Barred in Boston: Mosh Pits

Boston cops have had it with mosh pits. Slam dancing at a Flogging Molly concert last month, which featured fans "colliding into each other" with some "knocked to the ground," earned the House of Blues a police citation, the Herald reports. "Dancing is a First Amendment right, but the behavior itself is a violation, especially when it becomes dangerous and a public safety hazard," says a rep for police, who plan to stop "dangerous behavior" at rock shows.

Bands aren't happy with the crackdown. "This new anti-moshing policy proves once again that the city of Boston hates heavy music," says one local singer. "It’s disheartening and maddening to know your hometown doesn’t support or understand your music scene." Adds another: "I understand cracking down on fighting, but (moshing) is a form of expression." Others suggest that moshing is no longer the threat it once was. "I don’t see it as a concern for us," says a Dropkick Murphys member. "Maybe in 1998 it would have been." (More mosh pits stories.)