This summer, the live music industry endured a series of tragic stage collapses, as storms toppled stages at a Flaming Lips gig in Oklahoma, the Indiana State Fair and Pukkelpop. Cheap Trick were also affected by the unfortunate trend, as the power pop veterans had to scamper off stage at Ottawa Bluesfest to avoid being crushed, and then cancelled a Vancouver show over similar concerns over a stage collapse. Now, Cheap Trick are looking to the U.S. government to improve stage safety.
The Chicago Tribune reports that guitarist Rick Nielsen and manager Dave Frey spoke at the Future of Music Coalition Summit in Washington, DC on Monday (October 3). Frey discussed the need for a "standard certification process as you would have with elevators or a ferris wheel at a carnival."
Reflecting back on the stage collapse in Ottawa, the manager said, "That everyone got off that stage is unbelievable."
Nielsen also recalled, "I felt like I was in a Buster Keaton movie where the building falls down on him."
After appearing at the summit, Frey and Neilsen reportedly took this issue to U.S. Congress, but there's no word as to what kind of progress they made with the lawmakers. But given the frequency of concert disasters this summer, hopefully the government takes this issue seriously.
The Chicago Tribune reports that guitarist Rick Nielsen and manager Dave Frey spoke at the Future of Music Coalition Summit in Washington, DC on Monday (October 3). Frey discussed the need for a "standard certification process as you would have with elevators or a ferris wheel at a carnival."
Reflecting back on the stage collapse in Ottawa, the manager said, "That everyone got off that stage is unbelievable."
Nielsen also recalled, "I felt like I was in a Buster Keaton movie where the building falls down on him."
After appearing at the summit, Frey and Neilsen reportedly took this issue to U.S. Congress, but there's no word as to what kind of progress they made with the lawmakers. But given the frequency of concert disasters this summer, hopefully the government takes this issue seriously.
