FROM THE GUT

[DJ Haz-Mat*]

So as most people probably already know, Schizophrenia 4 got busted by the cops tonight.

It happened at around 11:00-ish. K.Attic and Deadlines did their DJ sets, and In Broken Key and Stagediver did their sets. There was an undercover cop walking around in a FUCT shirt for awhile, and then next thing I know I'm at the merch tables and someone tells me the cops are raiding the place. I see some cop in a black POLICE shirt with a facemask and ballcap walking around with a Glock casually hanging in his hand, telling Cutups to pack his shit up. The music's still playing, so it hasn't quite sunken in yet that we're fucked, and then I see people being lined up face against the wall, and some poor girl being dragged on the ground by a cop. Then they tell everyone to line up in two lines with our hands on our heads. We all get marched downstairs and told to sit down, girls on one side, guys on another. Some guy talks back to the cops and gets his chest kicked in and made to lay face-down for his trouble. We get the speech that it's an illegal party, etc. etc. and told to pull out our ID's (which the cops seemingly never check for most of us). They let the guys leave first, and then some time later the girls. As I'm walking out, I see the two door guys lying face-down with cuffs on. One of them looks pretty fucked up, drooling all over the ground. Promoters and performers have to stay inside.

Most of us are waiting across the street for friends still being detained, or needing to get back in because we have bags and property still left inside or have cars parked inside the garage. While still being held inside by the cops, they ask if we have any bags or coolers upstairs. I tell them that I have some property upstairs, but they don't let me go get it. After waiting for some time outside to retrieve my shit, the cops tell us to disperse. I ask them if I can get my stuff, and the cop asks me "why didn't you get it earlier when we told you to?" Uhhh... you wouldn't let me, asshole.

In the end the owner of the place shows up and talks to the cops. Ultimately only one of the door guys is arrested, but the door money is taken by the cops and promoters and performers are probably all ticketed / fined. The owner (Tim) promises us that if we still have property inside, he will lock the place up as soon as the cops are done, and we can all return tomorrow to retrieve it. Apparently the cops won't be confiscating any property or equipment. I drive 2 hours back to Ohio and have to drive back up to Detroit Sunday to get my equipment that's worth a few hundred dollars. Hope it's still there...

I suppose we're fortunate that no one was seriously injured, equipment wasn't trashed, and the cops didn't arrest everyone and confiscate property and equipment. But all in all this still sucks. I feel especially bad for the promoters, who lost money big time, and the performers who came from far and wide only to lose out in a big way. Especially those folks from the UK and Belgium. I just hope they don't get nailed for not having a proper work visa or something like that.

I did not attend the first 3 Schizophrenia events. Seems like momentum was strong for #4, and there is a good group of people to support this phenomenon. I was excited to witness that phenomenon in its 4th incarnation and meet some cool people. It was nice to meet some new people, and to see some old acquaintances again, in the brief time there was.

I hope this incident doesn't quash the streak, and another event is planned. Schizophrenia 4.5 The Re-match?

- DJ Haz-Mat*

[Ciel]

Certainly we have to have a re-do of this event, although what are the chances of getting the same DJs back... I'm absolutely fucking pissed at the Detroit police now, they've ruined what was going to be the greatest night of the year. Oh, Haz-Mat, you forgot to mention that the police said the organizers "screwed us" out of 20 bucks. Fucking laughable, they destroyed a perfectly harmless great time. Cop said he didn't want this "shit" in "his city".

I fully support all of the organizers and promoters, and I hope this helps encourage us to have an even better time for the next event.

[the artbreaker]

definitely a shame.

i say we leave well enough alone until the dust is settled and bretts gathered his thoughts, though.

[nyarlathotep]

i'm pretty sure most of the tickets and stuff will be dropped or at least reduced to a pittance though. The past few rave busts and things of that sort i've heard about / been involved in over the years that's the protocol. They more want to annoy you and stop the party.

[the artbreaker]

READ: http://schizophrenia.c8.com/