3 INCHES OF BLOOD: Fans Have No One To Blame But Themselves If They Get Hurt Jumping Off Stage

Vocalist Cam Pipes of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based metallers 3 INCHES OF BLOOD is one of a number of musicians who have come out in support of LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe, who is facing manslaughter charges in the Czech Republic.

Blythe, 41, is accused of causing the fatal injury that occurred at LAMB OF GOD's May 24, 2010 show in Prague. The singer allegedly either pushed or struck a 19-year-old fan named Daniel N. — a guitarist in a local metal band — and that person died almost a month later of bleeding in the brain.

Randy has been charged with causing "bodily harm of the fourth degree, resulting in the death of a fan" and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Speaking to SkullsNBones.com, Pipes said, "I haven't seen the video of the alleged incident, but I find it strange that it's only being brought to light two years later. Must suck to be in jail in a foreign country especially under questionable circumstances. I hope Mr. Blythe doesn’t get a raw deal on this."

When asked what he does when a fan jumps on stage and doesn’t jump off, Pipes said, "When a fan gets on stage and doesn't immediately jump off, I usually give a nudge or a little push to get them on their way and they jump off after that. The odd time a fan will hang out too long dancing around or stand there with his arms up and I'll have to forcibly shove them off the stage."

He added, "I understand that fans are gonna stage dive — it's a part of metal — but there's very little space on stage as it is for the band to perform, so if you have to get up there, get off as quickly as you can, don't interfere with what the band is doing."

On the topic of whether he has ever injured a fan while performing, Pipes said, "People hurt themselves in the pit and when they stage dive, too. I've pushed people off the stage and seen them not get caught too well and maybe hit the ground hard or awkwardly, but I've seen it happen more when I didn't have to push them off at all. When a fan gets up on stage, they've made the choice to get off it somehow, so if they get hurt jumping off, just like when they get hurt in the pit, they have no one to blame but themselves."