[Susan Foreman]

August 19, 1980. A riot occurred at the Canadian National Exhibition Centre during the 'Flush The Fashion' tour. Just before he was due to go on stage, Alice suffered the worst asthma attack he had had in years. As a result of this, the show was canceled, and the fans went crazy causing $175,000 in damages to the venue. There were 31 arrests and 17 injuries. The following evenings concert in Minneapolis was postponed until until 25th October 1980 (without a riot), and the tour continued properly on August 21st 1980, with a show in Rapid City, South Dakota

Of the riot, the Toronto Star published on the August 20th stated:

"The Canadian Rock Festival at the Canadian National Exhibition was cancelled today after thousands of rioting rock fans tried to wreck the Grandstand last night. They bombarded 268 policemen with bottles, chains and other missiles during a 30-minute rampage that will cost at least $175,000 to repair.

Furious because headliner Alice Cooper's performance was cancelled after they had waited an hour and a half, they tore out 200 seats welded to steel posts and bolted to concrete. They heaved scores of metal chairs on stage. They didn't brain anybody, but they ruined a public address system and an expensive set of drums. They ripped out steel turnstiles, smashed windows in ticket booths and the Grandstand restaurant, and damages several cars outside the stadium. All Metro's available policemen raced to the CNE to help the 25 officers on duty.

Police used folding chairs as shields against flying bottles and hunks of broken seats, and they used their nightsticks freely in driving more than 13,000 fans from the Grandstand. Twelve members of the audience went to hospital with injuries ranging from cuts to broken limbs. Five policemen and a security officer received minor injuries. Police reported 31 arrests on charges of assaulting police, causing a disturbance, causing public mischief, being drunk and possessing drugs.

CNE officials cancelled the rock festival scheduled for this afternoon and evening because the seats couldn't be replaced in time and they were afraid of trouble from people with tickets for them. Howard Tate, assistant general manager, promised a refund for last night's and today's concerts to anyone who mails a ticket stub, name and address to the treasurer, Canadian National Exhibition.

All other performances scheduled for the Grandstand, including rock star Burton Cumming's show tomorrow, will go on, Tate said.

Many fans blamed the CNE management for the riot. They claimed anger grew to the explosion point because officials stalled announcing the cancellation until police reinforcements began arriving. But Tate blamed Alice Cooper.

"Band didn't play" He said the grotesque singer - who was plain Vincent Furnier until he adopted a women's name, make-up and wild stage stunts- didn't notify anyone he was too sick to appear.

Zon, a Toronto band warmed up the crowd from 8 p.m. until about 9p.m. Then the fans had to wait.The mood grew ugly as obvious confusion backstage led to conflicting announcements of what was wrong.

"It was 9:45 when I first heard that he was sick," Tate said. "I recommended to the general manager behind the stage that they start without Cooper, hoping he would show up. But his band didn't play."

Fifteen minutes later, Cooper's lead guitarist announced there had been a delay getting his luggage through customs. After another 25 minutes he announced Cooper was very ill and had been taken to a hospital by ambulance. The fans exploded, despite public address assurances that they'd get their money back. "I've never seen anything like that in my 19 years with the Ex," said Tate. "We tried to reach Cooper last night and this morning, but we still don't know where he is, what happened to him or what sort of illness he's supposed to have."

Cooper's road manager Damion Bragdon, said last night Cooper had become ill in New York and missed two flights to Toronto.

When he did arrive at 6:30, "he looked awful and he was burning up from fever. I would not put such a human being on stage. He was so sick he could hardly stand up."

Bragdon said Cooper was examined by a doctor after he arrived at the downtown Holiday Inn and "he's been in his room ever since." The hotel had confirmed Cooper had arrived, but said he paid his bill and checked out a few hours later.

Bragdon denied all rumors that Cooper has fallen off the wagon after treatment for alcoholism two years ago: "There was absolutely no drugs,no booze and no heroin involved. He's just a very sick man.""