Remembering the Who Concert Tragedy in Cincinnati
Eleven Trampled to Death on December 3, 1979
The Who, are 1990 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and recently received Kennedy Center honors. Their success began in the early sixties and spanned decades. Their accomplishments are great indeed; but in Cincinnati the group's name still calls up shadows of the unforgettable tragedy of December 3, 1979 when minutes before the opening number that evening, eleven fans were trampled to death.
The popular group was riding a wave of success from hit albums and the rock opera, "Tommy." They had not come to Cincinnati since 1975, so thousands waited anxiously outside the Riverfront Coliseum (now the U S Bank Arena) for the doors to open. Then came the rush, only a few minutes of fans pressing to get out of the cold and score first-come-first-serve seats; but it took only those few minutes for dozens to fall beneath the feet of the crowd. Many were injured and eleven were trampled to death.
The Show Goes On-
The incident was over quickly. The majority of the eight to ten-thousand early arrivers located seats, settled down and the concert went on as scheduled with The Who performing hits the crowd had been so anxious to hear. No one told them what happened. The members of The Who didn't find out eleven of their fans had died until after the show. Many concertgoers never found out what had happened until they read the newspapers the next day.
Locked Doors and Festival Seating?-
Seeking to find a reason for the tragedy, local authorities set up a citizen's task force which found numerous faults: ticket sales, alcohol use, ushers, contraband, security, not enough entrance doors open in advance of the scheduled concert time and other crowd management issues.
Ultimately the task force report concentrated on the combination of too many locked doors, crowd anticipation, unresponsive security and 'festival' seating that set up a competition among concertgoers creating "deadly crowd surges and rippling human waves" in a rush to secure the best seats.
Festival Seating Banned-
For over twenty-five years crowd management has been a priority in Cincinnati; festival seating was banned, causing major concerts to bypass the city for years. City authorities allowed a waiver of this rule for Bruce Springsteen in 2002 and overturned the ban altogether in 2004.
On The Who's website, the tragedy is a simple notation on the group's history page; but in Cincinnati nothing can erase the memory of what's been named "the most horrific rock concert incident in the United States.."
Published by Carol Rucker - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
May has lots of special things to celebrate. I m featuring articles with themes that commemorate Older Americans Month, National Bike Month; and Zombie Awareness Month for those who celebrate the odd, unusua... View profile
- Top Ten Songs by the WhoWhile the sixties-into-seventies rock band The Who certainly left their mark on the musical world, they also certainly did better by some songs than others. Here are the ten best songs which The Who recorded during t...
- Top Ten Songs by the WhoGuitar smashing legends and the greatest rock �n' roll band of all time, The Who has captivated audiences for nearly forty years.
Guide to Free Holiday Events in Cincinnati, OhioCelebrating the holidays in Cincinnati, Ohio, doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, it doesn't have to cost anything at all!- Best Nightlife in Cincinnati, OhioWhen you think of nightlife what comes to your mind? Most people think about good food, good times and good company. Many people also thinks about going to great restaurants, nice theatures and maybe even some dan...
- Best Spots for Romantic Dining in Cincinnati, OhioIt is very important where you set the stage for that romantic meal. You know what you want. Usually, good food, good wine, soft music and candle light. If you are in Cincinnati, Ohio, it is easy to find, too.
- Romantic Restaurants in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Shopping for an Employment Staffing Agency in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Suggested Resources for Finding an Animal Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Three Bartending Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Prince Charles Urges the WHO to Make Use of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine
- Hotel Guide: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Top Ten Songs by the Who
10 Comments
Post a CommentI was there with my future wife and sister. It was cold. We arrived about an hour before the event was scheduled to start. There were a lot of people there already, milling about in front of the main doors, partying, and trying to keep warm. The Who started a sound check. People started to get excited and pressed toward the entry in a lineless mass. People in the crowd were yelling to open the doors to no avail. I remember how miserable waiting was at a prior Stones concert earlier that summer at Soldiers Field in Chicago. There, people passed out and got sick.
That is why in our little group my fiancé and sister were reluctant to get too aggressive so we were toward the back. After awhile, something happened up front at the doors and the crowd pressed foreword. At first it felt kind of festive, I remember looking at my fiancé however, who had a worried look. I grabbed them both and stood my ground. The crown went around and we were free. At the time, I did not realize how lucky we were.
THEN WE HEARD A VOICE FROM ABOVE. IT APPEARED TO BE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE EVENT, STANDING AT THE PARAPET WALL OFAN ELEVATED WALKWAY, SHOUTING DOWN THAT A SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN. Curiously, people shouted back that he was lying. We followed a steady stream of people up the ramp and into the side door. (This is why I never fully blamed the event staff for the tragedy). Once inside we rushed down the isles and found spots right in front of the stage, feeling very satisfied that we avoided the crowds and got this great spot. We had no idea that people were dying in the mêlée at the main entry.
During the concert someone who was obviously having a good time, (falling down drunk or high) fell, climbing over the boards. (The chest high wall that served as the barrier for the hockey arena). I kind of tried to pick him up and then several staff guys came up and surprisingly gently carried him off. One of the guys looked back and said not worry we’ll take care of him. It was kind of strange. Usually those guys handle excessive partying roughly.
We did not have any clue what had transpired at the concert until I overheard some people at the car next to us in the parking lot mention something about eleven people up there … I couldn’t comprehend what they were talking about. I turned on the radio where the full realization of what happened hit us. We were in shock. My fiancé said that we need to call our parents. I stopped at a pay phone and called. Both parents heard the news of course well beforehand and while we were enjoying the Who, they were frantic. The emotions on the other side of phone were indescribable.
To the Keith Moon comment above. Keith Moon was already dead when this occurred so i really doubt that this event had anything to do with his so called spiral down!!Another juls and jim!!
I HAVE TO WONDER THE AFTERMATH OF THE CINCINATTI CONCERT INCIDENT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO KIETH MOONS ALCHOLHOLIC SPIRAL
I want to thank my wonderful Mother for not allowing me to attend that tragic concert. I was 13 and had just started going to concerts. Two months before I was in the front of the line to see Boston and I was literally carried by the crowd surging to get in. My prayers go out to the families of those lives that were lost that tragic night - 30 years ago.
and her husband didn't know that she was dead until after the concert
you can say what you want. they were still trampled to death. my cousin connie was one of them. she was the mother of two little childern.
Good article but I must correct a point: the 11 who died that evening did not die due to trampling, nor was there any stampede. The stark truth is that they were literally "squeezed" to death. The coroner ruled death due to "asphyxia by compression of the chest." To me, that paints a different picture, as stampede implies people were knowlingly trampling others underfoot in their quest to get into the coliseum. Not so. Most were not even aware that there was a serious situation forming. Very tragic.
This tragedy has has a wide-ranging impact on concert management in the past 30 years. Dealing with ticketing and seating has been radically changed in stadiums and parks and definitely for the better. I just saw a re-run of WKRP the other day where they acknowledged the incident.
Such a vivid account. Thanks for sharing this, sad as it is.
This was an unfortunate incident, Carol, and barely receives a footnote in the crazy world of rock news. When people think 'rock tragedy,' most think of Altamont and/or the deat of some rock star, like Hendrix, Morrison, or Joplin. This episode and the Great White fire should immediately come to mind instead. These were the tragedies. And the Cincinnati Who tragedy also still wins most tasteless t-shirt caption ever -- "I'd Walk Over You To See The Who." Remember those? Good reporting...