The Ontario Ministry of Labour has brought charges against Live Nation Canada for safety violations in connection with the stage collapse at an outdoor Radiohead concert last year that killed the band’s drum technician, Scott Johnson, and injured three other workers, The Toronto Star reported on Friday.
Live Nation issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and promising to fight the charges. “We absolutely maintain that Live Nation and our employees did everything possible to ensure the safety of anyone who was on or near the stage involved in the tragic incident that led to the unfortunate death of Mr. Scott Johnson,†the concert promoter said in a statement given to The Hollywood Reporter.
The accident occurred on June 16, 2012, at the Downsview Park in Toronto. The roof of a temporary stage collapsed an hour before the gates opened for the concert, killing Mr. Johnson, who was working on the drum set below.
The weather was fair with a light breeze when the stage collapsed; about two dozen crew members were working on it. Mr. Johnson, 33, of Doncaster, England, was an accomplished drummer who made a living as a stagehand on rock tours, tuning and caring for drums. He had been hired to manage the drums for the “The King of Limbs†tour.
Ontario officials filed eight charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act against Live Nation Canada, the concert promoter, and against Live Nation Ontario Concerts GP. Another four charges were brought against the Toronto-based Optex Staging and Services, and one charge was brought against an individual engineer. Details of the charges were not immediately released. The government said it had faulted Live Nation for failing to live up to a provincial law’s requirement that a building or structure support “any loads that may be applied to it.â€
No charges were brought against Radiohead, nor against Ticker Tape Touring, a company controlled by the band members.
A hearing was set on June 27 for the companies to answer the charges in the Ontario Court of Justice.
