Rock concerts have made history by achieving the unimaginable: gathering thousands of people to sing their songs.
Over time, rock concerts have accomplished things never before imagined. They are undoubtedly synonymous with rebellion, power, enthusiasm, and a way to release emotions and thrill the senses. Despite all this, some of the greatest bands of the past 50 years have faced tragedies while performing live.
The Most Dangerous Rock Concerts in History
There are many reasons a concert can go wrong, but here are the most dangerous concerts in history that remain etched in the memories of all fans.
Great White, West Warwick, 2003
At 11 PM in West Warwick, an industrial city in Rhode Island south of Boston, the rock band Great White began their concert at The Station, a small nightclub. As the concert started, sparklers were lit, and they began to play their first song. Within seconds, sparks ignited the insulation material on the walls. In less than three minutes, The Station was an inferno. Some were dying while others still cheered, thinking it was part of the show. By that night, 95 bodies had arrived at the morgue.
Ty Longley, the guitarist of Great White, was one of the victims. “I can’t say anything, I’m shocked, we’re still looking for Ty,” said Jack Russell, the band’s lead singer. Great White is a band originating from California.
Pearl Jam, Denmark, 2000
It was early Friday morning when the news spread everywhere. “Several people have died,” confirmed the radio amidst a confused flurry of ambulances, police, and sirens. Nine people died in a stampede during Pearl Jam’s performance at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark on the night of June 30, 2000.
“The concert started great, there were a lot of people and a lot of energy in the air,” recalled Jesper Engsted, a 31-year-old Dane who had attended over a dozen editions of the veteran festival, in an interview with EFE EME. “The sound was a bit low, so my friends and I moved forward and were very close to the stage. I think a lot of people did that, and it put a lot of pressure on the people in the front rows.“ Pearl Jam was one of the festival’s headliners, along with The Cure, Oasis, Iron Maiden, Lou Reed, and Willie Nelson.
Rolling Stones, Altamont, 1969
Undoubtedly one of the most tragic days in rock and roll history was December 6, 1969, during the Altamont Speedway festival, which forever changed the world’s perception of music. The Rolling Stones were the main attraction, but unfortunately, everything went wrong due to disastrous organization.
Nothing went as planned; the audio was poor, the stage was not spectacular, causing the attendees to show their anger, which led to chaos, especially when security responded to the attacks. People started screaming and becoming more aggressive. It all turned into a disaster, and when the Stones arrived by helicopter, Mick Jagger was greeted with a punch in the face. By the time the Rolling Stones took the stage, it was already a bloodbath that resulted in the murder of an 18-year-old named Meredith Hunter, who was stabbed to death.
AC / DC, Salt Lake City, 1991
The night was January 18, 1991, with over 13,000 fans attending. The crowd surged forward, and people in front collapsed, exposing their torsos and heads to the boots of the heavy metal militia. There was no ill intent at the concert, but three teenagers lost their lives, and many others were injured halfway through AC/DC’s setlist.
World Series of Rock, Cleveland, 1979
This was a music festival held in the 70s and 80s, featuring some of the most timeless bands of those years. The event took place in Cleveland, the home of the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.
But the 1979 edition was the most notable, featuring bands such as AC/DC, Aerosmith, Journey, Scorpions, Ted Nugent, and Thin Lizzy. Over 88,000 people attended, resulting in chaos with several incidents of violence disrupting the show.
At least five people were shot at the event, and there was one death. There was also gang violence, vandalism, and thefts. It’s unclear what exactly caused these senseless crimes, but envy could be a factor, as several roving fans attacked those seated in the best sections of the concert.
Guns N ‘Roses, Montreal, 1992
It was an ideal night for the 50,000 people attending the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada, on August 8, 1992. The two top rock bands of the moment were performing on the same stage as part of a joint tour: Metallica was the first act, followed by Guns N’ Roses.
It all started with an accident involving James Hetfield during Metallica’s set, where he was almost burned alive by a ball of fire. “During the song ‘Fade To Black,’ I was playing guitar, and these colored flames started coming out of the floor. I was a bit confused and didn’t know where to go, I walked back and forth. The person in charge of lighting them didn’t see that I was there, so a huge colored flame came right up under my feet. Instantly I saw it and turned around,” Hetfield recounted years later about the moment he felt he could die.
