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Aerosmith
Fall from Buffalo Chip stage sends Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler to the hospital
By Jessica Kokesh, Journal staff | Thursday, August 06, 2009
STURGIS — Tens of thousands of leather-clad music fans packed the field in front of the Buffalo Chip Campground main stage to see classic rock icons Aerosmith late Wednesday night but were instead treated to an abbreviated show after lead singer Steven Tyler fell off the stage during the set.
Tyler fell off the stage in the middle of "Love in an Elevator" about 11:50 p.m. and was helped backstage after the fall, where word came that he was being flown to an area hospital after being evaluated backstage by medical personnel.
Tyler was airlifted to Rapid City Regional Hospital and was attended on site by Dr. Jeff Anderson, an emergency room physician. Anderson said Tyler’s injuries were not life threatening.
“He sustained minor injuries to the head and neck as well as a shoulder injury. He was in good spirits. His vitals were stable,” Anderson said in a news release from the Buffalo Chip.
Anderson also said the response by Buffalo Chip EMTs and local EMS was rapid and exemplary.
Ed Aurand, a security supervisor at the campground, witnessed the accident from inside a crowd barricade. Aurand said Tyler, while entertaining the crowd, accidentally stepped backward off the stage thrust, a runway perpendicular to the existing stage that allows an entertainer to get closer to the audience.
This was the first time Aerosmith had performed in Sturgis.
Jennifer Horton, the hospital's vice president of public relations and marketing, told the AP early Thursday that Tyler wasn't in the hospital directory. Under the privacy laws, that means the person is either not there or chose not to be included in the directory, according to the hospital's Web site.
Fans who had traveled from across the country to see the band perform were stunned and disappointed in the all-too-brief concert and turn of events.
Lance Yellow Robe from Rapid City was eight feet from the stage when Tyler fell off and said he was "stunned" by the event.
"I've never seen that happen before," he said. "But you could kind of see it coming because he was dancing all over the stage."
Yellow Robe said Tyler was trying to keep the crowd going after the sound system failed in the middle of "Elevator" by dancing around on the catwalk portion of the stage. Tyler spun, teetered backward and fell back-first off the stage. The band continued to play as security rushed to help him, and the crowd cheered when Tyler got back up.
He was quickly escorted backstage, and the concert was put on hold as his condition was assessed. About 12:15 a.m., guitarist Joe Perry came out to tell the crowd that his "brother-in-arms" was being taken to the hospital and that the concert would not go on.
"I couldn't believe it," Mary Jensen of Sisseton said. "I hope he's not hurt."
Her husband, Dennis, said he was frustrated by the fact that there was no "plan B" in case something went wrong during the performance.
"I'm really disappointed," Dennis said. "The concert was going great up until then. They're one of the best bands around."
Todd Bushie from New Underwood has been a fan of Aerosmith for 33 years, and this was the first time he was able to see them perform. He said the band played the first song he'd ever heard from them as their opening number, and he felt just like he was back in the "little kid zone" again.
He said he was disappointed by the concert's quick end, especially after paying $240 for two tickets altogether, but had enjoyed it up until then.
Although many fans were frustrated by the concert's end, there was an outpouring of support for Tyler.
"I hope he's OK," Yellow Robe said. "I could care less about the concert being canceled."
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MONDAY MONDAY------CAN'T TRUST THAT DAY
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