Musicians killed in Mexico after refusing to play more songs for audience

NY Daily News ^ | January 18th 2011 | Jaime Uribarri

[Snickering Hound]

Leaving the audience wanting more is the goal of every musician, unless you're a musician in violence-torn Mexico.

Two members of local group La Excelencia were murdered in a Guadalajara bar early Monday morning after refusing to play more songs past closing time, El Occidental of Mexico reported.

Jonathan Martinez, 22, and Gustavo Alejandro, 35, were pronounced dead outside the Vida Divina nightclub, gunned down by unidentified assailants with suspected ties to the country's notorious drug gangs.

A third victim, identified as bar patron Leslie Soltero, 26, was taken to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to her ankle.

When La Excelencia's performance came to an end around 4 a.m. local time, four reportedly intoxicated and aggressive audience members demanded the musicians continue playing. Sensing trouble, the group extended its set by two songs, but was eventually forced to pull the plug by the bar's owner, according to El Occidental.

Out of nowhere, one of the instigators threw a grenade at the stage. The explosion injured one person and had panicked customers running for the exits.

Martinez and Alejandro were among those who fled the bar, but they were met at the front door by a hail of bullets, presumably from the same four men who had harassed them earlier.

By the time police arrived at the scene, the killers had already escaped by car. No witnesses were able to identify the getaway vehicle.

[Snickering Hound]

Just play "Freebird" and noone gets hurt.

[subterfuge]

Intoxicated at 4AM? How could that have happened? Shocking that violence would break out.

[2banana]

Remember - Mexico is a gun-banner’s wet dream. Legally owning a gun is almost impossible for the average serf.

[SwinneySwitch]

Tough crowd!

If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Oooh! Tough Crowd!

[Moose4]

A grenade? Gonna need a little more than chicken wire in front of the stage to stop that.

}:-)4

[Tax-chick]

OMG. This has never happened to my band ...

[TexasPatriot1]

If they wanted more music, killing the musicians is certainly not the way to get it.

[socal_parrot]

I wonder if they tried the holding up the lighter thing first?

[null and void]

Rough crowd...

[Cicero]

Yes. And other groups may hesitate to play there.

[albie]

Closing songs should include “Jimmy Crack Corn” and “Mammy”. Then leave with the club and crowds blessing.

[Iron Munro]

Tough crowd.

[Frantzie]

Any American going to that s******e known as Mexico better have their burial insurance paid up. Soem idiot here on FR siad how he enjoys going to Mexico.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

[ScottinVA]

Damn, Mexico is a toxic mess.

[BerryDingle]

Throwing the grenades American tourists won’t throw.

[Revolting cat!]

[thesharkboy]

Soem idiot here on FR siad how he enjoys going to Mexico.

Frantzie,

I like going to Mexico and watching TV there. It's the best!