🚨 Two Metallica fans have paid a steep price for a reckless stunt during the metal icons’ recent show in Western Australia, receiving a lifetime ban from the Optus Stadium in Perth. The incident, which took place on November 1st during the band’s massive M72 World Tour, involved the men dangerously scaling a speaker tower to gain a better vantage point, leading to their swift arrest and subsequent court penalty.
The men, identified in court as 20-year-old Beau William Loch Rollings and 23-year-old Rory Hugh Culbert, were attending the sold-out concert when they decided to breach security. Reports detail that the duo jumped a safety barrier around 10:30 PM and began climbing the central scaffolding structure, ascending to heights of up to 50 metres.
A 20-Minute Climb and “Stupid Behaviour”
For approximately 20 minutes, the two fans clung to the stadium’s sound and lighting tower as the thrash metal concert continued below. This high-risk manoeuvre immediately triggered a major security and police response within the venue, diverting critical resources and creating a significant safety hazard for themselves, other patrons, and stadium staff.
Upon finally descending, both men were apprehended by police and charged with trespassing. The severity of their actions was underscored in the Perth Magistrates Court, where they both pleaded guilty. Their mobile phones, which contained video footage of the climb, were seized by police as evidence.
During the court proceedings, the men’s defence counsel, Rachael Gemmell, described the antics as “just stupid behaviour,” acknowledging the profound misjudgement of the situation. Magistrate Ruth Dineen was equally direct in her condemnation of the stunt.
> “An incredibly stupid thing to do and a good way to ruin your night out,” Magistrate Dineen stated, adding that what may have “seemed funny at the time” quickly escalated into a grave safety issue.
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Severe Consequences for a Dangerous Stunt
The financial and personal penalties for the two men were severe. In addition to the long-term exclusion from the venue, both Rollings and Culbert were hit with substantial financial costs. Rollings was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $308.80 in court costs, with Culbert receiving a similar penalty.
However, the most enduring consequence is the permanent ban from Optus Stadium. This venue policy is applied strictly to any patron gaining unauthorised access or engaging in disorderly conduct, serving as a stark warning to future concertgoers about the rules governing large-scale events.
The incident provides a pointed reminder that the energy of a live heavy metal concert does not supersede fundamental safety protocols. While the Metallica M72 World Tour is renowned for its thrilling atmosphere and high production value, the actions of these two fans demonstrate that attempting to alter the experience through dangerous, rule-breaking behaviour comes with major, life-long consequences.
This is a case that has resonated across the Australian music scene, setting a clear precedent for dealing with extreme breaches of stadium security and fan misconduct at major touring events.