Fire-breather fights off mariachi band in fierce ‘turf war’ over tips
The street performer hurled flames at the musicians outside the aptly named El Inferno restaurant.
This is the bizarre moment a fire-breather single-handedly fought off a band of guitar-toting mariachis as part of a fierce Mexican turf war over tips.
Security footage shows one of the folk singers chasing the street performer before grabbing him in a headlock and punching him several times as passing traffic slows to watch.
The other four band members then join the fight in Morelia, west of Mexico City, weighing in with blows of their own.
But the fire-breather soon turns the tables and begins hurling flames at the mariachis, who can be seen fleeing ablaze from the scene outside the aptly named El Inferno – or ‘Hell’ – restaurant.
The singers are then seen throwing off their white jackets, with one rolling around on the sidewalk in a desperate bid to put out the flames.
None returned to the fight.
Because competition for tips in Mexico is so fierce, performers and windshield washers often stake out and defend lucrative street corners.
Street vendor groups in Mexico City often square off, with guns sometimes drawn over territory.
It is not clear how Sunday’s dispute began in the city of Morelia west of the capital.
Police said in a statement that nobody was arrested.
The flame-swallower was the only person who needed hospital treatment.
Police said he told them he had argued with the mariachis, who then attacked him.
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