Jan. 22, 2001 - Sonicnet: Nude Queens of the Stone Age Bassist Arrested in Rio
by Corey Moss
Nick Oliveri charged with corruption of minors after taking the stage naked at festival.

Despite Rio de Janeiro's flesh-happy rep, it's apparently illegal to bare all in public in the Brazilian city.

No one was more surprised to learn this than Queens of the Stone Age bassist Nick Oliveri, who was reportedly arrested Friday for hitting the stage nude during the Rock in Rio festival.

Police pulled Oliveri from the stage and wrapped him in a towel, releasing him from the Office for the Protection of Minors about 10 minutes later when a Rock in Rio lawyer arrived, Reuters reported.

Oliveri dressed, and then the band played its set.

Oliveri, whose full-frontal encores are nothing new to fans of the band, reportedly told officials, "I did not know it was a crime here in Brazil, otherwise I would not have done it. I apologize to the public and the Brazilian people."

Oliveri faces a corruption-of-minors charge, which may require him to remain in Brazil to give statements and pay a fine if found guilty.

Oliveri's spokesperson did not return calls Monday (January 22).

Queens of the Stone Age released the acclaimed Rated R in June and scored minor hits with "Feel Good Hit of the Summer" and "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret."

Rock in Rio, which attracted crowds as big as 250,000 to see acts from Guns N' Roses to Britney Spears over a nine-day stretch, ended Sunday night with a performance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers — who managed to stay clothed.

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