Flash photography at concert events has long been a major issue and despite numerous announcements and notices affixed to walls, some concert goers do as they please despite the dangers.
Flash photography at any venue is not only rude to those around the person taking the photo; it is very dangerous to the people on the stage. The flash can cause seizures and even temporarily blind those on stage who could then fall over props and equipment, resulting in the loss of a great deal of money and injury.
Fans at a performance from Ryan Adams at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast recently found out just how dangerous those flash photos are…
After numerous announcements over not taking flash photos, Adams stormed off the stage in the middle of his set proclaiming, “I’m not coming back until you stop flashing!”
The concert was in celebration of Adams’ 25th anniversary of the release of his album “Heartbreaker”.
Adams, who has epilepsy and Meniere’s disease, gave a profane rant to the crowd telling them that they could kill him and to stop flashing.
Some half hour later, Adams returned to the stage and announced that he did have an epileptic seizure backstage.
Adams requested that the offending “fan” be moved to the front by the stage so that he could “keep an eye on him.”
After the show, fans took to social media to express his thoughts from the evening saying, “it’s hard to know where to start with tonight’s Ryan Adams show at the Waterfront.” And “But the man needs help badly. It’s quite sad to see someone so talented lose it in front of your eyes.”
Feature photo credit: Ryan Adams, Clapham Common, Calling Festival, London (19425423319).jpg