Roses/Metallica Tour Is Stalled By Injury, Illness -- Montreal Fans Riot After Short Show; Toronto, Denver Gigs Postponed

Things couldn't be less rosy for Axl Rose and heavy-metal fans in Denver. And the prospects are cloudy as best for Seattle ticketholders to the Guns N' Roses-Metallica concert scheduled next week.

After an abbreviated show that sparked a rampage in Montreal Saturday night, the Guns N' Roses lead singer and co-headlining band Metallica canceled postponed last night's Toronto show and their concert for Wednesday at Mile High Stadium, concert promoter Barry Fey said yesterday.

An on-stage explosion in Montreal left Metallica's James Hetfield with second-degree burns, forcing the band to take off at least 10 days, Fey said. The Seattle show is set for Aug. 18 at the Kingdome.

Neither the Seattle show's local promoter, ECI, nor Metallica's label, Elektra, could determine whether these incidents would affect the Seattle show. However, a spokeswoman for Guns N' Roses' label, Geffen, said that "as far as we know, everything is the same."

About 2,000 fans in the crowd of 53,000 went on a rampage after the concert was cut short. A stage-prop exploded, causing burns to Hetfield's face, arms and hands. He was hospitalized, but checked out that night.

Guns N' Roses came on early but left the stage after lead singer Axl Rose's tour-torn voice gave out. The melee, which began as fans were leaving Olympic stadium, left at least three police officers and 10 rioters injured, said police, who made at least a dozen arrests.

Fans also looted the Expos baseball team souvenir shop and more than 200 helmeted police officers chased rioters through the streets as they overturned cars, smashed windows and set fires.

Promoters of the Montreal concert say concertgoers will not get their money back. Donald K. Donald Productions said yesterday they have no plans to reimburse ticketholders although they say they will try to reach the two bands to see "what each band intends to do. . . for their fans in the future."

Rose has been complaining of voice problems since the 24-city tour kicked off in Washington, D.C., July 17. He walked off the stage 15 minutes into the concert and canceled two other shows last week.

The Mile High Stadium concert, with special guest Faith No More, will be rescheduled, Fey said.

"We talked with management and the bands fully intend to reschedule," he said.

Ticketholders swamped Denver TicketMaster phone lines yesterday trying to confirm the cancellation, an order-taker at TicketMaster said.

The Scripps Howard News Service, Knight-Ridder Newspapers and Associated Press contributed to this report.