Green Day Issues Statement After Acrobat Dies Before Concert
Green Day (Facebook)
Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day was forced to issue a statement after suffering backlash as the band performed at the Mad Cool Festival in Madrid.
However, the problem wasn’t with their show, it was what happened right before it.
Pedro, an acrobat that was performing at the festival, fell to his death a few minutes before Green Day was scheduled to go on stage.
The statement says the band was unaware of the accident until after the show was over.
“We were in a back stage compound about a half mile away from the main festival stage. We were warming up ready to go at 11:25 pm. 15 minutes prior our tour management was told by local authorities to wait to go on stage because there was some sort of security issue.”
The band decided to wait as they were instructed to, and they learned of the tragedy after getting off stage after the concert. Armstrong insists the group would not have played if they knew about the accident beforehand.
The statement continued, “All of us were in disbelief. 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 comes first.”
The band said they were shocked and heartbroken for the family of the acrobat and anyone that had to witness the tragedy as well.
Rest in peace, Pedro.
We just got off stage at Mad Cool Festival to disturbing news. A very brave artist named Pedro lost his life tonight in a tragic accident
— Green Day (@GreenDay) July 8, 2017