(PR) Europe's leading secondary ticketing company, viagogo, has polled its customers to establish the top stories behind interrupted gigs. The Doors topped the poll with their interrupted gig at the New Haven Arena in 1967: front man Jim Morrison was arrested on stage by local police for breaking the state's obscenity laws and inciting the crowd to riot.A 2007 Bloc Party gig in Utrecht, Holland came a very close second in the poll: the band was forced to stop playing when the crowd spotted a couple having sex in the audience. Suitably distracted from the gig, the audience felt inspired to have a go themselves and couples throughout the auditorium started having sex, prompting the band to slink off stage.
In third place is Britney Spears' April 2009 gig in Vancouver: Britney stormed off stage 15 minutes into her show, later claiming that the auditorium was too smoky for her to perform and she was uncomfortable with the number of fans smoking marijuana in the audience. When the gig finally resumed 40 minutes later, Britney told the crowd not to smoke weed.
The full top 5:
1. 9th December 1967 – The Doors, New Haven Arena, New Haven , Connecticut
Jim Morrison was arrested on-stage by local police for attempting to incite a riot.
2. 28th April 2007: Bloc Party, Utrecht, Holland
The band was forced to leave the stage during a gig in Utrecht in 2007, after a couple in the audience started having sex. Once they the couple was discovered, the crowd started cheering and felt encouraged to have a go themselves. The band brought the concert to an early end.
3. 8th April 2009: Britney Spears, GM Place Stage, Vancouver, British Columbia
Britney Spears walked off the stage during her performance in Vancouver, British Columbia, reportedly saying it was too smoky in the venue for her to return. Fans were stunned at her reaction and booed her for leaving the stage.
4. 7th June 1977 – The Sex Pistols, River Thames, London
Shortly after the release of 'God Save The Queen', the Sex Pistols performed on a private boat, sailing down the River Thames, past Westminster and the Houses of Parliament. The event was designed to mock the Queen's river procession planned for two days later to celebrate her Silver Jubilee. The event ended in chaos with police forcing the boat to dock and constabulary surrounded the gangplanks on the pier.
5. 21st February 2008: Vampire Weekend, ULU, London
The band was forced to abandon the stage during their set at the Shockwaves NME Awards Show at ULU in London after the fire alarm sounded mid-way through 'The Kids Don't Stand a Chance', forcing the Brooklyn group and the audience to evacuate the building.