UK metal legends Cradle of Filth issued an official statement Tuesday regarding an unfortunate event that cut short their set at the Bloodstock Open Air festival in Derbyshire, England last Saturday: guitarist Paul Allender was struck by a heavy object thrown by an audience member – a blow which landed him in the hospital. Understandably, the band's a mite peeved about the whole incident, and said as much on their official site...

“This was due to a selfish and stupid person in the crowd,” the band stated in yesterday's site update, describing how fans had begun lobbing one-pound hard candies called "gobstoppers" at them, narrowly missing vocalist Dani Filth, keyboardist Ashley Ellyllon, Dani's young daughter Luna, and a wheelchair-bound fan who was sitting just offstage. One of the rock-like objects hit Allender in the spine, causing him to collapse, but fortunately he did not sustain any permanent damage.

“I actually thought one of the balls thrown was an apple and was going to head-butt it as it flew past my head,” the frontman commented, “then luckily thought twice about it.” He also issued a call to fans asking if they could identify the perpetrator, who should probably be soiling their underoos right about now. You don't want to get on these blokes' bad side.

“Bloodstock is an event that we have long endorsed and looked forward to headlining due to its united European metal vibe, its growing popularity and of course, it being one of the better festivals held on English soil,” Filth continued. “The crowd, as expected, were great and we were playing well with an arsenal of songs yet to deliver, when the stupidity started... Of all the years I have spent touring the world, nothing comes even close to this for downright sheer stupidity... I hope the perpetrator(s) are really proud of themselves.”