British electro rock outfit Late Of The Pier have fought with security at the South By South West festival in Austin, Texas.
The group took Britain by storm last year with their debut album ‘Fantasy Black Channel’. Produced by superstar DJ Erol Alkan the album was a triumphant collision of ideas, hailed by indie fans and dance heads alike as a groundbreaking work.
Attracting the attention of remixers the band made their way onto dancefloors around the world with German techno guru Boys Noize reworking single ‘Focker’ into a Daft Punk style epic.
Arriving in the United States amid a blaze of publicity the Cedar Street Courtyard was packed to the rafters with expectant fans. The group played on March 20th, performing an afternoon slot which demonstrated why they have become one of Britain’s most exciting live acts.
However the venue’s security clearly didn’t feel this way pulling the plug on the band’s performance. Members of Late Of The Pier tussled with security before frontman Sam Eastgate was thrown down a flight of stairs.
Speaking to NME the singer said: “The bouncers went behind the sound desk and grabbed Steve, our sound guy, right off the desk.
“They turned off the power but I found a guitar microphone that was on, used that for a bit, then all of a sudden the bouncer had one of us by the throat.
“I saw red. It was quite a big jump, because he’s such a big bouncer. Someone grabbed me and threw me down the stairs.”
Eastgate added that “the crowd saw everything so they were really sympathetic”.
