Surrounded by the heart-thumping music, the screams and cheers of adoring fans, and copious amounts of alcohol, concerts can be a wild time. Concerts also carry with them dangerous situations. For some unlucky concertgoers, the night of fun turned into one of terror when people got a bit too wild, and the consequences of their actions were no longer a concern. Due to improper security and poor planning on the part of the event holders, some of the biggest bands in history saw some of the worst accidents and events occur. Here are 3 of the worst concert disasters in history.
The Rolling Stones at Altamont
On December 6, 1969, the Rolling Stones were the headline event at a free music festival in Altamont. This concert was supposed to be a celebratory ending to their successful United States tour. Instead of hiring adequate security guards, the event hosters instead hired the notorious biker group Hells Angels to act as crowd control to keep the concertgoers off stage.
Before the band had even gone on stage, a fight broke out between a member of the Hells Angels and one of the fans. The fight led to panic, which caused a stampede to clear the premises. Chaos ensued, due to copious amounts of alcohol consumption, lack of property security and clear exits, and the violence near the stage. There were many injuries reported, though the official number is still up to debate. One person died from the fight, and there was property damage to the stage and musical equipment.
The Rolling Stones ended up canceling their performance in the wake of the event. They made this decision to respect to those who were harmed and to protect themselves from potential injury or defamation.
The Who in Cincinnati
December 3, 1979, marks the day of one of the worst concert disasters in the United States. In Cincinnati, an 8,000-person crowd was waiting outside of Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum. The excitement was building as the concert time grew nearer. Once the doors opened, the crowd stormed inside, causing a stampede as people struggled to get through the entrance. Unbeknownst to the happy concertgoers, 11 people had fallen in the event and were being trampled. Many report that they were unaware of the blood on their shoes or their ripped clothing until the concert was growing closer to finishing. As to the 11 people who died, the concert staff quickly removed the bodies from the entrance and decided not to tell the band until after the event. Poor crowd control and seating arrangements along with an overselling of tickets led to the injuries of the fans and the 11 deaths.
Woodstock 1999
On the hot weekend of July 23-25, 1999, the Woodstock ’99 festival was in full bloom. Unfortunately, this annual Woodstock event proved to be different than in previous years. The heat drove people to wait in long lines to buy water that was overpriced, and poor planning ensured insufficient water supplies. This resulted in a revolt from the fans. They tore apart sets and gates and fought amongst each other; people suffered from dehydration, and several rapes were reported. During the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ closing number, a bonfire was lit in the middle of the audience stand, causing some people to suffer burns.
All three of these events suffered from a lack of proper planning and poor security. If you or a loved one has been injured at a concert due to the negligence of the venue, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for injuries and damages. Hernandez Law Group, P.C. can help you prove the negligence of the venue holder and get you the compensation you deserve. Juan Hernandez is one of the 2% of Board Certified Texas Lawyers in Personal Injury Law. Contact Hernandez Law Group, P.C. today to get you started on the road to recovery.