Noise Of KORN Concert Angers Florida Residents, Officials

The Associated Press is reporting that the volume of a concert by the band KORN left Hillsborough County commissioners fuming and briefly had them considering getting a court order to halt future concerts at the amphitheater that hosted the group.

More than 50 residents — some living miles away — complained of booming noise and profanity-laced lyrics coming from the open-air Ford Ampitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds during this week's concert.

"I came home from the hospital Tuesday (the day of the concert),and I couldn't get to sleep," resident Peg Sexton said. "I've never, ever had it so loud. It was like it was across the street. It's unbelievable. We don't get that noise from a thunderstorm."

During an emergency meeting Thursday, County Commissioner Ronda Storms referred to venue owner Clear Channel Entertainment when she said: "A bane upon them; may the worms of your avarice consume your intestines, Clear Channel."

The racket even shocked county Environmental Protection Commission officials, who this summer cited Clear Channel and the Florida State Fair Authority for violations of noise ordinances. The citation has been appealed.

However, commissioners decided against pursuing a court injunction, since the only remaining event this year is an 10-hour country-western concert this Saturday featuring the CHARLIE DANIELS BAND. The performance will support The Angelus, a home for the handicapped.

KORN is a repeat offender of noise ordinances, as its most recent concert is the second show that has exceeded noise limits at the Hillsborough County venue. This time, the noise registered 90.6 decibels, the equivalent of a running blender, and represented the highest noise numbers recorded yet.

The Environmental Protection Commission may levy fines up to $5,000 for each noise violation, be it an entire concert, a song or even a single line of music or a single note.

In a five-page letter to the commission, Clear Channel said it has enacted several measures to reduce noise, including installing noise-muffling blankets along an outer wall, reducing decibel levels at the mixing booth, requiring performances to end by 10 p.m. and monitoring noise levels at all events.

Fair authority attorney Gordon Schiff said the authority and Clear Channel have made a good effort to work with the county.

"We think that progress has continued and should continue," he said.