Pearl Jam mark 20th anniversary of Roskilde tragedy with poignant tribute to fans killed
Nine young fans lost their lives 20 years ago
Last updated 30th Jun 2020
Pearl Jam have released a powerful and poignant tribute to the fans who lost their lives during the band’s set at Roskilde Festival in Denmark exactly 20 years ago today.
The Seattle rock legends’ European tour ended in tragedy on 30th June 2000 when nine young men were killed, and dozens more fans were injured, in a crush during Pearl Jam’s set at Roskilde.
Penned by guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Stone Gossard, in their tribute to the deceased fans today (30th June 2020) Pearl Jam say that “nothing has been the same since” and they called the tragedy “our worst nightmare.”
“Every day our hearts continue to ache and our stomachs turn at the thoughts of those young men dying and of what might have been different, if only...but nothing changes,” Pearl Jam write.
“And our pain is a thousandth of that of the families.... the moms and dads, sisters and brothers, best friends...
“Our deepest condolences and apologies to the families who lost their boys that day.”
Alongside the statement on the band’s official website, Pearl Jam have shared a short video to social media featuring nine candles set to a black background alongside a live snippet of their 2002 song ‘Love Boat Captain’, which references the Roskilde tragedy.
In the clip, Eddie Vedder sings: "Lost nine friends I’m getting to know….every day. And if our lives became too long, would it add to our regret?”
Pearl Jam’s full Roskilde tribute:
It's been 20 years since that day.
A normal festival show day...show up 5 hours ahead. Wait for your slot.
I barely remember it...
Sunny, I think.
Lou Reed played, I think.
Then rain and wind.
But nothing has been the same since.
An unexpected moment intervened that forever changed all involved.
The 9 young men who were trampled. The lives of their families and loved ones who had to endure imagining their deaths over and over and the reality of never seeing them again. Every person at the festival who witnessed what was happening and tried to do something, maybe pulling someone up, or not being able to...
And those, like our band, who never realized anything was going on at all until it was too late...
All of us Forever waiting for the news to be different.
20 years later our band has 11 more kids, all of them precious, and another 20 years between us...
Our understanding of gravity and the loss felt by the parents of those boys has grown exponentially magnified as we imagine our own children dying in circumstances like Roskilde 2000.
It is unthinkable, yet there it is. Our worst nightmare.
Every day our hearts continue to ache and our stomachs turn at the thoughts of those young men dying and of what might have been different, if only...but nothing changes.
And our pain is a thousandth of that of the families.... the moms and dads, sisters and brothers, best friends...
Our deepest condolences and apologies to the families who lost their boys that day.
To the brothers and sisters, grandmas and grandpas and friends, all who lost their precious being...
Everyone failed to live up to what was needed in those hours before and in those days following the tragedy. The festival, the media, us included. We retreated and became angry after many reports implied PJ was responsible. Our words were nothing to help at that point. We hid and hoped that it wasn't our fault. We have been trying our best to unhide ever since.
We've met some of the families over the years. With some, we have forged strong friendships...sharing and supporting each other. Some we do not know.
Young men who loved PJ and wanted to get up close. That was the through-line of all those who passed that day. We hope we will never know what that loss feels like. We hope.
We are forever in the shadow of your pain and loss and we accept that shade and are forever grateful to share that sacred space. The space created by the absence of those 9 young men...
Pearl Jam released their eleventh studio album 'Gigaton' on 27th March. They were due to play London's Hyde Park this summer but the show was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.