On July 17, during Cheap Trick’s set at the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, a sudden wind swept through the festival grounds and the main stage collapsed, sending thousands running for safety and injuring a handful of people close to the disaster—including one of the band’s drivers.
“Everyone is okay and we are lucky to be alive and hope that the fans are okay too,” posted the classic rockers on their Facebook page after the incident.
Now Cheap Trick, best known for the hit “I Want You to Want Me,” wants answers.
Although the gales crumpled the main stage crumpled to a heap, several other tents and temporary structures remained upright that afternoon in Ottawa. So why did the central dais, provided by Groupe Berger/Mega-Stage, not withstand the wind?
The Ontario Ministry of Labour is looking into the accident, but Cheap Trick’s manager, Dave Frey, has also released a prepared statement.
“Was it a design flaw?” Frey questions, refusing to accept the inclement-weather excuse at face value. “Was it an implementation mistake? These are important questions that must be answered.”
