Man Dead at Corrosion Gig

Four people were stabbed and one killed during a Corrosion of Conformity show at the Masquerade in Tampa last night. A man was pronounced dead of his wounds at Tampa General early Friday morning, while a woman remains in critical condition, according to Tampa police.

The altercation began around 11:30 last night, in the mosh pit during the North Carolina punk/metal band's set. According to police, a disagreement between two female fans somehow resulted in one man fatally stabbing another.

The authorities are searching for the suspect, described as a white male in his late twenties to early thirties with a shaved head and red-brown goatee and moustache. The man fled the venue before police arrived, and anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Tampa police.

Corrosion of Conformity posted a statement on their official Web site in response to the assaults. "We are stunned, deeply saddened by the brutal stabbings of three [sic] people at the Tampa show last night," they wrote. "We don't have much information at this time. Unofficially we heard that one victim didn't make it. In twenty-plus years of gigging, we've never seen anything like this. It's sad that people can't come together for a good time listening to music without something tragic happening. We feel for the families of those attacked and wish success to Tampa law enforcement in their quest to solve this pointless crime. Take care of each other and go in peace."

Corrosion of Conformity are scheduled to continue their tour, in support of their April release In the Arms of God, tonight in Atlanta. The club venue, in an unfortunate coincidence, is also called Masquerade.