Bring Me The Horizon frontman Oli Sykes was struck in the head by a phone thrown from the crowd during the band's May 11 show at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, an impact he later said left him with a mild concussion. The band finished the set but cut at least one song, and Sykes apologized to fans after struggling through the remainder of the performance.
Crowd Phone Nails Sykes Mid-Song
Fan-shot video from early in the set shows the phone hit Sykes's left temple as he kneels near the front of the stage during "Happy Song." In the clip he can be heard asking who threw the phone, then he picks it up and hands it to security before continuing. The moment spread quickly online and drew immediate backlash from attendees, according to Loudwire.
‘Definitely Smarted’: Sykes Shares Health Update
Sykes later checked in on social media, saying the blow "definitely smarted" and that he "ended up with a mild concussion," adding that singing afterward felt disorienting and apologizing for a more subdued performance. He said swelling had gone down and he expected to be okay for the following shows, according to Rolling Stone.
Venue Rules Say Tossers Can Be Tossed
Enterprise Center's arena policies explicitly prohibit fighting and throwing objects and state guests who violate the code of conduct may "be immediately ejected" and could face arrest, according to Enterprise Center. The venue's event listing also shows the May 11 Bring Me The Horizon show and the arena address at 1401 Clark Ave, and the site urges patrons to report inappropriate behavior to guest services, per the venue listing.
Part Of A Growing Concert Problem
The St. Louis incident joins a string of recent episodes in which performers have been struck by objects thrown from the crowd, a pattern that has sparked debate about fan etiquette and security at large shows. Critics say the spate of cases, ranging from phones to thrown records, has forced artists and venues to rethink what more can be done to protect performers and audiences, per reporting from The Guardian.
Bring Me The Horizon went on to play Kansas City the next night, and the band's remaining North American dates are set to continue as scheduled, according to coverage. The episode has nonetheless renewed calls from fans and performers for stricter enforcement to keep shows safe. See further coverage and Sykes's update at Rolling Stone.
