Main Stage Collapses at Ottawa Bluesfest During Cheap Trick Concert
- Posted on July 18, 2011 at 12:05am by
Scott Baker
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OTTAWA (AP) — The main stage at Ottawa Bluesfest collapsed Sunday night during a Cheap Trick concert as a severe thunderstorm sent the band members and thousands of fans running for cover.
Bluesfest official Joe Reilly said one person suffered a broken leg, the Vancouver Sun reported.
At least two people were sent to hospital with minor injuries.
The members of Cheap Trick were performing at the time, but they got off the stage safely. Witnesses said the band members were thrown off their feet.
“Everyone is okay and we are so lucky to be alive and hope that all the fans are okay too,” the band, best known for hits including “Surrender”, “I Want You to Want Me” and “The Flame”, said in a message posted on Facebook.
Video of the Bluesfest site posted on YouTube within minutes of the storm’s passing showed a stage that had crumpled and collapsed over electronic equipment. Twisted shards of metal jutted out from the stage, which stood several stories tall before it was destroyed.
Environment Canada had a thunderstorm warning in effect for Ottawa, saying winds were expected to reach 56 mph (90 kph).
Bluesfest is one of North America’s main musical events. The festival first took place in 1994 and has since grown from a one-stage, three-day event to a multi-staged, 12-day music showcase featuring some of the best international talent.
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Comments (57)
marybethelizabeth
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 10:25amExactly how big were the twisted shards of metal Mr. Baker.
Report Post »I would suggest you take weekends off, only this is probably some of your better work.
I_Hate_Libs
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 9:16amUnion built…union failure.
The horror of the Democrat mind.
Report Post »dinadp
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 12:04pmOttawa is in Canada – where there are NO democrats. Canada, under conservative leadership. Canada, whose leader stands with Israel. That Canada.
I’m sure the collapse had nothing to do with unions. There was a severe weather warning for the area and, according to people at the concert, there were high winds. The park in which the concert was held is wide open & on the waterfront. I imagine that this played a factor.
One of the scheduled performers tweeted “I have never seen wind blow an entire stage flat. I’m in shock.” I’m about 100 miles east of Ottawa and the storm was pretty bad here too. Thunder, lightning & trees swaying like crazy because of the wind.
On a happy note, the CTV has reported that all patients that were injured in the accident have been released from the hospital.
Report Post »SimpleTruths
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 5:14pmThere was another big collapse this weekend…the opening of Palin’s disaster of a movie. 10 theaters, under 90K in ticket sales (and that includes the Palin-bot ticket buyers trying to ‘win’ prizes).
One theater reported there were never more than 20 people in the audience for any of the showings. Give up Sarah, America has had enough of you and your clan.
Report Post »jen2012
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 8:50amI can’t believe it ! It was 30 years ago, 7/17/81, that a Hotel callapse in Kansas City, Mo. It was really grusome. It was in the dance hall during a dance contest. What a really strange thing to happen on this date.
Report Post »Tear Em Up
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 8:05am“OK, back to Rockford!!” Robin Zander…
http://traffic.libsyn.com/mikeleeandterrymartin/Number_73_July_16th_2011.mp3
Report Post »LIBSALWAYSLIE
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 7:49amString Bean SUX, always did, always will. Worst music critic EVER!
Report Post »olddog
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 7:35amWe would all like to know if it was constructed by Union Labor, being in Ottawa i’d say it was..
Report Post »Mackerel
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 7:30amI wonder if
I wonder if BB King will be playing Oz fest?
Report Post »skippy6
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 7:05amBluesfest ?? Were the Sex pistols there ???
Report Post »chazman
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 7:11amCheap Trick … one of the BEST blues band’s out there!
Report Post »chazman
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 7:14amPink Floyd is a pretty good blues band, too. Were they there as well? How ’bout Judas Priest? I love a good blues festival …
Report Post »oriondma05
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 7:28amUnion Labor?
Report Post »Iman Barak Hussein
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 7:30amTHE BLUES, she ain’t what she used ti be…since my lady left me
Report Post »and the dog died.
grannyjojo
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 6:42amI’m thankful there were no more injuries then there were. It could have been so much worse! It must have been a very frightening thing to go through. “Every knee will bow and every tongue confess”
Report Post »00gabooga
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 6:40amStage built by Union labor, no doubt.
Report Post »cripplecreek
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 6:47amCheap stage.
Report Post »101
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 7:52amNew stage old Cheap Trick
Report Post »stinkybisquit
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 6:19amIThat’s terrible; Cheap Trick always played such good blues. :/
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 6:44amYeah, I wondered about that. Apparently they aren’t purists up in Ottawa. The first week of the festival featured such blues legends as the Flaming Lips and Soundgarden.
Report Post »ObserverOnTheHill
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 6:13amURGENT – Cut-Cap-Balance vote is Tuesday 7/19
Call your representatives now to support it
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 4:13amWe can only hope…..living in FL we get it non-stop and don’t expect it to go away anytime soon. Now they will follow her every move since she is ‘out’.
Report Post »No_Comment
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 4:12amCheap Trick has always been a great band, none of this lead singer gets the big head and splits stuff with them, really nice guys that can at even now, play their arse off. Got a few picks from Rick as he threw abunch as always.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 10:03amAgreed, In Color is still one of my all time favorite albums. Darn near perfect piece of power pop. Rick is a way under appreciated guitarist.
Report Post »Gypsy123
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 3:09amThe wind has more power.
Report Post »String Bean
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 2:37amAll that wind is because of how much Cheap Trick SUX!
Always did. Always will.
Follow the video to one of Styx playing I Am the Walrus. Such a complicated song and they pull it off live!
Oh, yeah. Cheap Trick still SUXXXX!!!
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 3:02amAin’t that a Shame ! ! !
Report Post »JRserious
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 9:10amwhat are you talking about, seems like they brought down the house!
Report Post »TADTAD
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 10:07amYeah, they suck. That‘s why they’ve sold tens of millions of albums, and have tens of millions of fans.
Report Post »You have sold how many albums? How many fans adore you? Go away, small person….
MeteoricLimbo
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 2:27amThats just too easy…
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 2:18amSooooooo many easy jokes & shameless puns from an event like this … At least the late night comics will have some fresh material other than politics & News Corp this week …
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 7:55amI heard the band started out as cheap trick but soon became supertramp…Now that the stage is destroyed they need to call in men at work to repair it…
Report Post »The Divided States of America
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 1:43amsooo cheap trick !!!
Report Post »NEMATIC
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 1:30amI saw Cheap Trick in the 80′s and they are still bringing The House Down!
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 5:09amI like that one !
Report Post »scjeff
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 10:31amBest comment award for you!
Report Post »timb58
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 3:13pmAin’t that a shame
Report Post »SLARTIBARTFAST
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 1:30am@CatB
Report Post »Do you heed the weather forecasts? Might as well just throw darts to predict the weather! Besides, don’t you know that Cheap Trick NEVER DISAPPOINTS? Cheap Trick Rules!
CatB
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 2:24amActually … yes … and I would think that the organizers would have delayed as opposed to taking a chance with the talent and the crowd. I want Cheap Trick to play another day .. and another and another .. so glad no one was too seriously injured.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 2:49am2004 Common Ground Festival .. Lansing Michigan …. they sent everyone back to their cars to wait out the storm ( we were there) .. announced on the radio when it was safe to return .. It was the Alice Cooper night ..
2004
Gunner Ross & T.N.T
ZZ Top
Crosby, Stills, & Nash
Asleep At The Wheel
Montgomery Gentry
Liz Phair
Blues Traveler
Dave Mason
REO Speedwagon
Bob Seely & Bob Baldori
Gregg Rollie Band
Johnny Winter
The Tubes
Alice Cooper
Arturo Sandoval
KEM
The Dick Wagner Band
Kansas
19 Wheels
Rob Roy
Five For Fighting
My Surrender
Earshot
Saliva
B5
Mario Winans
Don Middlebrook & Living Soul
The Not Afraid Trio
Dash Rip Rock
The Sprague Brother
Those Delta Rhythm Kings
Mas Ambicion
Ray Potter
http://www.commongroundfest.com/Performers/Past-Performers/
Report Post »booger71
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 5:45amThose are all great county fair bands
Report Post »poppinbeaners
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 1:29amWow. Hope everyone’s okay.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 1:20amsurrender yourself to the wind.
Report Post »The_Plumber_Says
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 1:14amOne of the best rock bands in history, just saw them 2 weeks ago.
Tom Petersen blew the stage away with awesome guitar.
He’s amazing on that tough 12 string bass.
There was no storm, just Cheap Trick doing what they do best!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 1:13amYou would think with all the phones with access to everything INCLUDING the weather .. they would have heeded the warnings and instructed people to take cover before the storm hit. Common sense?
Report Post »