Traffic Alert: Music Group Causes 101 Freeway Jam for Publicity Stunt [Updated]

Video via KTLA

The southbound 101 Freeway in Hollywood is jammed this morning after a musical group blocked lanes for a publicity stunt -- they were singing on the roof -- that ended in their arrest. Because the driver fled the scene with the keys to the truck, the California Highway Patrol was waiting for a tow-truck to arrive. Meanwhile, traffic was backed up to at least the 170 Freeway, according to a live report on KABC-TV.

"You know what, I'm not even going to say the name of this group, because it's just not right to do this sort of thing -- people trying to get to their jobs, get to where they need to go," said newscaster Phillip Palmer, "and they're impacted by some loser who does something like this, this is just ridiculous."

The "loser" band Imperial Stars was performing a song called "Traffic Jam 101," noted the LA Times.

Update, 11:58 a.m: The band's truck has been towed. Traffic is starting to get back to normal, according to KABC-TV.

Update, 12:05 p.m: It appears the stunt was to raise some kind of awareness about homelessness. "Clearly a message not recieved very well," said Randy Paige on KCAL-TV. He said it took him almost one hour to go three miles in the traffic.

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By Zach Behrens in News on October 12, 2010 11:45 AM

Comments [rss]

graffitipassion

Whoah. Lot's of scary sociopathic comments on this story. Kinda terrifying.

William M.

kill them.

rjhemedes

Instead of arresting them, the police should have handcuffed them to the bus, doused them and the bus with gasoline, and then set it on fire. It would have made one hell of a video since their music is awful.

Shilo

Thanks so much for playing right into this crappy bands' hands and publicizing their name and music, thus encouraging more of this behavior in the future from other dumbasses. Hopefully next time it is YOU stuck in traffic. I don't know what is lamer - the stunt or the fact that idiot news outlets fell for it hook line and sinker.

caliking01

Chillax dude. I seriously doubt these douchebags are gonna be in itunes top ten next week. Let alone sell a single record because of any coverage they might have received.

mm65

Would there be so much negativity if, say, these guys had pulled this stunt as a way to protest against Prop. 8 or in favor of Prop. 19?

peteroriondavis

Without a doubt, there would be. This is a horrible way of spreading any message, no matter what it is.

talk_in_maths

well now they're getting even more publicity! :)

Spokker

I am now in favor of not helping homeless children. Thanks guys.

Interesting that the font size of their group name is larger than their message.

Memento Mori

The Tri-State has got Jersey Shore and Snookie.

Southern California has got the O.C. and these guys.

Maybe they can do a new reality show.

jrb

Now they'll have to change their name to FREE BEER to get anyone to come to their shows.

Black Jesus

death penalty.

Who, who, would actually think this is both a good idea AND will serve the purpose they had intended? These people have to have IQ's below 70, they must, as there is no way the idea of pissing off thousands of people for no reason makes sense.

Death penalty.

328

Apparently these guys are advocates for homeless and displaced children. The music isn't that good. Music Video

Were they trying to get publicity for their cause? Kind of like the Immigration protest people who laid down in the middle of Wilshire Blvd and blocked traffic.

graffitipassion

Except the immigration protesters are facing a year and a half in jail. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the city that sends protestors in regular streets to jail and gives these douches, who blocked a FREEWAY, a slap on the wrist. These guys better have some money to throw around to bail them out. Money that could have been better spent on the homeless...