Stage Collapse in Toronto Kills Radiohead Drum Tech
A drum technician for Radiohead was killed over the weekend following a stage collapse in Toronto.
The incident happened around 4 p.m. on Saturday as the band’s crew prepared for a Radiohead concert at Downsview Park set to be held later that night. Metal work hanging about 50 feet above the stage crashed into the stage crashed onto the stage and pinned and killed the man that was pronounced dead on the scene. He was later identified as Scott Johnson.
The band issued a statement on Sunday that said the band was “shattered” by the loss.
“He was a lovely man, always positive, supportive and funny; a highly skilled and valued member of our great road crew,” the statement said. “We will miss him very much.”
No fans were yet inside the park, as gates were set to open about an hour after the collapse occurred. The concert was cancelled.
Another man was seriously injured in the incident with a head injury and was taking to a Toronto hospital, though it was later reported that the injury was not life-threatening. Two other men with minor injuries were both treated and released.
The cause of the collapse has yet to be determined, though the concerts presenters, Live Nation, cited “unforeseen circumstances” that were related to the collapse. Weather does not appear at this time to be a factor in the accident.
The incident unfortunately brings to mind the stage collapse that happened 10 months ago at the Indiana State Fair before Sugarland was to perform. That collapse was called by high winds from a storm that caused stage lights to fall onto a crowd of fans awaiting the show. In that accident, seven people died and more than 40 were injured. The Indiana Department of Labor later announced penalties of over $80,000 after a worker safety investigation.