“The moment security had me in an arm lock at my own gig."
John Butler’s anti-fracking protest concerts in WA’s South West across the weekend were a major success, and while the musician/activist has much to be happy about with close to 10,000 attendees making the event, one thing that made him “smile to no end" was his manager, revered music industry figure Phil Stevens, being escorted from the gig after a case of mistaken identity.
Stevens was leading a massive banner through the crowd for a drone to get aerial footage, and after making his way through 4,500 people, he tried to jump the barrier, which security were having no part of.
Stevens posted the image to Instagram describing it as a “scary moment”.
“The moment security had me in an arm lock at my own gig. Frack Off!,” he said.
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Butler’s reaction to said event was a little different:
“None of the security knew who the fuck he was and then with his arms behind his back he got taken away.
“This man brought together soooooo many different elements to put this gig on. An Idea I had brought to him just 3 months prior. Talk about being on the court and in my corner. Legend!!!! In the ring and in the game. Thanks Phil. Your love moves mountains.”
The anti-fracking concerts ran across Saturday and Sunday at Cowaramup's 3 Oceans Winery, with The Pigram Brothers, Mama Kin, Ten Cent Shooters and MC Peter Rowsthorn in support.
Here’s a picture of the banner moving through the crowd: