Remembering Roskilde

[injuddstree]

https://pearljam.com/news/roskilde

Beautiful words from Stone.

I was 17 and just really getting in to the band, on the back of Live On Two Legs, which changed my life. I remember seeing news reports of it, and the initial reports definitely blamed/implicated the band in causing the crush. This is all pre-social media and still minimal internet coverage, so I was itching for more information because I knew that PJ had mellowed as a live act since the early days and would not have incited it. I remember wanting to defend the band more than feel for the victims, and was disappointed as it meant they didn't tour Australia in 2001 as planned, which I'm embarrassed to admit, but it was probably my teenage naivete.

Simply a tragedy that could have been avoided. I hope the families have some comfort these days, however they may find it.

What do you remember?

[Anders]

Roskilde

It's been 20 years since that day.
A normal festival show day...show up 5 hours ahead. Wait for your slot.
I barely remember it...
Sunny, I think.
Lou Reed played, I think.
Then rain and wind.

But nothing has been the same since.


An unexpected moment intervened that forever changed all involved.

The 9 young men who were trampled. The lives of their families and loved ones who had to endure imagining their deaths over and over and the reality of never seeing them again. Every person at the festival who witnessed what was happening and tried to do something, maybe pulling someone up, or not being able to...

And those, like our band, who never realized anything was going on at all until it was too late...

All of us Forever waiting for the news to be different.



20 years later our band has 11 more kids, all of them precious, and another 20 years between us...

Our understanding of gravity and the loss felt by the parents of those boys has grown exponentially magnified as we imagine our own children dying in circumstances like Roskilde 2000.

It is unthinkable, yet there it is. Our worst nightmare.


Every day our hearts continue to ache and our stomachs turn at the thoughts of those young men dying and of what might have been different, if only...but nothing changes.



And our pain is a thousandth of that of the families.... the moms and dads, sisters and brothers, best friends...

Our deepest condolences and apologies to the families who lost their boys that day.

To the brothers and sisters, grandmas and grandpas and friends, all who lost their precious being...
Everyone failed to live up to what was needed in those hours before and in those days following the tragedy. The festival, the media, us included. We retreated and became angry after many reports implied PJ was responsible. Our words were nothing to help at that point. We hid and hoped that it wasn't our fault. We have been trying our best to unhide ever since.

We've met some of the families over the years. With some, we have forged strong friendships...sharing and supporting each other. Some we do not know.

Young men who loved PJ and wanted to get up close. That was the through-line of all those who passed that day. We hope we will never know what that loss feels like. We hope.

We are forever in the shadow of your pain and loss and we accept that shade and are forever grateful to share that sacred space. The space created by the absence of those 9 young men...

Statement on behalf of Pearl Jam, authored by Stone Gossard.

[Anders]

Pearl Jam became my favorite band around 1993. surpassing Guns N'Roses, Metallica and other artists. Seeing them live was near the top of my list of dreams from then on. In 2000 it was finally going to happen. It was going to be my third Roskilde, and I had loved both times I had been there in the past. Somewhere beetween 90.000 and 120.000 attending the various years. All friendly. No fighting. Girls everywhere. Great music.

The day arrived. My friend and I were there hours in advance. I saw Ed at the side of the stage when the band before them played. I waved, and he waved back. I was standing next to a girl, that had started talking to us. She was going to another concert instead of waiting, and would stand at the back for Pearl Jam. However, she wanted to meet me the next day. I remember being really elated. How wonderful life can be.

Having arrived early, we were nearly at the front. Just before the show, the pressure was starting to get a little intense, more than I was used to, even at the really big concerts at the main stage. Then the band arrived. While it delighted me that Pearl Jam was on stage, and were playing some of my favorite songs, it soon became difficult to enjoy the music, as the pressure of the crowd was intensifying. I communicated with my friend, that we should move further away from the stage. For the next 15-20 minutes we struggled our way backwards, hoping for a slow song, hoping for a release of pressure.

Finally the music stopped. Not knowing anything, to finally realizing what had happened, was horrific. The night seemed endlessly dark and cold. Walking back to our tents, eventually trying to fall asleep. We were awoken the next morning by some German muscle dudes joyously shouting "I'm still alive". It was not charming.

We left the same day, and life would never be quite the same again.

RIP to the nine that died, my thoughts are truly with their families and loved ones.

[WtOB?]

where’s mirella?

[Angus]

where’s mirella?

She's very well.

Groetjes,
Angus

P.S. I was at Werchter for my very first festival, going to see Pearl Jam on Sunday for the first time. Couldn't wait. Turned out different. We hardly knew what happened as this was way before social media, we just knew Pearl Jam cancelled as something happened in Denmark. I'm grateful that I was born in Belgium and have been able to see them so many times afterwards. It pains me 9 friends never got that chance again.

[McParadigm]

Pearl Jam became my favorite band around 1993. surpassing Guns N'Roses, Metallica and other artists. Seeing them live was near the top of my list of dreams from then on. In 2000 it was finally going to happen. It was going to be my third Roskilde, and I had loved both times I had been there in the past. Somewhere beetween 90.000 and 120.000 attending the various years. All friendly. No fightning. Girls everywhere. Great music.

The day arrived. My friend and I were there hours in advance. I saw Ed at the side of the stage when the band before them played. I waved, and he waved back. I was standing next to a girl, that had started talking to us, she was going to another concert in between, and would stand at the back for Pearl Jam, but wanted to meet me the next day. I remember being really elated. How wonderful life can be.

Having arrived so early, we were nearly at the front. Just before the show, the pressure was starting to get a little intense, more than I was used to, even at the really big concerts at the main stage. While delighted that the band was on stage, and playing some of my favorite songs, it was difficult to enjoy the music, as we could really feel the pressure of the crowd. I communicated with my friend, that we should move further away from the stage. For the next 15-20 minutes we struggled our way backwards, hoping for a slow song, hoping for a release of pressure.

Finally the music stopped. Not knowing anything, to finally realizing what had happened, was horrific. The night seemed endlessly dark and cold. Walking back to our tents, eventually trying to fall asleep. We were awoken the next morning by some German muscle dudes joyously shouting "I'm still alive". It was not charming.

We left the same day, and life would never be quite the same again.

RIP to the nine that died, my thoughts are truly with their families and loved ones.

Wow

[Strat]

Pearl Jam became my favorite band around 1993. surpassing Guns N'Roses, Metallica and other artists. Seeing them live was near the top of my list of dreams from then on. In 2000 it was finally going to happen. It was going to be my third Roskilde, and I had loved both times I had been there in the past. Somewhere beetween 90.000 and 120.000 attending the various years. All friendly. No fighting. Girls everywhere. Great music.

The day arrived. My friend and I were there hours in advance. I saw Ed at the side of the stage when the band before them played. I waved, and he waved back. I was standing next to a girl, that had started talking to us, she was going to another concert in between, and would stand at the back for Pearl Jam, but wanted to meet me the next day. I remember being really elated. How wonderful life can be.

Having arrived so early, we were nearly at the front. Just before the show, the pressure was starting to get a little intense, more than I was used to, even at the really big concerts at the main stage. While delighted that the band was on stage, and playing some of my favorite songs, it was difficult to enjoy the music, as we could really feel the pressure of the crowd. I communicated with my friend, that we should move further away from the stage. For the next 15-20 minutes we struggled our way backwards, hoping for a slow song, hoping for a release of pressure.

Finally the music stopped. Not knowing anything, to finally realizing what had happened, was horrific. The night seemed endlessly dark and cold. Walking back to our tents, eventually trying to fall asleep. We were awoken the next morning by some German muscle dudes joyously shouting "I'm still alive". It was not charming.

We left the same day, and life would never be quite the same again.

RIP to the nine that died, my thoughts are truly with their families and loved ones.

aw man.

Hugs

[blueviper]

Pearl Jam became my favorite band around 1993. surpassing Guns N'Roses, Metallica and other artists. Seeing them live was near the top of my list of dreams from then on. In 2000 it was finally going to happen. It was going to be my third Roskilde, and I had loved both times I had been there in the past. Somewhere beetween 90.000 and 120.000 attending the various years. All friendly. No fighting. Girls everywhere. Great music.

The day arrived. My friend and I were there hours in advance. I saw Ed at the side of the stage when the band before them played. I waved, and he waved back. I was standing next to a girl, that had started talking to us. She was going to another concert instead of waiting, and would stand at the back for Pearl Jam. However, she wanted to meet me the next day. I remember being really elated. How wonderful life can be.

Having arrived early, we were nearly at the front. Just before the show, the pressure was starting to get a little intense, more than I was used to, even at the really big concerts at the main stage. Then the band arrived. While it delighted me that Pearl Jam was on stage, and were playing some of my favorite songs, it soon became difficult to enjoy the music, as the pressure of the crowd was intensifying. I communicated with my friend, that we should move further away from the stage. For the next 15-20 minutes we struggled our way backwards, hoping for a slow song, hoping for a release of pressure.

Finally the music stopped. Not knowing anything, to finally realizing what had happened, was horrific. The night seemed endlessly dark and cold. Walking back to our tents, eventually trying to fall asleep. We were awoken the next morning by some German muscle dudes joyously shouting "I'm still alive". It was not charming.

We left the same day, and life would never be quite the same again.

RIP to the nine that died, my thoughts are truly with their families and loved ones.

Man, I'm glad you and your friend were ok, even though the memory of that time is sad.

[Monkey_Driven]

Thanks for sharing Anders.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[oneway23]

Very much appreciated, Anders, thank you...My thoughts to all who are continuing to grapple with the events as they unfolded that day.

[Anders]

Thanks for sharing Anders.

Thank you all.

[Biff Pocoroba]

Thank you Anders.
Wow, 20 years already. I remember hearing about on the next morning's news.

[knee tunes]

Pearl Jam became my favorite band around 1993. surpassing Guns N'Roses, Metallica and other artists. Seeing them live was near the top of my list of dreams from then on. In 2000 it was finally going to happen. It was going to be my third Roskilde, and I had loved both times I had been there in the past. Somewhere beetween 90.000 and 120.000 attending the various years. All friendly. No fightning. Girls everywhere. Great music.

The day arrived. My friend and I were there hours in advance. I saw Ed at the side of the stage when the band before them played. I waved, and he waved back. I was standing next to a girl, that had started talking to us, she was going to another concert in between, and would stand at the back for Pearl Jam, but wanted to meet me the next day. I remember being really elated. How wonderful life can be.

Having arrived so early, we were nearly at the front. Just before the show, the pressure was starting to get a little intense, more than I was used to, even at the really big concerts at the main stage. While delighted that the band was on stage, and playing some of my favorite songs, it was difficult to enjoy the music, as we could really feel the pressure of the crowd. I communicated with my friend, that we should move further away from the stage. For the next 15-20 minutes we struggled our way backwards, hoping for a slow song, hoping for a release of pressure.

Finally the music stopped. Not knowing anything, to finally realizing what had happened, was horrific. The night seemed endlessly dark and cold. Walking back to our tents, eventually trying to fall asleep. We were awoken the next morning by some German muscle dudes joyously shouting "I'm still alive". It was not charming.

We left the same day, and life would never be quite the same again.

RIP to the nine that died, my thoughts are truly with their families and loved ones.

Wow

Wow is right. I had no idea

[dimejinky99]

Anders.

I wasn’t there but I almost had been. So many great friends who were are still traumatised.
We go see pearl jam for the celebration of life love and hope. It’s still upends me this happened.

I’ll never forget them. I think it’s important none of us do.

[96583UP]

Everyone failed to live up to what was needed in those hours before and in those days following the tragedy. The festival, the media, us included. We retreated and became angry after many reports implied PJ was responsible. Our words were nothing to help at that point. We hid and hoped that it wasn't our fault. We have been trying our best to unhide ever since.

wow.

[LetMeSleep]

I'm so sorry to hear your story Anders but so glad that you were okay.

That was a great response for the 20th anniversary.

RIP.

[Bammer]

Beautifully written by Stone, as well as Anders. Sounds like it was lucky not to have been more than 9 people.

[Anders]

I'm no expert on it, but I do believe several more were in danger, and had they played a few more songs, more would have perished. Several were on the ground, and it was nearly impossible for them to get up.

I finally went back to Roskilde for one last festival in 2007. There were several precautions in place then, like intermittent safe standing rails. Saw Pearl Jam play Copenhagen that same summer. Some family of the victims were there, and it was an emotional concert.

[wease]

Damn Anders. Sorry you had to go thru that.