Pitchfork

Photo by Perou

Pioneering electronic dance group Underworld were forced to cancel their performance alongside Madness and the Beastie Boys at the Ejekt Festival in Athens, Greece on Saturday, June 16 after member Rick Smith was injured as a result of a riot that broke out at the festival.

According to a press release, 30 masked individuals identified as "anarchists" and armed with tear gas, iron bars, and baseball bats stormed the site of the festival during the Beastie Boys' performance around 11:20 p.m. The group burned cars, damaged property, and forced authorities to evacuate the stadium, seriously injuring several people, including Smith, in the process.

Smith was hospitalized in Athens, but he has since returned to the UK for further treatment. All signs from the Underworld camp seem to point toward a full recovery on his part in time for the rest of the group's summer tour dates.

Thanks to reader Steven Beijer for the tip.

Underworld are also preparing a new album for a fall release, when they will make their way to the U.S. They have only announced three U.S. dates so far, but more are forthcoming.

Dates:

06-30 Knebworth, England - Wild in the Country Festival
07-05 Lisbon, Portugal - Super Bock Super Rock Festival
07-07 Fraga, Spain - Monegros Desert Festival
09-09 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
09-11 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
09-14 New York, NY - Central Park Summerstage