Radiohead Postpones Seven European Shows Due to Toronto Stage Collapse
"The collapse also destroyed the light show – this show was unique and will take many weeks to replace," the band said in a statement yesterday afternoon. "The collapse also caused serious damage to our backline, some elements of which are decades old and therefore hard to replace."
The band said while they are still "dealing with the grief and shock ensuing from this terrible accident" they have been forced to postpone dates in Rome (June 30), Florence (July 1), Bologna (July 3), Codroipo (July 4), Berlin (July 6-7) and a show in Canton de Vaud, Switzerland (July 9). "We aim to announce the new dates for these shows on Wednesday 27th of June and will also supply information on how to obtain refunds on tickets if you cannot come to the show on the new date."
Radiohead said they'll begin playing again July 10 in Nimes, France.
"We will make every effort to offer the fans the very best show possible under the circumstances -- thanks for your understanding and support."
Meanwhile, Ken Johnson, Scott Johnson's father, spoke out for the first time since the tragedy. According to the South Yorkshire Times, Ken Johnson said Radiohead's management team phoned him following the incident to say Scott was unaccounted for. A second phone call at 5 a.m. Sunday morning local time broke the grim news.
"There will be an inquest but Scott will come home, probably in seven to 10 days," Ken Johnson told the paper, adding that the family is devastated but "so many people have sent messages. We can't thank them enough. It's hard." He also said Scott's partner Sarah may prefer a private funeral service, but no details have been announced.
Billboard -- via a CBC news item -- reported yesterday that weight and not enough preparation time may have played a role in the stage collapse which killed Johnson and injured three others.
"CBC news has learned the lighting crew expressed concern there was too much weight, but the engineer gave the okay," CBC reporter Jeff Semple said.
A source Billboard used also noted how quickly the Radiohead stage was erected with the lighting and video gear arriving the day of the Toronto show after the band performed in Montreal the previous evening. The Downsview Park staged was reportedly erected in two and a half days, while for comparison, the large outdoor stage at the MuchMusic Video Awards was constructed over a week before the June 17 show.
"The thing that's unique about this type of facility is the speed that it goes up and the speed that it comes down and it may very well be that the pace of the industry is just too fast to follow normal protocols to do their job," Toronto structural engineer David Bowick told the CBC.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour is continuing its investigation and have asked promoter Live Nation, Toronto's Nasco Staffing Solutions, Toronto's Optex Staging and Service, Inc. and Radiohead's Ticker Tape Touring for information as to the roles each played in the staging process.
Finally, while Radiohead's show was cancelled Johnson's death was not lost on bands that performed in Toronto on Tuesday (June 19). Foster the People performed at Downsview Park but instead set up a few hundred yards away at Downsview Park's "meadow" locale. Singer Mark Foster addressed the issue before saying all bands were an "extended family" and expressing condolences to Radiohead and the families of those injured.
Oddly enough, Keane -- who knew Johnson very well and worked with him for several years -- also performed at Toronto's Sound Academy Tuesday evening. The group acknowledged Johnson's passing early on.
"It's been a very difficult time for us the last few days for us as a band," Tom Chaplin said as captured on YouTube. "We'd like to dedicate this whole evening, this whole set to our great friend Scott Johnson."
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