Rolling Stone: Sugarland's attorneys have issued a statement blaming fans at their doomed Indiana State Fair show last summer for sustaining injuries during a stage collapse, claiming they failed to take steps to ensure their own safety.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Sugarland Lawyers Blame Fans for Stage Collapse Injuries
Rolling Stone: Sugarland's attorneys have issued a statement blaming fans at their doomed Indiana State Fair show last summer for sustaining injuries during a stage collapse, claiming they failed to take steps to ensure their own safety.
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Is this really what it's come to? Look, I can understand going after the Indiana State Fair Commission who was running the concert, but you're going after the band? The band is not around when they are setting up the stage and the roof. The band does not have control of that. The band is not responsible for decision of whether a show goes on or not, and probably does not have more detailed information about the weather beyond "it's looking a little nasty out there." I realize that suing the band in some way accompanies the recording company behind them who helps in organizing these things. However, even they have a more cursory involvement beyond the basic coordination of the event in my opinion, not making decision on the ground the day of. I feel for the victims in this tragedy, I really do, but going after the band in a civil suit is not the answer. What happened at the Indiana State Fair is not the responsibility of the band, it is the responsibility of those who designed, constructed, and maintained the rig, and who are supposed to know the limitations of such a rig, not the people who are performing on it. At the rate this is all playing out, we're going to end up with "Attend (insert band name here)'s Concert at Your Own Risk" signs around venues, and the fact that it's going that far is sad.
I kind of agree with Mr. Surasky here, to go after the band for the incident is fairly ridiculous. The band and the Band management didn't design the rigging. On that same page i do feel it is kind of calloused for the Band's representatives to say that it is the fans own fault for getting hurt because they "chose to take a risk by attending". Sorry I forgot about the release waver for if the stage collapses I signed at the last concert I went to. No patrons don't attend a show expecting that the stage will collapse. It is the Venue's responsibility to make sure they have a safe and properly secured structure for their events and that the structure is prepared for potential weather changes. Atleast Nettles has the decency to speak for the victims and those who helped
While I agree with AJ that the band did not have much if any control over whether the show would go on or not, it was, if nothing else, stupid for their manager to come right back and blame the fans. 1) I feel that it is appropriate that, as a member of an audience, I should be able to take for granted that my safety has been reasonably assured (I don't, and am an obsessive emergency exit checker, but that's a different issue). 2) Just as a PR move, blaming the fans who not only PURCHASED a ticket to your show, but have presumably supported the band through music sales and merchandise, seems really really idiotic. I would think twice about supporting Sugarland, not because I believe they are personally at fault for the incident, but because to turn around and blame the fans, who don't have the professional knowledge to assess the risk of a situation. 3) It's pretty backwards to blame the people who bought tickets to your show for not taking the necessary steps to ensure their safety...By not spending that money? I don't know... Something's not right here.
I don't think blame can be put on any one person, band member, or fan. It was an extremely windy day and I don't think anyone could have known how powerful the winds would be. I actually saw the footage of this on TV when it happened. It came quicker than anyone had time to respond. You can't really prepare for something like this. That's why I hate to see everyone suing and trying to put the blame on others. It is tragic that lives were lost but blaming others won't bring them back. I heard the band members speak and they were devastated by the whole thing. I'm sure they will never take a chance like that again and may never play outdoors again but I don't see how they can be held responsible for anything. They were lucky they didn't get hurt themselves.
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