Drowning Pool Unable to Play Due to Concertgoer Injury

The heavy metal festival held Saturday at the Dodge Arena on the fairgrounds was cut short after a female in the crowd was injured.

The Delicious Rox Festival 2006 brought 19 heavy metal bands to the Dodge Arena at the Missouri State Fairgrounds Saturday. Warrensburg-based Andaro Entertainment and Media, Budwiser Beers and Revolver Magazine sponsored the show, which included several regional acts, as well as headliners Drowning Pool and Fear Factory, who did not play because of decision to end the festival.

Sedalia Police Chief John DeGonia said by telephone Saturday night that the concert's promoter, Deacon Gower, had approached law enforcement officers shortly after 10 p.m. requesting their assistance to help shut down the show. Chief DeGonia said Mr. Gower advised him that his insurance provider had stipulated that any injury would mandate the show's cancellation.

"Apparently a member of one of the bands that had played earlier in the day threw a beer bottle into the crowd, injuring a female," Chief DeGonia said.

The victim's identity and condition were unavailable. Representatives for Andaro were not available for comment.

Shortly after the band Fozzy took the stage, Mr. Gower interrupted the show and addressed the crowd, telling attendees that the show would have to be canceled and that the remaining headline acts, Drowning Pool and Fear Factory, would not play. He advised ticket holders to go to the company's Web site, www.andaromanagement.com, to secure refunds.

Earlier in the day, Warrensburg's Drive Theory played to an enthusiastic crowd.

Before their set, the band enjoyed the show from the sidelines. They admitted the event was overwhelming, but the up-and-coming four-piece, who will travel to Los Angeles in the fall to begin recording their first album with Andaro, seemed to take things in stride.

"We're really all about this,' said the groups frontman, Trinity Scott. "We're glad to be here and glad to be helping out the local scene. There's a lot of good music coming out of this part of the country and maybe this will make people take notice."

Since signing with Andaro this summer, the band has finally been able to quit their day jobs and devote themselves fully to their music.

"We just work for Drive Theory now," said bass player Sammy Spinner.

The band, which now plays the club circuit between Kansas City and Columbia, hopes to tour in support of their album sometime in 2007.

Concern over the crowd size had prompted local law enforcement to post 12 additional Sedalia Police officers, 10 Missouri Highway patrolmen, and two Pettis County Sheriff's deputies.

Source: Sedalia Democrat