Monotonix Singer Injured During Show

In some ways, you could argue that Monotonix frontman Ami Shalev finally fulfilled his destiny on Wednesday night when he seriously injured his leg during a live show in West Palm Beach, Fla. Monotonix are, of course, infamous for their over-the-top physical performances where they've been known to engage in risky antics from frenzied crowd surfing to actually lighting themselves on fire. Not to make light of it, but even Shalev agreed it was only a matter of time.

According to an eye-witness report from the New Times (Broward-Palm Beach), the injury occurred early on in the band's set. Shalev had been sighted napping during an opening set by Surfer Blood and reportedly downed two cans of energy drink before taking to the stage with all the venom that Monotonix shows are known for. As is par for the course, Shalev and his bandmates allegedly turned the entire venue into the show itself, dragging the drums to the middle of the floor, snatching drinks right out of the hands of audience members and generally engaging in extreme behavior.

Somewhere along the way, someone climbed atop Shalev's shoulders and down he went. At first, fans figured it was business as usual and even heckled him to suck it up, but before long it was clear that he needed medical attention. Refusing to get into an ambulance, his bandmates drove him to JFK Memorial Hospital where he was treated for a leg injury and later released.

Shalev has had a bad knee since an incident at a show in their hometown of Tel Aviv, Israel back in 2008, according to the band's MySpace blog. "The highlight of the evening was the doctor showing us YouTube's of his 12-year-old son playing drums while Ami is getting painkiller shots to his butt from the nurse," states the blog entry. "There was a commercial TV in the hospital room and the bill was tremendous."

Monotonix cancelled a show that was scheduled for Thursday night in Athens, Ga. but, amazingly, are attempting to still make their gigs this weekend in North Carolina. Please, no touching the frontman unless he touches you first.