Brisbane Soundwave puntercleared of public nuisancecharge

Thu 17th Mar, 2011 in Local News

A Soundwave punter in Brisbane has won two free tickets to the next Bronx show of his choice after being cleared of a public nuisance charge in the Brisbane Magistrates Court. James Lachlan Monte Klinger pleaded guilty to the charge after jumping on stage during the band’s set at the Brisbane Soundwave festival last month.

Klinger embraced lead singer Matt Caughthran, but as he left the stage he was arrested, handcuffed and held in a police van for 40 minutes before being taken to a police cell for several hours.

“I did grab the lead singer. I sung a few lines with him,’’ Klinger told the court, but denied the police prosecution claim that he had caused anxiety for Caughthran by grabbing him in a headlock. “They’re my favourite band. There’s no way I’d be attacking the lead singer,” he explained.

Magistrate Jacqui Payne told Klinger it may have been disconcerting for the singer when he was grabbed, but chose not to record a conviction, acknowledging the time Klinger had already spent in police custody and his lack of a criminal history.

The Courier Mail reports that Klinger admitted to reporters outside the court that he’d had a few too many beers before jumping on stage, but denied causing any anxiety to the band or Caughthran. “He loved it. He had a hold of me too,” Klinger explained, “You go to a smaller gig and it’s accepted to jump up on stage. While security take you off, they don’t do anything about it. I should’ve known better being a bigger event like that, but that’s part of a hardcore punk concert and part of the music, I guess.”

The band clearly views the charge as a joke and have posted on Facebook that “if anyone knows this gentleman please have him get a hold of us as he’s just won himself two free tickets to the next Bronx show of his choice.”

Photo of the Bronx at Melbourne Soundwave by Atomic