and so it begins...

Radiohead stage collapse kills one before Toronto concert


he collapsed stage at Downsview Park in Toronto is shown June 16, 2012. The stage, which had been constructed for a sold-out Radiohead concert, killed one person and injured three when it collapsed just an hour before gates were to open to admit concert-goers.

By Doug Fischer, Postmedia News June 16, 2012

TORONTO - A massive stage collapse before a Radiohead concert at Toronto's Downsview Park has killed one person and injured several others, Toronto paramedics say.

No band members were believed to be on stage at the time of the collapse, but concert crew were working in the area at the time.

Radiohead cancelled their performance as a result.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Radiohead show at Downsview Park tonight has been cancelled," the band said in a message on its website. "Fans are advised not to make their way to the venue."

The doors to the outdoor venue, which was to be filled with 40,000 people, were to open at 5 p.m. with opening act Caribou going on at 7:30.

On the packed subway heading north toward concert site, word began to spread the show was in jeopardy, then had been cancelled.

Those arriving at the last stop were greeted with an announcement that the show was "cancelled due to a police investigation" and encouraged to ride back into the city.

The mood of revelry - open drinking and singing Radiohead songs - on the way out to the park was subdued on the way back. Some on the train were heard hastily arranging to go instead to the free Flaming Lips show later Saturday night. That possibility took on added appeal after Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne used Twitter to invite members of Radiohead and their crew to join them on stage.

There is also an unconfirmed report that Radiohead was scheduled to play a "secret" show at the Toronto bar Sneaky Dee's Saturday night.

The safety of stages at outdoor concerts has become a matter of increasing concern in recent years. A stage collapsed in high winds at the Bluesfest in Ottawa in 2011 while Cheap Trick was playing, injuring one person. At the Indiana State Fair last August, seven people were killed when high winds knocked down scaffolding and speakers. Last Saturday, the Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas was shut down by windstorms, forcing the cancellation of a number of shows.

According to weather reports out of Toronto Saturday, the skies were clear, the weather was warm and there were only light winds.

Ottawa Citizen

So, is this a new phenomenon, or just something that has captured the attention of the 24hour news cycle? Back in the mid 90s I went to tons of festivals all over the east coast and the only bad thing I remember was a few people getting hit by lightning at RFK stadium in 98 (they refused to take shelter in the stadium after an hour of warnings and the concert being halted.)

seems to be a more common thing in the last couple of years. in many of the occurrences, thanks to us humans fucking up the environment, the weather turns hardcore in a very short period of time and unleashes great vengeance and furious anger.

Severe weather systems + giant air pocket stages = bad news.

Still waitin to find out what went wrong at this Toronto show.

I blame the internet. Artists are not profiting by recording on the studio, so they need to play live more, what leads to more stage acccidents.

Evil Napster.

Sorry, but did someone just blame these accidents on global warming?

even i laughed at that.

not really. Environment is a contributing factor. Pay attention.

Weather wasn't a factor with this one. It was a nice day with low wind.

Same thing happened at an RFK Dead show I was at in summer '95. WTF?