Early burn enflames Burning Man fans

But he looked like such a normal guy....

Paul Addis was like a lot of people who dig Burning Man. He journeyed out to the Nevada desert, painted his face up with all kinds of crazy designs and looked forward to ceremonially lighting the namesake statue on fire. Unfortunately for the thousands of other attendees, Addis allegedly couldn't wait for the last one.

The statue was supposed to burn in four days, but sheriff's deputies say Addis sped up the clock by lighting the immense effigy up himself early Tuesday. He was arrested and booked in the Pershing County, Nev. jail on suspicion of arson, illegal possession of fireworks, destruction of property and resisting a public officer.

Now who'd have thought that the combination of neo-hippies in costume, free spirits, drugs and a giant, flammable statue would end badly? Whatever the case, this dude, a 35-year-old performance artist from San Francisco, is so totally not invited to the next incarnation of Woodstock.