From Their Side of the Stage Collapse

The Associated Press reports that Sugarland was preparing to walk onstage Saturday night at the Indiana State Fair, before tour manager Hellen Rollens told them to wait a bit longer. A minute later, the stage and light rigging came crashing down.

“There was no running out anywhere,” band manager Gail Gellman told the Associated Press on Monday. “No one knew what happened. It was just the moment when your eyes get big.” Gellman was in Las Vegas at the time of the storm, but was able to share details of the story after speaking with the band and crew. “Everybody was standing in a prayer circle getting ready to go onstage, and Hellen, as she was walking down the ramp, the stage fell. So her decision to hold them for literally a minute saved every band member and crew’s life.”

As they heard and felt the stage toppling over, the band and crew hit the ground or took cover against a wall. Then everyone made their way to the tour bus. In a statement, Jennifer Nettles said that she was moved by the heroism shown by fans who rushed to help after things had settled.

A memorial service was held yesterday for the five people who lost their lives in the collapse. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels praised the “Hoosier” spirit of fans that pitched in to help the rescue efforts, saying that there was “a hero every 10 feet on Saturday night.” The Indiana Occupational Health and Safety Administration and state fire marshal’s office are investigating the incident which, according to fair officials could take months.

Sugarland plans a public memorial for the victims after the families have had their private time. The band will begin to heal with their first live performance following the horrific crash on Thursday in Albuquerque.

In other concert news, Merle Haggard was forced to cancel a performance at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth over the weekend. According to the Associated Press, Merle went to a North Texas hospital Saturday for some tests, and didn’t leave the facility until Sunday. He’s now on his bus going back home to Redding, California, where he’ll be checked by his own doctors. The illness results in the postponment of his show that would have taken place in Ruidoso on Sunday.