RIOTING AT POP SHOW

Press, Issue 30997, 1 March 1966, Page 18

RIOTING AT POP SHOW

Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, Feb. 28. A policeman and several teen-agers were injured in wild scenes in the Wellington Town Hall tonight during a performance by the British pop group, the Rolling Stones.

The policeman is believed to have suffered a fractured hand. He was taken to hospital.

The riot of 300 teenagers started when a girl dropped 20ft from a balcony in a vain effort to reach the singers.

The rioters toppled seats, and trampled over girls knocked to the ground as they surged towards the stagePolice struggled to control the crowd, but some of the teen-agers managed to get on to the stage and grappled with the singers. The lights in the hall were turned on and the Rolling Stones continued singing. But before they could finish the number they were forced to escape out a side door and into a van waiting in the Town Hall garage. As the van carrying the singers drove away from the hall teen-agers clawed at the doors and windows in an effort to reach the singers.

Other teen-agers followed the van to the motel where the singers were staying, but they failed to catch a glimpse of the performers, who were driven to the back entrance.

Teen-agers milled round the ground floor of the Town Hall for three-quarters of an hour before the hall was finally cleared.

They left behind damaged seats strewn across the floor. The policeman taken to hospital was believed to have suffered a fractured hand.

Nobody else needed medi cal attention. The second show finishec 15 minutes early.