EXCLUSIVE: Nine Inch Nails -- Nailed

Posted Jul 12th 2006 6:00PM by TMZ Staff

Nine Inch Nails has been sued for allegedly injuring a man "intentionally, violently and without just cause."

In a lawsuit obtained by TMZ, Mark LaVoie claims he was working security at a Nine Inch Nails concert last October at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, when he "was struck in the head by a cast iron microphone stand which had been intentionally thrown into the audience by the lead guitarist of Nine Inch Nails, Aaron North."

LaVoie claims he was "knocked unconscious, fell to the floor, and was bleeding from a large laceration on the top of his head."

Lavoie, who is also suing Aaron North, claims he suffered "serious pain and permanent injury."

As an example of previous "outrageous acts of violence while performing with Nine Inch Nails," Lavoie's lawsuit points to an incident in 2002 when North smashed a glass case -- that contained a guitar previously played by Stevie Ray Vaughn -- with a microphone stand and removed the guitar from the wall. See video of the incident HERE.

Lavoie is seeking unspecified compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music

Comments [36]

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1. I doubt Monkey Boy...I mean Aaron... "intentionally" tried to hurt the person. He's not "violent" and he asked once that the SRV incident not be mentioned anymore. Shows how much journalists know... he wasn't being violent when he did that, you morons, he was just really excited. Look at any NIN concert - he gets into things, he smashes guitars, he runs around like a maniac, he smashes Alessandro Cortini's keyboards - that isn't violent, that's called 'fanservice'.

Posted at 6:35PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Kerrie Frintz

2. GO BADGERS!!!

Posted at 6:39PM on Jul 12th 2006 by moza m. bique

3. Aaron North rocks! F*** em if they cant take a joke!

Posted at 7:15PM on Jul 12th 2006 by jpf

4. Aw, too bad that youtube video isnt of NIN, seeing as Aaron didnt join NIN until 2005. Gee golly, sorry guy!

Posted at 7:16PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Chris

5. Something fishy about this article. The biggest fish is: why the video link to an incident that has NOTHING to do with NIN and everything to do with Aaron North while he was in ANOTHER band???? Check your facts!

Posted at 7:17PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Candy

6. I am sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt that Aaron, nor NIN would intentionally hurt anyone, be it a security guard or a fan in the crowd.

If the allegations are true, it is more likely that the mic stand in question was a mistake.

Frivolous lawsuits are bullshit. Hopefully a fan or the band taped the show in question.

Posted at 7:29PM on Jul 12th 2006 by miguel

7. What Kerrie said. It's called rock and roll. Shit happens. LaVoie sounds like a fucking drama queen that needs to grow some balls. He'd HAVE to know that when working security at a rock concert, risks are involved. My friend got hit square in the forehead with a mic stand. She was left with a quarter-sized lump, but it healed and she's okay...not suffering from "serious pain and permanent injury." I don't buy it.

Posted at 8:02PM on Jul 12th 2006 by anonymous

8. Aaron North is a cool music lover and guitarist that gets into his music. I do not believe he intended to hurt anyone he never does. I think my opinion it is hole thing for money nothing else, hope the courts see this ploy too. Keep your head up Aaron North and keep rocking.

Posted at 8:26PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Caroline Rosado

9. Aaron North is a cool music lover and guitarist that gets into his music. I do not believe he intended to hurt anyone he never does. I think my opinion it is hole thing for money nothing else, hope the courts see this ploy too. Keep your head up Aaron North and keep rocking.

Posted at 8:28PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Caroline Rosado

10. Same Aaron is very agresive with his music, but he really never intends to hurt anyone
i think this lawsuite is for money puposes only.
aaron keep your head up

Posted at 8:45PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Caroline Rosado

11. That is dumb it's not like he took the mic stand went up to the guy and just smashed his head with it. Aaron gets crazy yes but he does it all in fun not meaning to hurt anyone. Those guards take a chance when they get in front of the stage and pit they should know the consequences doing their job if you don't want to get hit then dont take that job geez.

Posted at 8:47PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Kasper

12. I was there at that show, was up front and center, and didn't see North deliberately launch a mic stand at a security guard. I think this security guard is somebody just looking for a payout.

Now, how bout this little tidbit from the article:

"As an example of previous "outrageous acts of violence while performing with Nine Inch Nails," Lavoie's lawsuit points to an incident in 2002 when North smashed a glass case"

Um, two problems with that statement. Aaron North wasn't in NIN during 2002, didn't become a member until 2005. And before 2005, the last time NIN toured was 2000. Maybe they should isolate the information to Aaron North, not NIN. NIN has had so many band member changes. That band is clearly NOT Nine Inch Nails in the video.

Congratulations TMZ. Go back to journalism school you hacks...let me rephrase, go to journalism school.

Posted at 9:01PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Anonymous Man

13. What a moron, you are working a Nine Inch Nails show...Aaron North breaks things. Get over it you big freaking baby

Posted at 10:01PM on Jul 12th 2006 by Elise

14. Y'know, I can KIND OF see a reason for sueing if this guy had hospital bills that he couldn't pay that were caused by this.. But if that's not the case, then he's just a d*ck.

This sort of thing is almost to be expected at some band's concerts, and when you take a job as security you should consider that this type of thing isn't all that uncommon.

HOWEVER

'Lavoie, who is also suing Aaron North, claims he suffered "serious pain and permanent injury." '
This part leads me to believe that sueing wasn't entirely uncalled for. I'll try not to have a serious opinion on this, though, since none of us really have the full story.

Posted at 10:08PM on Jul 12th 2006 by me

15. That video is not even related to the incident! That was about 4 years ago in a totally unrelated incident! Aaron North has been sued before, so I doubt this is going to shake his earth.

Posted at 1:47AM on Jul 13th 2006 by Jessica

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