Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are forced to end their set early after the Los Angeles Fire Department claimed the venue was over capacity.
- June 10, 2013
AceShowbiz -
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' concert at Los Angeles' Fonda Theatre didn't go as planned. Fans attending the Saturday night, June 8 gig were left disappointed when the band ended their performance around 90 minutes into their set.
After covering Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil", Petty informed concertgoers that they were forced to call it a night because the Los Angeles Fire Department deemed the venue unsafe for allegedly being over capacity by about 100 people.
The rocker managed to perform another song "Melinda" before exiting the stage, prompting a chorus of boos from audience.
"First and foremost, the safety of our fans is our primary concern and the most important consideration," the band issued a statement later on their website. "To those fans who attended last night's show at the Fonda Theatre, we are as frustrated as you are!"
"The number of tickets sold was NOT above the legal capacity of the building. The venue and Ticketmaster documentation confirms this," they added. "The Fire Marshal decided that the number of people on the floor (as opposed to on the upstairs balcony or terrace) was unsafe."
"We are still investigating all details of last night's situation and will keep you informed," they concluded. "The shows at the Fonda tonight and Tuesday will go ahead as planned and we are working with the venue, the promoter and the Fire Marshal to ensure that this problem will not repeat itself."
