Charts You Hear it First at Music. MTV News previously reported that eight men were suffocated and trampled to death in front of the main stage during a performance by Pearl Jam at the concert outside Copenhagen on Friday, June 30. Scored of others were injured. Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder beseeched the crowd to move away from the stage, but apparently to no avail. The band was performing for nearly 50,000 fans at the time of the incident.
Roskilde police deny reports that rain and muddy conditions led to the tragedy.
Performances on the main stage were halted following the incident Friday night, but continued on six other stages. The Cure were scheduled to play the main stage after Pearl Jam, but cancelled their set out of respect for the dead. Protestant Bishop of Roskilde, Jan Lindhardt, led a prayer and commemorative moment of silence on the main stage Saturday as the festival continued with additional security. Oasis and the Pet Shop Boys canceled their sets, slated for Saturday, citing respect for the dead and concern over security. Live also cancelled its Sunday set out of respect for the dead.