Brighton band caught up in riots during Paris gig
Dutch Criminal Record say items were stolen from their van, which was left with smashed windows.
**Brighton band caught up in riots during Paris gig**
**Sussex band Dutch Criminal Record had windows smashed and belongings stolen from their van in Paris**
A Brighton band has described its shock after equipment was stolen in Paris as rioters gathered on the streets near the venue where they were performing.
Joe Frampton, drummer of Dutch Criminal Record, said the concert had already been moved from another venue they were due to play at because of the risk of riots in the area.
When they arrived at Le Truskel for Saturday’s show, he said demonstrations were under way, but the streets were "very peaceful". However, the situation changed quickly.
"Then we got teargassed," he said. "So we had to let the people who were queuing outside in as quickly as possible."
The band sheltered in the venue with the audience, hoping things would settle down.
But when they went back to the van about an hour later, they found it had been broken into.
The band are currently on tour in Europe
Joe said: "I was lucky, but some other members of the band had their bags stolen which contained laptops and passports.
"It was really, really gutting, and we had to make a call whether we were going to perform or not. But we decided that we were going to."
Curfews have been bought in across Paris in an attempt to deter protests
Dutch Criminal Record, who were formed by a group of friends in Chichester, are currently on tour in Europe.
They are due to play Utrecht and Tilburg in the Netherlands, and Hamburg, in Germany.
Joe said the van is currently being "held together with duct tape" and emergency passports have been arranged so the band members can return home.
He added that after the gig the streets of Paris "felt post apocalyptic".
"It was definitely a once in a lifetime event," he said.