SLIPKNOT's CHRIS FEHN: 'Moshing Has Turned Into A Form Of Bullying'

During a brand new interview with South Africa's Music Review, SLIPKNOT percussionist Chris Fehn was asked if the band feels differently towards crowd interaction and mosh pits, especially after the whole incident of Randy Blythe's (LAMB OF GOD) arrest in the Czech Republic in 2012.

"Yeah, that was a very sad situation," Chris responded. "I’m friends with Randy, and it was an unfortunate event that happened. I know that he’s not that type of person at all — he would never hurt anybody."

He continued: "I think, especially in America, moshing has turned into a form of bullying. The big guy stands in the middle and just trucks any small kid that comes near him. They don’t mosh properly anymore. It sucks because that’s not what it’s about. Those guys need to be kicked out."

Fehn added: "A proper mosh pit is a great way to be as a group and dance, and just do your thing."

During a May 2010 LAMB OF GOD show in the Czech Republic, 19-year-old concertgoer Daniel Nosek sustained a head injury that allegedly led to the fan's death. Blythe was charged with manslaughter in the case, but was eventually acquitted.

Regarding the practice of stage diving, the presiding judge in the Blythe case stated "ninety percent of the audience" must have known that jumping off the stage was prohibited at the venue, as a barrier was in place and concert security had successfully prevented fans from hopping the barricade during the show. The judge also noted that Blythe's hand gestures calling for a round of applause could have been misunderstood as an invitation for fans to come up onto the stage.

A number of rockers came to Randy's defense, with many of them citing the 2004 shooting death onstage of PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott as the reason why musicians are so defensive nowadays about fans invading the stage.

DISTURBED singer David Draiman said: "The only thing [Randy] is guilty of [is being involved in] a horrible accident. Someone comes up on stage, they get thrown back into the pit. [I've] done it a hundred times myself. The fault should be in the hands of the venue security who were supposed to ensure that no one got up there. It's a dangerous thing to try."

Draiman's bandmate and drummer Mike Wengren told The Pulse Of Radio not along after Dimebag was shot that his death had cast a shadow over live performing. "I think one of the most scariest things is, you go up onstage, and there's this energy transfer between the band and the crowd, and you almost feel invincible. You feel very empowered. Never in a million years would anyone ever think something like that was even possible, and I think it just caught everyone off guard. It's pretty scary."