Radiohead Share New Statement on Drum Tech’s Death in 2012 Stage Collapse

Late yesterday, CBC reported that there will be an inquest into the death of Radiohead’s drum technician Scott Johnson. The stage at Downsview Park in Ontario gave way before Radiohead was due to perform in 2012, killing Johnson and injuring three others, but no one has since taken responsibility for the collapse—Scott’s parents, Ken and Sue Johnson, aren’t satisfied, even though a year later Live Nation (the event’s promoter), Optex Staging And Services, and an engineer were charged with 13 different offenses. That case stalled in court and the charges were stayed in 2016, due to the extended length of time since the incident had occurred.

Radiohead had been in contact with officials in Ontario for some time, pressuring authorities for closure. This morning, they issued a statement about the investigation via social media:

Five years on from the Downsview Park Stage Collapse, we have learned that an inquest into Scott’s [sic] Johnson’s death will be formally announced later today. While this is welcomed, it does not bring those responsible for Scott’s death to account, and it provides no justice for Scott and his family. We urge the Canadian authorities to look more closely into their treatment of the Downsview Stage Collapse and indeed all workplace deaths to ensure that accidents such as this can be prevented in the future.

The inquest, a “long-awaited move” according to CBC, will be formally announced Thursday.