Lawrence.com

Philadelphia — Fans at a sold-out rock show became unruly after the group Guns N' Roses failed to appear, and police were called to the concert arena, officials said.

Witnesses Friday night at the First Union Center reported angry fans yelling and cursing, some throwing bottles and chairs, and ripping up plants, but a spokesman for the arena operator denied the accounts. Several fights were reported.

"Thankfully, I was in a club box," said Christina Wolf, 26, of suburban Center City. "It was shielded : so I wasn't getting hit by any of the flying objects."

Police reported no major injuries.

A spokesman for the arena operator said officials were called shortly after 11 p.m. Friday and told one member of Guns N' Roses was ill, and that the band would not be able to perform. He said he did not know which member was sick.

Members of the audience, while unhappy, left "in an orderly fashion," he said. He said police were called only as a precaution.

The sold-out concert drew an estimated 14,000 fans.

Neither the promoter of the concert, Clear Channel Entertainment, nor the band explained what had happened.

On Nov. 7 in Vancouver, fans turned into an angry mob, throwing rocks and smashing windows when the band failed to show up for a show at the General Motors Place arena. Police had to use pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

That performance was canceled at the last minute after Guns 'N Roses' lead singer Axl Rose failed to show because, a band spokesman said, bad weather in Los Angeles had held up his flight. The band is based in Los Angeles.