The Song Is Over

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Jacqueline Eckerle and Karen Morrison would be 55. I'm 59. That is SOBERING. Forty years ago today, on December 3, 1979, The Who had a sold-out show at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati. The 12,000 inside had no clue what had happened outside. Eleven people died. Asphyxiated. Crushed in a mad run for the doors, which opened nearly a half an hour late. Of course, everyone wanted to blame someone. Eleven people, ranging in ages from 15 to 27, didn't leave home that afternoon with the intent to become martyrs for rock and roll. Within three weeks, general admission or "festival" seating was banned in the city of Cincinnati. Many other cities followed suit for their large venues. The Who tragedy had a profound impact on me. Even when I took a musician friend on a tour of music sites in Cincinnati before he played in nearby Newport, Kentucky, I pointed out the arena where it happened. And, of course, given how many concerts I attend(ed), it's something that's always in the back of my mind. Granted, you're not likely to see a stampede of fans rushing into a Webb Wilder concert (you'd be lucky to find eleven people at a Webb show in some places!), but the thought of a fun night out turning tragic has always cast a shadow, however slight, on concerts since that night. It wasn't the first tragedy at a concert (the Rhythm Club fire in Mississippi killed over 200 in 1940, including the band) or a performance (the worst building fire in American history was Chicago's Iroquois Theater in 1903, killing 600). It wasn't the last (from fire to weather to other stampedes). It was the one that left the most memories. IN MEMORIAM: Walter Adams, Jr., 22, Trotwood, OH Peter Bowes, 18, Wyoming, OH Connie Sue Burns, 21, Miamisburg, OH Jacqueline Eckerle, 15, Finneytown, OH David Heck, 19, Highland Heights, KY Teva Rae Ladd, 27, Newtown, OH Karen Morrison, 15, Finneytown, OH Stephan Preston, 19, Finneytown, OH Philip Snyder, 20, Franklin, OH Bryan Wagner, 17, Fort Thomas, KY James Warmoth, 21, Franklin, OH Died December 3, 1979 The Who: