Band members arrested after blocking 101 Freeway for performance

Officials said a band blocked the 101 Freeway in Hollywood on Tuesday morning for an impromptu concert that jammed traffic and tested the patience of commuters.

In what is believed to be an effort at promotion, authorities said that members of a band called Imperial Stars blocked all but one lane of the southbound 101 with a large truck advertising the band. The group has a song called "Traffic Jam 101."

Witnesses said they saw members of the band singing and playing instruments on top of the truck.

The California Highway Patrol reported that three people were under arrest, and officials were trying to get all lanes of the southbound 101 open again. The traffic backup extended into the San Fernando Valley.

The driver of the truck fled in another vehicle and took the keys to the vehicle with him, the CHP said.

Sarah Faden, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department, said the three suspects were "creating some type of havoc" on the freeway.

The Imperial Stars are a self-described "hard core hip hop band" from Orange County whose latest song is "Traffic Jam 101." On its website, the band pledges that all the money earned from the song will be going to Homeless Children America. The website features the same truck used during the impromptu concert Tuesday morning.

The band has played at the Viper Room and House of Blues.

-- Richard Winton and Andrew Blankstein

Photo: The scene on the southbound 101 Freeway. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

 

Comments

[Erwin]

I love a good promotion however in this case, speaking as a freeway user, toss them in the can for a year. They can spend the time coming up with some better songs.

[Reality Chick]

Philanthropist OC white boy hard core hip hop band disrupts morning commute on the 101 - sounds like a bad reality show in the making.

[Kev]

What's worse is that their music sucks.

[Cheryl]

Why didn't people just stop for awhile and enjoy?

[Clare]

Not an amusing stunt. I hope they at least get big fines.

[Stuck commuter]

YAWWWWWWN! They still stink, now they have hundreds of people irritated at this self serving promotion.

[Jeff]

Throw these clowns in jail and let them find out how the like Big Bubba entering from the rear!

[jon hartmann]

#1
I bet not one of these "artists" can sight-read music
#2
I bet not one of these "artists" can play "Giant Steps"

[Jonah Corling]

This was not fair to commuters.

Blocking traffic in LA is just a cardinal sin. I don't care whether it's Barack Obama or some band I've never heard of.

[Matt]

"A hard core hip-hop band from Orange County?" That's the biggest series of oxymorons I've ever heard. Maybe now they can spend some time in LA County Jail and find out what "hard core" really means.

[SickOfItAll]

Is there a link to donate to the prosecution fund?

[Bo Jangles]

Please do a follow up about how much their court costs and fines are vs how many pennies they raised "for the homeless".

[UGH]

this is what happens when stupid OC trust fund babies start a band and come up with a "great idea" for marketing. Hey Mom! Can I borrow 2 grand and wrap a truck so I can go to jail.

[Sal]

""hard core hip hop band" from Orange County..." LOLz

[Me]

Bunch of morons trying to make a quick buck. I bet their music sucks.

[Stephany]

I guess they don't care about alienating their fans since all of their fans probably ride skateboards or bikes.

[hi-lineman]

have you heard their music?!

They are horrible and had no reason to mess up the freeway more than it already is.....

Lock them up.

[Dollyru]

Clearly frustrated because their music sucks so they have to force innocent travelers to listen to their crap. Here's a tip: Don't mess with L.A. Freeways if you want to gain friends here idiots.

[dontreward margarito by fighting him]

"you are FIRED"!!! (PR agent, Record Company, Marketing company) u were an unheard band before... now u will rott in your garagE

[no one special]

why didnt they just do what U2 did and play on top of a building in hollyweird.

That band deserves a beating for this stunt.

[JOHNFROMHERMOSA]

And instead of calling a tow truck to get that truck out of the way (10-minutes MAX), the CHP will spend an hour putting down cones waiting for their boss and the media to come out and take a look at the mess.

How did the band make it off the 101 without getting a beat-down from commuters who were stuck in the mess?

[elllen]

Not buying their music would also be a nice way to punish these people.

[William in Ohio]

They are lucky that nobody was hurt or worse by this stupid stunt!

[WWW]

Wow. This band is horrible, no talent, and now they are going to these lengths to promote their horrible music? What about the poor people just trying get to work to keep their jobs? Did these self-centered wannabes ever think about that? Really horrible attempt at trying to get your own reality show guys. Instead you end up in jail with a hefty fine. Big fail.

[Bob Beecher]

It might be quite a stretch to call these nuts "musicians." Idiotic stunt! I suppose now that the revenue from their song will have to be diverted from Homeless Children America to pay their fines and get that truck out of impound.

Idiots!