A roof collapse during a Morbid Angel concert in Belvidere, Illinois killed one person and seriously injured dozens more.
Storms ripped through the area while the heavy metal show was taking place, causing the roof to fall on concertgoers. Morbid Angel canceled their Saturday night appearance in Joliet. “On behalf of Morbid Angel, we want to first and foremost send our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the individual who tragically lost their lives last night in the venue roof collapse due to heavy winds from a tornado,” the statement begins.
“We lost a brother in metal last night, and many were hurt and injured in this tragedy. We would like to express how truly thankful we are for those in attendance that assisted with getting people out and to safety. As a result of the events of last night, we are working to re-scheduling tonight’s show in Joliet, IL, to April 5. With that said, our focus remains with the victims of this terrible storm.”
The collapse happened roughly thirty minutes into the set at the century-old Apollo Theatre. Only 260 people were inside the venue at the time of the roof’s collapse. You can see a video of the aftermath of the collapse and concertgoers working to remove rubble and help people from underneath the collapsed roof.
The storm hit the theater just as the death metal band Crypta finished their set. All of the artists in the band were marked safe, though the band’s touring RV suffered severe damage during the storm. One person died and at least five more were rushed to hospitals to treat their injuries. 18 others sustained moderate injuries, according to the Fire Chief. The storm kicked up just 75 miles north of Chicago and battered the town with winds of up to 90 mph at times.
“It’s just horrific what’s happened. Apollo Theatre is one of the heritage places around here, and this damage is just heartbreaking,” said Illinois State Rep. Dave Vella.