Free Republic

Heavy metal icons Gwar staged a mock beheading of Elon Musk and murdered President Trump during their performance at this weekend’s Riot Fest, with critics slamming the band for “normalizing violence.” Shocking video shows the chainsaw-wielding Musk mannequin, dressed in sunglasses, a baseball cap, a black “D.O.G.E.” t-shirt, matching black jeans and a jacket being decapitated by a member of the band mid-show at the Chicago rock festival. To cheers from the crowd, the mannequin’s head comes flying off with a slice of the costumed band member’s sword, sending a jet of fake blood spurting into the air. Gwar —...

After taking 2020 off due to the pandemic, Riot Fest is returning to Chicago for 2021. My Chemical Romance were originally supposed to headline the festival in 2020 and then again in 2021, but after again postponing their reunion tour, they won’t play Riot Fest until 2022. That left a huge gulf at the top of the 2021 poster, which has been filled by none other than Nine Inch Nails. Riot Fest just announced its updated 2021 slate, which carries over a lot of bands from last year’s initial announcement, including headliners Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies, and Run The Jewels. The...

At least six people were taken to area hospitals late Saturday night with a variety of injuries from Riot Fest in Humboldt Park. The Chicago Fire Department transported six people – four in good-to-fair condition, two in fair-to-serious condition – but it's not clear how many people were taken by private ambulances that were staffing the event. Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Michael Sullivan said the people sustained various minor injuries. It's not clear how they received those injuries.