There’s still some residual fallout from the recent Cheap Trick stage collapse at Ottawa’s Bluesfest, as the band has canceled a Vancouver date over safety concerns.
During the July 17 gig in Ottawa, a sudden storm blew the stage down during Trick’s set and the band narrowly escaped the stage as it crumbled around them on their dash to safety.
Last week, CT issued a statement saying they were “interested in ensuring that no other band or crew experience the same potentially lethal hazard.”
“We simply want to know: what are the companies and organizers doing to protect the next act and the next audience?” says band manager Dave Frey. “Every act and every fan ought to be asking the same question when attending an outside musical event.”
While weather likely contributed to the incident, Cheap Trick notes that the multi-ton stage roof that fell on everyone on the stage must be properly explained, especially when nearby tents and other temporary structures stood untouched. “Was it a design flaw? Was it an implementation mistake? These are important questions that must be answered,” Frey added.
The incident is now under independent and Ontario government investigation. Cheap Trick is actively participating in those efforts and urges all parties involved to do the same.
Cheap Trick plans to continue pressing for a full accounting of what happened and is dedicated to ensuring that proper safety measures are taken at future concerts.
Now, the fallout…
Trick has announced that staging for PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) in Vancouver, BC is provided by Mega-Stage (Berger), who also provided the MBNA Stage that fell on Cheap Trick in Ottawa.
All potential alternatives have been explored by the band and promoter and were exhausted, leaving Cheap Trick with no other option than to cancel their September 1st engagement at the PNE.
Unless current investigation(s) prove otherwise, the band will not, as a matter of principle, but more importantly, as a matter of safety, appear on a Berger stage in the future.
Vancouver tickets are refundable at point of purchase.
Cheap Trick Cheap Trick – The House Is Rockin’
The Grove Of Anaheim – Anaheim, CA – January 15, 2011
See also:
VIDEO: Cheap Trick return to the stage
VIDEO: Robin Zander of Cheap Trick assesses Ottawa stage collapse scene
VIDEO: Cheap Trick cut short as Ottawa Bluesfest stage collapses during storm
VIDEO: Cheap Trick rock NHL post-game in Tampa Bay
VIDEO: Cheap Trick guitarist joins Slash in Chicago
VIDEO: Cheap Trick rock Conan
