The Worst Massacres in Live Concerts Ever: How to Stay Safe During a Live Concert

While most concert-goers have had the unfortunate experience of waiting in line for hours only to have the show they paid for be cancelled, or dealing with rowdy crowds and terrible weather, some have faced much worse. Unfortunately, concerts have been the target of the worst massacres in history.

For one, concerts are often packed with people, which makes them a primary target for terrorist attacks. And because concerts usually take place in large venues, like arenas or stadiums, it's not always easy to evacuate if something goes wrong.

Sadly, we’ve seen this play out time and time again.

This means it's important to be aware of your surroundings and have a plan in place in case something does happen. Here are some of the worst massacres in live concert history, as well as ways that you can keep yourself safe if you are attending or performing at a concert.

The Ariana Grande concert Manchester bombing in May 2017

Ask anyone who was there, and they'll tell you that the Manchester bombing was one of the worst massacres in live concert history. This was a terrorist attack that took place on May 22, 2017, at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. The bomber, Salman Abedi, detonated a homemade bomb filled with shrapnel as concert-goers were leaving the arena. The explosion killed 22 people and injured over 500.

Reports indicated that the bomber had planned to detonate his device at an earlier Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, but was deterred by security measures.

In the aftermath of the attack, Manchester came together in a show of solidarity and defiance. Not only did thousands of people come out to attend a benefit concert for the victims, but Ariana Grande returned to Manchester just two weeks later to perform again.

The concert featured performances from Grande, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Liam Gallagher, Coldplay, Take That, and more. All proceeds from the concert went to the victims and families affected by the incident.

The Eagles of Death Metal show shooting in Paris, November 2015

On November 13, 2015, a group of armed gunmen stormed the Bataclan concert hall in Paris during a show by the American rock band Eagles of Death Metal. The attackers opened fire on the crowd, killing ninety people and injuring hundreds of others. Apparently, the incident was just one part of a coordinated terrorist attack that claimed the lives of a total of 130 people and injured over 350.

The attackers, armed with assault rifles and suicide belts, took hostages before eventually being killed by police. Those who were able to escape the Bataclan did so by climbing out of windows and hiding behind cars.

In the aftermath of the attack, the Eagles of Death Metal returned to Paris to perform again, and were joined on stage by Bono and the Edge from U2. The show was quite emotional, with frontman Jesse Hughes giving a speech in which he thanked the people of Paris for their support.

The shooting at a Jason Aldean concert: Las Vegas, October 2017

Another recent mass shooting in America took place in Las Vegas on October 1st, 2017, when a lone gunman opened fire on a crowd of 22,000 people attending a Jason Aldean concert from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel. This attack killed 60 people and injured over 400, making it among the worst ever mass shootings in American history. As fate would have it, Aldean was performing the song "When She Says Baby" when the shooting started.

According to witnesses, the gunman, Stephen Paddock, shot at the crowd for about ten minutes before he was found dead in his hotel room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It is still unclear what motive the gunman had for the attack. What followed in the wake of the shooting was an outpouring of support from the country music community and beyond.

Pearl Jam's Roskilde Show in Denmark on June 30, 2000

On June 30th, 2000, Pearl Jam was scheduled to spearhead the Roskilde Festival in Denmark. It was shaping up, and was promising to be a great show - but the weather had other plans. Rain and mud had turned the festival grounds into a quagmire, and by the time Pearl Jam took the stage, the crowd was rowdy and impatient.

As the band started playing, people began moshing and crowd-surfing, and soon the crowd was surging forward. Reportedly, 70,000 people were packed into an area meant for 50,000, and security was struggling to keep up.

Tragically, nine people died in the ensuing stampede, while dozens more sustained injured. Although unaware of the situation until an hour had almost lapsed, Pearl Jam noticed mixed expressions in the crowd and stopped playing. Eddie Vedder made an announcement, telling concertgoers "there's been a disaster", and the show was cancelled.

The band was devastated by the incident, and it took them years to come to terms with what had happened. In an interview, Vedder said "It changed me forever... I don't think a day goes by that I don't think about it."

The 2010 Love Parade in Duisburg, Germany

The Love Parade was a massive annual electronic music festival that began in 1989 in West Berlin. In 2010, the event was held in the city of Duisburg, Germany, and was expected to attract around one million people. Artists scheduled to perform included David Guetta, Tiësto, and Fatboy Slim.

However, things went horribly wrong.

The event was plagued by problems from the start, with overcrowding and poor organization leading to dangerous conditions.

As the day went on, the situation deteriorated further, and by the early evening, the festival was in complete chaos. Reportedly, panic-stricken concertgoers were trampling each other in an attempt to get out, and people got trapped in a narrow tunnel.

As a result, 21 people lost their lives and more than 500 sustained injuries. It was later determined that the organizers had underestimated the size of the crowd, and had failed to adequately plan for safety. That was the last Love Parade - the event was cancelled permanently after the tragedy.

West Warwick, Rhode Island: The Station nightclub fire, on February 20, 2003

The Station nightclub in Rhode Island went ablaze on 20th February 2003, killing a hundred people and leaving over 200. It started when pyrotechnics used by the Great White band ignited acoustic insulation foam covering the club's ceiling and walls. Just shortly after the show had started, the club became engulfed in flames.

The highly flammable foam spread the fire quickly, and the resulting thick smoke made it even more difficult for patrons to find exits. To make it worse, the club was already over capacity when the band started their set, and things quickly got out of hand. It is considered to be one of the worst & deadliest nightclub fires in U.S. history.

After the tragedy, the band's tour manager and the club's owners were both charged with involuntary manslaughter. The band's guitarist, Ty Longley, was among those killed in the fire.

Indiana State Fair stage collapse, Indianapolis, on August 13, 2011

On August 13th in 2011, the Fair stage in Indiana State collapsed as a result of high winds, killing 7 people and injuring 50 more. The stage was set up for a performance by the country duo Sugarland, and although they were not scheduled to go on for another hour, the crowd was already starting to gather.

As the wind picked up, officials became concerned about the stage's stability, and asked the crowd to move away. However, the stage collapsed before everyone could be evacuated.

Sugarland was devastated by the incident, and released a statement saying "We are all right. We are praying for our fans, and the people of Indianapolis."

Pukkelpop music festival, Hasselt, Belgium on August 18, 2011

On August 18, 2011, the Pukkelpop music festival in Belgium was hit by a severe storm. The wind and rain caused several stage structures to collapse, killing 5 people and leaving multiple casualties. Smith Westerns was performing on one of the stages that collapsed.

The resulting report found that the stage structures had not been properly anchored, and that the festival's organizers had failed to adequately monitor the weather conditions. As a result of the incident, the Pukkelpop festival was permanently cancelled. However, the festival's legacy lives on through its many dedicated fans.

K-pop concert, Seongnam, South Korea on October 17, 2014

On October 17, 2014, a ventilation grate collapsed during a K-pop concert in Seongnam, South Korea, killing 16 people. The incident occurred when hundreds of concertgoers were trying to get a better view of the stage. Reportedly, the weight of the crowd caused the grate to give way, and many people fell 20 meters into the opening.

The collapse was caught on camera, and the footage quickly went viral. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the concert's organizers were criticized for their lack of safety precautions.

Pulse nightclub shooting, Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016

A gunman went on a shooting spree at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on 12th June 2016, leaving forty-nine people dead and fifty-three injured. This makes it another one of the deadliest massacres in live concert history.

The gunman, Omar Mateen, who was later killed by police, was a 29-year-old American-born man of Afghan descent. Mateen had reportedly been radicalized by Islamic extremism and had previously voiced support for the Islamic State terrorist group.

In the wake of the shooting, many people rallied to show their support for the LGBT community. Candlelight vigils were held around the world, and rainbow flags were flown at half-staff as a sign of solidarity. The Pulse nightclub shooting was a tragedy that shook the nation and reminded us of the importance of tolerance and love.

Romanian nightclub fire, Bucharest, on October 30, 2015

On October 30, 2015, a raging inferno broke out at a nightclub in Bucharest, Romania. The blaze claimed the lives of three members of the band Goodbye to Gravity: bassist Alexandru Bugiug and guitarists Mihai Alexandru and Vlad Țelea. According to eyewitnesses, the fire began when one of the band's pyrotechnic devices malfunctioned and ignited some of the club's decorations. The resulting inferno spread quickly through the crowded venue, trapping many people inside. In all, 64 people were killed and over 150 others were injured. The Bucharest nightclub fire was one of the deadliest nightclub fires in recent history, and its tragic effects are still felt by those who lost loved ones that night.

Mirror Concert in Hong Kong in July 2022

This is the latest entry on our sorrowful list.

While the Cantonpop boy band Mirror was performing at the Hong Kong Coliseum, a video panel fell off of the top of the venue, hitting two backup dancers. One of them only sustained minor injuries. However, alas, the other dancer had to be taken to intensive care. Thankfully, none of the group members, nor any of the 10,000 people in attendance got hurt. Still, all remaining 8 shows that Mirror still had on their tour schedule in Hong Kong were cancelled.

How to stay safe during a live concert:

Although live concerts can be a lot of fun, it's important to stay safe while enjoying the show. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe during a live concert:

• Arrive early: This will help you to avoid being caught in large crowds and will give you time to find your seats before the show starts.
• Do not bring large bags or backpacks to the concert: this will only make it difficult to move around and could block your view.
• Make sure you are aware of your surroundings at all times: be aware of who is around you and what they are doing.
• Keep an eye on your belongings: if possible, leave valuables at home and keep your belongings close to you at all times.
• Be aware of your exit route: in case of an emergency, know where the nearest exit is and how to get there quickly.
• Leave any unnecessary items at home to ensure you are as comfortable as possible.
• If something seems off, leave the area immediately.

In conclusion, it's important to be aware of the potential dangers at live concerts. Although most concerts are safe, there have been several tragic incidents in the past. By being aware of all the perils and taking safety measures, you can help ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable time at any live concert.