Other acts of violence directed at a performer onstage:
"DIMEBAG" DARRELL ABBOTT (Columbus, Ohio, December 2004): The Pantera and Damageplan guitarist was shot in the head three times and killed while playing at a club. His attacker -- an ex-Marine named Nathan Gale, who apparently believed Abbott and his band were stealing his thoughts -- killed three others and wounded two more before his rampage was halted by a cop, who shot him to death.
MARTY BALIN (Alameda County, Calif., December 1969): What was supposed to be the West Coast's answer to Woodstock turned ugly when Hells Angels security staff began attacking the crowd and performers, including Jefferson Airplane singer Balin, who was knocked unconscious onstage. The incident was immortalized in the iconic documentary Gimme Shelter.
FRANK ZAPPA (London, England, December 1971): During a performance at the Rainbow Theatre, the iconoclastic Mothers of Invention leader was shoved offstage, apparently by a female fan's jealous boyfriend. He landed on the concrete floor of the orchestra pit, sustaining injuries to his head, back, leg, neck and larynx.
NAT KING COLE (Birmingham, Ala., April 1956): While performing in segregated Alabama, the smoky-voiced balladeer was attacked by three racists who stormed the stage. One tackled Cole and was attempting to drag him offstage by the legs when police swarmed them.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
(Stuttgart, Germany, September 2001): In front of thousands of concert fans, a man reportedly suffering from psychiatric problems charged the British popster from behind and threw him offstage. Williams tumbled into the security pit, but luckily was unhurt and continued the show.
