ZZ Top and 3 Doors Down chose to opt on the side of caution recently when they canceled a show at the Atmore Wind Creek Casino in Alabama. With the past year being highlighted by several different stage mishaps, The bands and their crews decided against going on with the show. A stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair, one in Belgium and another in Ottawa has left many bands reeling and very weary about performing outside unless the weather is crystal clear.
The Indianapolis disaster left seven people dead and the band Sugarland knee deep in lawsuits. The Belgium stage collapse left multiple stages destroyed, several dead and over 70 people in the emergency room, while Cheap Trick’s set was cut short by collapse caused by high winds. You would think the people who attend outside events would be somewhat aware that high winds could damage the stages. Bands and venue staff members are the ones that ultimately decide if the show is worth risking their lives over. ZZ Top and the boys from 3 Doors Down decided not to take chances.
Band members of both groups and their crews looked at the stage that had been set up at the Atmore Wind Creek Casino and determined that even though many safety precautions had been met and things looked secure, the guys decided to call the show and not risk the lives of their fans when they couldn’t say without a doubt the stage was safe. Both bands released statements saying they would much rather have played the show, but they felt strongly enough about the risk involved that it was best to cancel the show until a later date.
Everybody know the Tres Hombres from Texas normally aren’t afraid of anything, but when the truth is finally told the guys have their fans best interest at heart. They want to put on the best show possible and they want to make sure the people who come to see them get to go home just the same way as when the arrived: in one piece.
