NZ Metal Show Descends Into Chaos as Fan Defecates in the Mosh Pit — Part of a Wider Concert Hygiene Problem

A tour stop by New Zealand metal band Devilskin at the University of Otago's Union Hall in late July 2026 turned into an unlikely news story after a middle-aged audience member reportedly defecated in the mosh pit. The stop was the second show of the band's tour marking the tenth anniversary of their album Be Like The River. The mess was trampled and spread across the floor as the crowd kept moving, triggering a chain reaction of vomiting among nearby fans. According to NME, police later identified the person responsible but filed no charges.

What witnesses saw

The Otago Daily Times spoke to multiple attendees who described the scene as severe. One witness said the amount was "enormous," initially mistaken for someone's lost shoe, before it spread across the floor and onto the legs of fans in dresses.

Doug Stewart, bassist for opening act Pieces Of Molly, told Metal Hammer: "The smell hit the crowd and people parted like the Red Sea." He said he then watched several people vomit in the pit before retreating backstage himself. The show reportedly continued to its end despite the incident.

Not an isolated case

The Otago incident lands amid a run of similar stories from much bigger stages. Olivia Rodrigo said last month she has "smelled" diaper-wearing superfans standing in the front rows of her shows. Noah Kahan said last week he wants the US Congress to step in and force organizers to require adult diapers at entry, after a fan at one of his shows defecated directly on the floor. Separately, a fan at a Morgan Wallen concert allegedly refused to leave for a bathroom break and urinated near a family seated nearby, prompting an investigation by organizers.