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The lead singer of a Richmond-based heavy metal band who attended Western Branch High School in Chesapeake said he will clear his name after spending more than a month in a Czech Republic jail, even if it means going back to Prague to fight the allegation that his actions caused the death of a fan.
"I'm an international touring artist, I have to clear my name," Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe said in an interview with a Czech television station after being released from jail.
Several times in the interview, he said: "I'm not a flight risk."
The entire five-member band was arrested June 27 after arriving in Prague for a show. Blythe was detained in the death of a fan who died from head injuries apparently sustained at a May 2010 Lamb of God concert in Prague. Blythe has not been charged with a crime, but he was jailed. The other band members were freed and directed by U.S. Embassy employees to leave the country immediately, which they did.
Blythe twice posted bail, first of $200,000 and then of $400,000. But each time, the prosecutor challenged his release — as is allowed under Czech law — in part on the theory that he would not return to face trial.
A panel of judges set him free Thursday.
In an interview outside the airport in Prague, Blythe said he was unaware that he had done anything wrong.
He was "very surprised to be arrested," he said, calling the fan's death "a tragic coincidence."
"It is very tragic," he said. "I feel very bad that a fan of my band is dead."
He said he spent his time in jail reading, writing songs, exercising and talking to his fellow inmates. He also signed autographs.
"I try to make the best of my time in any situation," he said. "Prison is not exactly a fun place to be."
He said he had been treated well, though, and did not have any problems with inmates or guards.
Blythe's lawyer, Martin Radvan, said a police investigation of the incident likely will not be completed until winter.
"We don't know yet if (the death) was caused by our client or in a different way," Radvan said.
Radvan said police believe that during the 2010 concert, the audience member climbed onto the stage and Blythe pushed him off. The fan's head hit the floor, and he later died of the injuries, police said.
Martina Lhotakova, a spokeswoman for Prague's Municipal Court, said Blythe was released when the court upheld a lower court's decision that had rejected a request by prosecutors to keep Blythe in custody.
After the ruling, Blythe left Prague for the United States. A friend of the band said Blythe was expected back in Richmond on Friday, but that could not be confirmed.
After canceling several shows because of Blythe's absence, the band will resume playing Aug. 17-18 at Knotfest, a new heavy metal festival in Iowa and Wisconsin. The band will resume touring with U.S. dates beginning in late October.
Blythe said he would return to Prague for a court date if he's charged.
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