Slipknot Concert Fire “Under Investigation” by Phoenix Fire Department
So I just read this Arizona Republic report on the recent Slipknot concert bonfire in Phoenix, and I know I shouldn’t be laughing at this, but, yeah, I’m cackling:
A Phoenix Fire Department spokesperson said Engine Company 40 ‘responded to the pavilion and found a large contents fire… possibly started by bystanders at the event.’
The engine company established a water supply, extending handlines off the truck to the ‘for an aggressive fire attack,’ the spokesperson reported.
‘The fire was thoroughly extinguished without any extension to the major structure and no injuries were reported at the incident. The exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation and no persons were displaced at this incident.’”
Okay, so, like, first of all… the fire was “possibly started by bystanders at the event”? It was a bonfire made of chairs in the middle of a crowd. How the fuck else would it have gotten there? Do they think the chairs were self-immolating in protest of being sat on? Did Sid Wilson sneak out into the crowd, pile a bunch of chairs on the lawn, and light ’em up? Is this all a conspiracy by venue security to, I dunno, make sure chairs are never allowed at these shows again? Or perhaps it was simply an act of God? OF COURSE bystanders at the event started the fire.
Along those same lines… da fuck do they mean “The exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation”? The cause of the fire was a mixture of heat, fuel, and oxygen. Shouldn’t the fire department know this shit?
I’m kidding, of course, but only a little. I get that there’s probably red tape and shit that the fire department has to deal with and so silly phrases like “possibly started by bystanders at the event” and “the exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation” because somewhat necessary. But good luck figuring out which fans started the fire. That sounds like a fun task.
You can watch the fan-filmed videos of the fire here.
Slipknot launched a new website this week, thechapeltownrag.com, which has some audio samples of previously-unreleased music. Rampant speculation is that the group is getting ready to release a new single, possibly as early as this Friday, November 5, when they put on the first Knotfest Los Angeles event.
Can’t make it to Knotfest L.A.? Fret not! The band will livestream their entire headlining set, as well as “select appearances” from other acts on the bill, including Killswitch Engage, Code Orange, Fever 333, Cherry Bombs (featuring Corey Taylor’s wife, Alicia Dove), and Vended (featuring the sons of Corey Taylor and Shawn “Clown” Crahan). Tickets for the livestream are available here for a base price of $15; there are also more expensive packages with various goodies and add-ons, including a hoodie with secret artwork that won’t be unveiled until the day of the show.
