Cheap Trick Demand Answers For Ottawa Stage Collapse

8/1/2011 2:17 PM ET

(RTTNews) - Cheap Trick is demanding answers as to why a stage collapsed following strong winds during the band's July 17 performance at the Ottawa Bluesfest.

The band wants answers, not for themselves, though they claim to have 'narrowly averted death,' but answers to make sure this doesn't happen again.
"We simply want to know: what are the companies and organizers doing to protect the next act and the next audience?" said Cheap Trick manager Dave Frey. "Every act and every fan ought to be asking the same question when attending an outside musical event."
The band also wants to know why their stage collapsed, but others remained intact.
"Was it a design flaw?" Frey asked. "Was it an implementation mistake? These are important questions that must be answered."
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has launched an investigation into the incident and Cheap Trick is actively involved, though it could be months before any answers become available, according to event promoter Mark Monahan.