Big Day Out Kicks Off

The Big Day Out’s six-city antipodean run began in New Zealand Jan. 21, with a near-capacity 45,000 crowd at Mt. Smart Stadium in Auckland.

International acts included Tool, Rammstein, MIA, Iggy Pop & The Stooges, Grinderman, Primal Scream, LCD Soundsystem, Lupe Fisasco and Deftones.

South African hip-hop crew Die Antwoord was declared the major new find of the day.

Heavy rain in the evening saw fans scrambling for garbage bags and cardboard boxes.

Four people were arrested, 10 tried to jump the fence and St. Johns Ambulance took six to hospital for minor medical ailments after treating 300 patrons through the day.