Rolf Harris Hit By 'Missiles' At Drunken Sydney Riot (1979)

In 1979, a New Year's Eve concert on the steps of the Sydney Opera House turned into a drunken bloodbath. Shortly after walking on stage (but not shown in this clip), Rolf Harris picked up one of the empty beer cans hurled at him and went to take a drink. "Ahh, it's empty!"

Soon, full cans of beer came flying out of the crowd. Harris got hit at least 3 times. Unfortunately, he sustained no injuries.

Later in the evening, however, Australia's legendary hard rockers The Angels were hit by cans, empty champagne bottles and sheets of signage, ripped from the front of the stage.

This was Australia's Altamont. Live concerts at the Sydney Opera House were banned for decades. Such levels of drunkenness and random violence were not unusual in Australia, then or since. Numerous people walked away with bleeding head wounds, 65 people were taken to hospital, and more than 40 were arrested.

[sampalmer]

It doesn't make me angry, just makes me sad at how some of our childhood TV icons have fallen

[jimmygray]

I seen Rolf Harris one time in town, shouted at him ' i remember you doing 2 little boys in 1979' he shouted back ' piss off that was Jimmy Saville '

[boobsthechemist]

I met Rolf Harris at Gatwick airport last year. He said he was off to Tampa with the kids

[jamesdykes]

Let's face it, we are here for the comments.

[maxleighgrace]

Proves what I’ve always said: if they look like one, sound like one and act like one then they’re probably a children’s entertainer

[random]

The wisdom of crowds was actually right for once.

[martinpugh]

I used to love Rolf Harris when I was younger and I was absolutely sickened when news emerged of what he'd been doing its a great pity most of what was thrown at him on stage appeared to have missed their target 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[stewartdavies]

It was ridiculous that such a smaltzy act as Harris was put on that bill. It was a rock and pop line up and most people there there to see the hard rock pub band, The Angels. The show was broadcast live on tv and Harris was there for variety to entertain the little kids and mums and dads at home. The drunk teens and 20 somethings weren’t having it. Harris was hooked early to try and appease the crowd by getting The Angels on early. Unfortunately by then, pelting the stage had become a game for the crowd and it was ironically Doc Neeson, the singer from The Angels, who the crowd was there to see, who wore a large bottle in the head before the band were even halfway through their set. Thus ended the show and the crowd didn’t get to see the show they wanted to see so badly.

[kevinmunday]

I think that Audience could see into the

[NxDoyle]

You have to understand that most Australians thought of Rolf Harris as a mediocre, anodyne performer who pandered to audiences in a transparently awful way. The fact that he was exposed as a predator decades later...well, I don't think everyone was surprised.

[sirrichardrichard]

He got out his diggeridoo...and all f**king hell broke loose

[paulwestwell]

He was expecting a big hand on his entrance instead the audience gave him a ‘four x’

[Heaven-dylj]

As Bernard manning said ''Rolf Harris, what does that man do? My mom thinks he's a painter and decorator''

[iancharlton]

Entertainers of this generation are terribly misunderstood.... when I was young, Jimmy Saville took me to the television Centre in London and fixed it for me to Milk a Cow Blindfold.... whilst in the next studio, you could hear Rolf doing two little

Good

[mistofoles]

Rolf Harris : "Hey kids !" >Unzips pants< "Can you see what it is yet ?"

[apintofbeer]

He was very friendly with the Royal Family

[eamonstafford]

Certain members of the Australian Cricket team weren't the only one caught ball tampering

[DaveLennonCopeland]

I met Rolf when I worked at a local theatre, he seemed like a genuine guy, got his autograph too. I always liked his art and easygoing nature... Shame he turned out to be a sex offender.

[m.r.e.s.]

I remember when i was a kid Rolf had a stroke he had lovely soft hands.

[johnlong]

How this bloke managed to become a mainstay of TV for decades never fails to amaze me. Notwithstanding his devious sexual behaviour. We must have been so gullible.