Anais Gutierrez
Green Day spoke out about claims they “ignored” the death of an acrobat and performed during the Madrid’s Mad Cool Festival. On Saturday, the band released a statement on their website clearing the air about the terrible incident.
The British-based acrobat who died after falling 100ft from a suspended cage at a music festival on Friday, during the second day of the event just minutes before Green Day took to stage.
Clearing the air on the incident
Fans slammed Green Day after they performed their headlining set at Madrid’s Mad Cool Festival on Friday night after an acrobat plunged to his death in front of festivalgoers.
Acrobat Pedro Aunion Monroy plunged 100 feet while attempting a between-sets stunt that involved an illuminated box suspended by a crane. Monroy died from his injuries soon after.
Despite the tragic accident, Green Day took to stage with a sligth delay and performed, which drew accusations of insensitivity on behalf of both the band and festival organizers.
Mad Cool organizers stated that the festival continued as scheduled for “security reasons.”
Following their performance, the band tweeted that they didn’t learn of Monroy’s death until after their set. They also regretted the sad incident.
Some people were not having it and took to social media to express their anger.
So, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong released a statement on Green Day’s website, in which he claimed the band were backstage and were not made aware of the tragedy until later.
He added: “I don’t know why the authorities chose not to tell us about the accident before our concert. All we know is what was said after our concert. This has never happened in the 30 years Green Day have been performing live.”
“If we had known prior to our performance we most likely would not have played at all. We are not heartless people. The safety and well-being at any of our concerts absolutely come first,” he said.
“What happened to Pedro is unthinkable.”
Terrible accident at Mad Cool Festival
A horrifying video has emerged online of the acrobat performing at the Spanish music festival plummeting over 100 feet to his death.
Over 35,000 festival-goers watched in horror as he dangled momentarily under the suspended stage before plummeting down. He died soon after the fall, despite emergency workers’ attempts to save his life.
Paramedics were seen treating the acrobat at the scene, but he died of his injuries.
Spanish newspaper El Mundo said the show was delayed for about 30 minutes as police spoke with festival organizers before the show was allowed to continue.
Pedro Aunion Monroy was 42-year-old and had been living in the UK with his British partner.
As well as being an acrobat, he had also studied Spanish dance, dramatic arts, and contemporary dance.
Since 2003, he had run his own company, Ciadehecho, an experimental group combining theater, dance, and acrobatics.
His sister posted online confirming his death.
She wrote: “To all the friends of my brother Pedro Aunion Monroy. I’m sorry to tell you that he died today.”
She added, “He was doing what he liked most, a show at Mad Cool. We are torn apart.”
Festival’s second year marked by tribute
On Saturday the festival delivered a tribute to the artist.
A message was projected while ‘Purple Rain’ played in the background. The song was the one playing during Pedro’s final performance.
The message read “En memoria de nuestro compañero Pedro, te recordaremos siempre,” which translates into “In memory of our partner Pedro, we will always remember you.”
During the tribute, beer was not sold and claps filled the place. After the tribute Kings of Leon took to the stage.
The American band was the headliner on Saturday, which marked the festival’s final day. During the day Foster The People, M.I.A and Manic Street Preachers also took to the stage.
The festival kicked off on Thursday with the performance of Foo Fighters with a sneak peak of their ‘Concrete and Gold’ as the day’s headliners.
Thursday’s performances also included Foals, Warpaint, Belle and Sebastian and Quique Gonzalez.
And on Friday, performances included Green Day as headliners, the American band brought their ‘Revolution Radio’ to the festival. Othe performances included alt-J, Kodaline, Cage the Elephant and Spoon.
This year’s festival marked the Mad Cool Festival second year which has become one of the most important festivals in Sain and also in Europe.
The three-day event is held in the Caja Magica, Madrid is one of the rock events of the year in the city. The Mad Cool has three main stages and keeps growing every year.
Last year event had the participation of some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Neil Young, The Who, The Prodigy, Die Antwoord, Biffy Clyro, Jane’s Addiction, Editors, Bastille, Two Door Cinema Club and Vetusta Morla.
Source: Yahoo
