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Tonya Papanikolas ReportingBountiful police broke up a rock band recital and angered musicians and their parents. Nine bands prepared to perform for an audience of family and friends last night at the North Canyon Park amphitheater in Bountiful. But neighbors complained about the noise and officers soon learned the musicians didn't have a permit to be there.
The private music teacher who organized this says he went to Bountiful Parks and Rec to rent the amphitheater and told them what he was doing. They didn't tell him he needed a permit for the amphitheater. So they got ready for their recital.
Steven Bachman and Ben Fruin play in bands. They say they've worked hard all summer to put on a recital for their families and friends.
Steven Bachman, Band Guitarist: "We worked for six months on it to play these songs."
Last night the guys were set to perform in Bountiful, but when Steven's band took the stage, police showed up.
Lt. Steve Gray, Bountiful Police Dept: "We got a call from several neighbors near North Canyon Park there was loud music going on."
Ben Fruin, Performed at Recital: "It was only 8:00 at night, so I'm sure people weren't trying to sleep."
Steven Bachman: "He shut us down in the middle of our first song."
One officer approached the drummer and tapped him during the song, trying to make him stop and find out who was in charge. Meanwhile, another officer spoke to the music teacher, who got upset because the group only had one song left.
Mike Smith, Music Teacher: "I don't want to infringe on anyone's right to silence. So I totally understand that, but five minutes, come on. There's 150 people there waiting for their kids to perform."
Parents were clearly upset and started yelling at the officers.
Parent: "I've been sitting here for two hours to hear my son play."
Claudia Fruin, Parent: "I just thought the whole thing seemed so ridiculous, and that the officers didn't take the time to listen to what people were trying to explain to them, that there was only one song left."
The music teacher says he thought the officers gave him the okay to continue, so he told the band to do their last song. But police quickly broke it up.
Steve Bachman: "He walked up to me in the first couple measures and grabbed my hand off the guitar and said, 'You're done,' right to my face."
Lt. Gray: "Obviously there were things done wrong on both sides, and if we had it to do over again, we'd probably do it differently. "
That was just a brief interaction. Everyone admits no violence was used, no one was hurt. Police say they had just wanted to talk to the music teacher, but when he defied them and started inciting the crowd, they had no choice but to shut down the concert.
