Ongoing History Daily: The deadly electrocution that changed live music
At one time, singing into a mic could be very hazardous to your health. It might even kill you.
Les Harvey was a guitarist managed by Peter Grant, the same guy who took care of Led Zeppelin. Fronting a band called Stone the Crows, Grant put Harvey on the road in 1972. At one of the first gigs, Harvey grabbed the microphone. Unfortunately, it hadn’t been grounded properly and he was electrocuted right in front of the audience. He was pronounced dead minutes later.
Something good came out of this, though. Back in those early days, there weren’t a lot of standards and precautions when it came to sound systems. But after Harvey died, PA companies and soundmen got more serious about inspecting cables and the electrical power supplies used for live gigs. Les Harvey’s death actually made things safer for the millions of musicians who have come after.
