Fatalities and critical injuries at Asake concert crush at the Brixton Academy

[Gramsci]

I almost don't want to bring this thread back up, given the tangential argument, but the license suspension has now been extended by three months

Brixton concert crush venue to remain closed for three months - BBC News

The O2 will stay shut for three more months after two people died during an Asake gig in December.

www.bbc.co.uk

Actually it hasn't. The decision will be on Monday. So no it has not been extended yet.

The authority's licensing sub-committee is due to meet on Monday to decide on the future of the venue.
It is understood the council was likely to extend the licence suspension for a further three months.

 

[edcraw]

.....academy starting to look more like a development opportunity then.

Think this is very unlikely. Can’t think of any similar venues where that’s happened.

 

[nick]

Although remember several years ago it was almost converted (puntastic) into a Brazilian Mega church.
So there is always that "opportunity" as I guess it would have different licencing requirements

 

[Rushy]

Although remember several years ago it was almost converted (puntastic) into a Brazilian Mega church.

This would appear to have passed me by ...

 

[CH1]

Although remember several years ago it was almost converted (puntastic) into a Brazilian Mega church.
So there is always that "opportunity" as I guess it would have different licencing requirements

Is the current UCKG licenced? They were refused planning permission in the 1990s - but never moved. Presumably it's now an established use.

 

[cuppa tee]

Think this is very unlikely. Can’t think of any similar venues where that’s happened.

yeah, a bit pessimistic maybe but given the venue was shut for a good chunk of the last three years i dont think another lay off will do much for long term sustainability. and events on the night were pretty much unique as well, so things can happen without precedence.

 

[Rushy]

... and events on the night were pretty much unique as well, so things can happen without precedence.

Didn't information at the last hearing suggest that the events weren't entirely unique and that guidance last time (stronger doors?) had not been heeded and for this reason the latest events merited a more cautious stance?

 

[cuppa tee]

Didn't information at the last hearing suggest that the events weren't entirely unique and that guidance last time (stronger doors?) had not been heeded and for this reason the latest events merited a more cautious stance?

you're right one precedent was brought up, but i meant in terms of mayhem, death, and coverage. dunno how many acts the academy put on a year, most dont have this level of negative outcome for paying customers or the venue, even the artist in question put on 3 nights in the same week with no reports of aggro...

 

[Sasaferrato]

you're right one precedent was brought up, but i meant in terms of mayhem, death, and coverage. dunno how many acts the academy put on a year, most dont have this level of negative outcome for paying customers or the venue, even the artist in question put on 3 nights in the same week with no reports of aggro...

All it takes is a few idiots to start shoving, other idiots follow, and the people at the front get crushed.

One would think that staggered barriers to slow down forward movement would be the answer, if there is room in front of the venue.

 

[thebackrow]

People died. They're not going to be allowed to reopen until Police/Licencing authority are confidant than enough has been changed to stop it happening again.

And that feels difficult to me as I don't actually see that their entrance is much different to many other gig venues. I'm not sure it's a matter of door strength as if the doors are open and a crowd tries to rush them you've not going to be able to get them closed. If a crowd tried to rush the doors at, say, the Electric or the Shepherds Bush Empire what would there be to stop the same thing happening?

A whole load of London gig venues are old theatres with doors opening onto a small lobby and (necessary for ticket control) pinch points before the main hall. they open directly onto public pavement and any queuing is does with temp metal barriers (just like the academy) and people queuing up down the side of the building (just like the academy).

I don't know if there were issues with corrupt security - but that wouldn't be something that uniquely affects the academy either.

 

[thebackrow]

One would think that staggered barriers to slow down forward movement would be the answer, if there is room in front of the venue.

There are normally barriers round the front and security controlling the queue down the side so that theres no crush at the door (with pre checks of tickets down the queue before the ticket is scanned at the door itself). Again, pretty much the same as any other venue I've ever been to.
From the pictures/video it looks like that all broke down. But if people started rushing the door or climbing over barriers it would at any other venue as well.

 

[felonius monk]

For some reason the Academy's entrance is pinched more than most (eg Hammersmith Apollo). I've been to a few gigs over the years at the Academy where the funneling to leave can just sweep people along until you get to the external lobby. Couple that with people trying to come the other way.

 

[DaphneM]

The owners have confirmed it will stay shut for three months in advance of the licensing meeting.

 

[BusLanes]

Guardian reports that committee ordered 3 months suspension today all the same.

O2 Academy Brixton licence suspended for three months after fatal crowd crush

Lambeth council licensing subcommittee makes decision following death of two people at Asake gig in December

www.theguardian.com

 

[Tricky Skills]

Lambeth suspends Brixton O2 Academy licence for a further three months to allow investigations into two deaths at Asake gig

Brixton Academy will not re-open until 16th April at the earliest following a meeting of the Lambeth Council Licensing Sub-Committee on Monday morning.

www.brixtonbuzz.com

 

[CH1]

Lambeth suspends Brixton O2 Academy licence for a further three months to allow investigations into two deaths at Asake gig

Brixton Academy will not re-open until 16th April at the earliest following a meeting of the Lambeth Council Licensing Sub-Committee on Monday morning.

www.brixtonbuzz.com

Thanks for the detailed report. I was intrigued to see however that the Managing Director of Brixton BID is Gianlucca Rizzo, who is a place management specialist.
You quote him as making a statement.

I had always been under the impression that Michael Smith was Brixton BID's MD. How come this sudden unadvertised change. There is some info on Rizzo online. This suggests that he is also the MD of Stratford BID (jointly with Brixton). What;s going on? I think we should be told.

 

[Tricky Skills]

Thanks for the detailed report. I was intrigued to see however that the Managing Director of Brixton BID is Gianlucca Rizzo, who is a place management specialist.
You quote him as making a statement.

I had always been under the impression that Michael Smith was Brixton BID's MD. How come this sudden unadvertised change. There is some info on Rizzo online. This suggests that he is also the MD of Stratford BID (jointly with Brixton). What;s going on? I think we should be told.

Double checked the notes. He was introduced to the Committee as "MD of Brixton BID."

 

[thebackrow]

Double checked the notes. He was introduced to the Committee as "MD of Brixton BID."

Michael is listed as Operations Manager

People - Brixton Bid

brixtonbid.co.uk

 

[CH1]

Double checked the notes. He was introduced to the Committee as "MD of Brixton BID."

They are on Companies House - and the number of employees rose from 4 in 2021 to 6 in 2022.
Their reserves are an incredibly stable £12,427 (unchanged year on year) - but I find it impossible to see what's happening with these micro-accounts which most people file these days. Brixton BID say they raised - and spent - £600,000 in 2022, compared to £255,000 in 2021.
No doubt Covid effects would make interpretation difficult, even if they provided the full information - which BY LAW they are NOT required to.

 

[platinumsage]

This is pretty damning:

O2 Brixton Academy: Crush victim’s family call for answers

A man whose sister died after a crush outside a gig in December says her family want answers and justice.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[skyscraper101]

This is pretty damning:

O2 Brixton Academy: Crush victim’s family call for answers

A man whose sister died after a crush outside a gig in December says her family want answers and justice.

www.bbc.co.uk

Easy to see how a few hundred people in the know about this, a sold out show, and the particular squeeze on space outside the academy can create a perfect storm. Also I can't imagine security wages to be all that great so that would obviously add to the incentive to make a few quid on the door.

I don't know how this can be better addressed but they need to better anticipate this stuff and sort it out. Strikes me that there are some artists who would be better suited to the O2 or Wembley where there is such a massive demand, but then again might this have been all avoided if the some members of the security firm weren't on the take.

 

[nick]

I don't know how this can be better addressed ...

As a starter: a secondary ticket scan at the double Internet doors (after the pat down section)
That would mean collusion would be required for this (alleged) activity to occur
Random tertiary ticket checks from a supervisor ?

Based on anecdotal (unevidenced) comments on the BBC report, it seems that a blind eye may have been turned to it by management . In which case: terminate the contract with the security firm, and contract another one

 

[felonius monk]

From the BBC report, it seems more than "a few quid" for lowly paid security staff but systemic corruption by a few individuals. If true then the security firm needs to be prosecuted never mind losing the contract.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

How could collision be proven though? All the security firm have to say is that the report is from a disgruntled former employee and not true and then it’s one persons word against another.

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

This is pretty damning:

O2 Brixton Academy: Crush victim’s family call for answers

A man whose sister died after a crush outside a gig in December says her family want answers and justice.

www.bbc.co.uk

It is isnt it. I suppose that security have been doing this trick for as long as nightclubs and venues have existed, although maybe far less since all (known) criminals were rooted out from the doors with the invention of the SIA badge. Sounds like the Academy bouncers got greedy, if the snitch is to be believed.

I guess this will be a good way for the academy to blame and sack the security team, hire a new one and get the license back.

This does not excuse the behaviour of the crowd outside, who whether they had tickets or not, still thought it would be fine to rush the doors and consequently trample people to death.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

<snip>

This does not excuse the behaviour of the crowd outside, who whether they had tickets or not, still thought it would be fine to rush the doors and consequently trample people to death.

But it does, at least in part answer the question, as to why so many people without tickets turned up.

 

[Jimmy Don't]

It is isnt it. I suppose that security have been doing this trick for as long as nightclubs and venues have existed, although maybe far less since all (known) criminals were rooted out from the doors with the invention of the SIA badge. Sounds like the Academy bouncers got greedy, if the snitch is to be believed.

I guess this will be a good way for the academy to blame and sack the security team, hire a new one and get the license back.

This does not excuse the behaviour of the crowd outside, who whether they had tickets or not, still thought it would be fine to rush the doors and consequently trample people to death.

Indeed, every club in London could be accessed via a fire exit after a bung to bouncers, at least in the late 80s and early 90s. We spent a couple of years getting into Camden Palace on a Friday night that way, as I'd imagine the punters who got in with tear gas and cleared the place did. You'd imagine better governance and cameras has taken some of that away, but far from all.

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

Indeed, every club in London could be accessed via a fire exit after a bung to bouncers, at least in the late 80s and early 90s. We spent a couple of years getting into Camden Palace on a Friday night that way, as I'd imagine the punters who got in with tear gas and cleared the place did. You'd imagine better governance and cameras has taken some of that away, but far from all.

I was thinking Camden Palace on a Friday night too- sometimes it used to be way over capacity, but then quite a few people would sit in the fire exit corridors that ran down the sides of the building gurning their tits off, leaving a bit more room down on the dancefloor.

 

[Jimmy Don't]

I was thinking Camden Palace on a Friday night too- sometimes it used to be way over capacity, but then quite a few people would sit in the fire exit corridors that ran down the sides of the building gurning their tits off, leaving a bit more room down on the dancefloor.

I can't remember what the big head doorman was called, but he would do a deal where a group of you got in for a cash price cheaper than the door tax, so would be bound increase numbers. No searches on the fire exit route in either, so ripe for drugs and weapons to get in.

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

I can't remember what the big head doorman was called, but he would do a deal where a group of you got in for a cash price cheaper than the door tax, so would be bound increase numbers. No searches on the fire exit route in either, so ripe for drugs and weapons to get in.

Used to be a chap called Ray when i went, but this was post millennium. I believe Lenny McLean ran the doors 'back in the day'.