Veteran British new wavers Squeeze cancelled their planned Thursday night (Sept. 3) show at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va. after a man working on site was killed in a tragic incident before the show. In a statement on their Story on Friday morning (Sept. 4), the group led by co-founders singer Glenn Tilbrook and guitarist/singer Chris Difford, wrote: “Squeeze are deeply saddened and shocked by an incident that occurred at the venue earlier today, which resulted in the loss of a life.”
The statement added, “after discussions with the venue and the relevant authorities, the decision was made to cancel this evening’s performance.” The band said they will work with the promoter and venue to discuss rescheduling the gig and promised to be in touch with ticketholders soon about options.
“Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this tragic event,” they said, later noting that Friday night’s show at the Rose Music Center at the Heights near Dayton, Ohio will go on as planned.
Police told Fox 5 that the unnamed worker was crushed to death by a tour bus he was working on in the parking lot when a supporting apparatus failed and the bus collapsed on top of him; the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Squeeze are in the middle of their North American Tried, Tested and Trixies tour featuring guests Adam Ant and Haircut 100, which is slated to run through a Sept. 27 gig in Detroit. The band released its 16th album, Trixies, in March, a collection of songs originally written by Difford and Tilbrook in 1974 when they were teenagers.