Radiohead share statement on "negligence" that led to 2012 fatal stage collapse

23 November 2020, 10:52 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(Radiohead)

Radiohead have shared comments online about the "negligence" that resulted in the 2012 stage collapse that killed their drum technician Scott Johnson.

Drum technician Scott Johnson was killed in 2012 after the stage collapsed before Radiohead's Toronto Downsview Park show in 2012.

Radiohead have been seeking justice since the fatal incident, and over the weekend the band shared some comments on Twitter in response to a hearing that the Discipline Committee of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) conducted last week with Domenic Cugliari, the engineer who designed and approved the stage.

The band wrote on Twitter last Friday (20 November), "On 16th November 2020, the Discipline Committee of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) conducted a hearing to investigate Domenic Cugliari, the engineer responsible for the design and approval of the stage which collapsed at Downsview Park in Toronto, ahead of our scheduled show on 16th June 2012, killing Scott Johnson, our tour technician and friend. Mr Cugliari has acknowledged in this hearing, his catalogue of errors and the negligence on his part that led to the stage collapse and Scott’s death."

ahead of our scheduled show on 16th June 2012, killing Scott Johnson, our tour technician and friend.
Mr Cugliari has acknowledged in this hearing, his catalogue of errors and the negligence on his part that led to the stage collapse and Scott’s death.
— Radiohead (@radiohead) November 20, 2020

Radiohead continued, "These admissions are eight years too late. If the evidence now accepted by Mr Cugliari had been agreed at the original court case brought against him, Live Nationn and the contractor Optex Staging, it would have been complete in one day, with a very different outcome and some justice would have been delivered. As it is, Mr Cugliari has now retired and, is seemingly beyond any legal recrimination. This is a sad day. Our thoughts and love are, as ever, with Scott’s parents, Ken and Sue Johnson, his family and friends, and our crew."

would have been delivered. As it is, Mr Cugliari has now retired and, is seemingly beyond any legal recrimination.
This is a sad day. Our thoughts and love are, as ever, with Scott’s parents, Ken and Sue Johnson, his family and friends, and our crew.
— Radiohead (@radiohead) November 20, 2020