Rockbites: Roskilde festival releases extensive statement on security

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Roskilde festival releases extensive statement on security
15 November 2000

Denmark’s annual Roskilde charity/benefit festival, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2001, today released an extensive statement on this summer’s tragic accident in which nine persons were killed by trampling at the Orange stage during a Pearl Jam concert. Check our link for the complete text.
    Roskilde police are still investigating the tragedy and have released no report since their initial and controversial conclusions in July, in which they said that no one is to blame. Responding in part to pressure from Pearl Jam, who were interviewed by the police more than once, they’ve continued their investigation.
    Roskilde organizers have been working with security experts, police, and the Danish government to create a plan for the 2001 festival that maximizes safety while still promoting the “music, atmosphere, joy...” that they list as the reasons for the event’s existence. Almost entirely staffed by a volunteer army of 18,000 drawn from the local community, the festival donates its proceeds to Foreningen Roskildefonden (The Roskilde Charity Society), which distributes the funds to a variety of Danish charities.
    Organizers write

The festival will not come to a standstill, suffer a blackout, turn to concrete. The festival shall not just make little adjustments, forget, or pretend there are no issues to be dealt with. The festival shall develop its role as one of Europe's significant cultural, musical, free, caring, environmentally sound, loving, and responsible points of interaction for people and opinions, for music, for tolerance, for much good between people. That is the best way for us to move on - the best way to respect the deceased and their relatives.
Next year’s festival takes place 28 June - 1 July. Advance tickets go on sale 1 December, delayed to allow organizers to 'clarify the practical elements' of the event. Among many other changes, the 2001 festival will be limited to 70,000 attendees, down from 90,000 a few years back—but staff and security personnel will not be decreased. | Roskilde Festival | | Roskilde newsletter/statement | | Orange stage layout | | Pearl Jam | | top of page |

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