured drummer Bob Bryar and lead singer Gerard Way (see related story. Hip-hop newcomer Lupe Fiasco was also a no-show, also reportedly due to a car accident, though no other details were forthcoming.

Kanye West completed his trifecta of big-time summer festival performances, headlining Street Scene on Friday night before jetting off to his hometown of Chicago for an appearance at Lollapalooza (he also appeared earlier this summer at the Coachella Festival in Indio, CA). Several other acts, including Queens of the Stone Age and Australian retro-rockers Wolfmother, also did double duty at both festivals.

--The ARTISTdirect Staff
08.07.08