Radiohead paid a special tribute to their late drum technician Scott Johnson last night (July 10) during their first gig since his death.
The band, who were performing at the Les Arenes in Nimes, France, filled the screen with photos of Johnson as they played “Reckoner” in their third encore, reports Consequence Of Sound.
It was their first rescheduled show since their drum tech died during a stage collapse in Toronto last month. A further three people were injured in the incident at Downsview Park.
The stage collapsed an hour before the gates opened to the public and queues were already forming outside the venue. The victims were all part of the team setting up equipment. Radiohead rescheduled seven shows following the tragedy after the accident also destroyed the band’s unique lightshow and parts of their backline setup.
Shortly after the incident, industry veteran Lars Brogaard called for a fundamental change to stage erection guidelines. He recommended that the use of steel roofs should become an industry standard.
He said: You need to go to steel. The shows nowadays are getting heavier and heavier with the lighting and the video screens. These aluminium roofs, they can’t take the weight.
The band will continue their tour with a second show at the Les Arenes tonight (July 11).
Please fill in our quick survey about Uncut – and you could win a 12 month subscription to the magazine. Click here to see the survey. Thanks!