Radiohead is heading back to court in Toronto and they couldn’t be happier.
At around 4 in the afternoon on June 16, 2012, there was a rumble and a crack in the scaffolding of the stage set up for Radiohead’s gig at Downsview Park in Toronto. A split-second later, tons of metal, glass and equipment rained down, instantly killing long-time drum tech Scott Johnson.
No one has ever been held accountable. A series of legal boondoggles and court technicalities have left the case unresolved. In 2016, the stage company, the promoter and the engineer in charge of the build all had their charges stayed–and there were a total of ten charges–because it took so long for everything to come to trial.
It was a complete cock-up on the part of the Ontario justice system. Scott’s family and the Radiohead organization (which is like another family) have yet to receive any kind of closure.
That, however, could finally change–or at least begin to change.
A coroner’s inquest is finally set to begin on March 25. Over three weeks, all aspects of the accident will be examined and recommendations will be issued. This, however, is not a trial and any recommendations that come out of the inquest will be non-binding.
Still, it’s something.