Green Day hit back at criticism they 'ignored' death

Green Day hit back at criticism they 'ignored' death

Rock band Green Day have hit back at criticism they 'ignored' the tragic death of a Brighton-based acrobat by claiming they were half a mile away and not told about the incident.

Pedro Aunión Monroy, 42, plummeted 100ft to his death from a glass box at the festival in Madrid, Spain. 

The group's frontman Billie Joe Armstrong said they were backstage and knew nothing about the incident until hours later.

The 45-year-old guitarist today posted a lengthy statement on their website to completely refute the claims. 

Green Day (pictured) have hit back at criticism that they 'ignored' the death of an acrobat at a music festival in Madrid 

Pedro Aunion Monroy, who lived in Brighton, fell 100ft to his death at the Mad Cool festival 

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the 42-year-old tagged British boyfriend Michael Sell (right), writing: 'I can't wait to see my beautiful boyfriend. Love, come to my arms!!!!!'

Mr Monroy was a director of In Fact performing arts company based in Portslade, Brighton

Mr Armstrong said the band is as heartbroken as everyone else at the loss of the acrobat.

He said the band were only told there was some sort of security issue causing a delay and had 'no clue' as to what had happened.

His comments come as a full investigation begins into the talented Spaniard's death which will determine if it was due to human error or external factors.

At this stage, it is believed the entertainer might have had trouble with his safety ropes as he performed breathtaking tricks in the box suspended over the audience.

Many of the spectators thought it was all part of the act or that it was a dummy which had fallen onto the stage.

Just hours bef ore the accident, Mr Monroy posted a poignant message to his partner.

In a Facebook post, he tagged British boyfriend Michael Sell with a drawing of the couple together.

He wrote: 'I can't wait to see my beautiful boyfriend. Love, come to my arms!!!!!'  

The horrific accident happened as the performer was descending in an illuminated box for a stunt during a break between British Band Alt-J and the US rockers.

Shocking footage showed the acrobat falling from the box in front of 35,000 people in the crowd at the Mad Cool Festival in Spain. 

Mr Monroy was a director of In Fact performing arts company based in Portslade, Brighton.

In Spain his aerial dance group performed under the name Ciadehecho.

The statement issued by Mr Armstrong in full says: 'Last night at the Mad Cool festival in Spain there was a horrific accident. An acrobat by the name of Pedro was killed during his performance before Green Day played our show.

'We are so sad for Pedro and his family and we pray for them in this time of grief. I can't imagine how much suffering the friends and family are going through. '

'Many of you are wondering why we continued to play our show after the accident. 

'Green Day did not hear about the accident until after our show was over. We didn't even know there was an acrobat performance at all, these festivals are huge. 

'There are so many things happening at the same time it's impossible to keep up with every performer/artist.

'We were in a back stage compound about a half mile away from the main festival stage. We were warming up ready to go at 11:25 pm. 

'15 minutes prior our tour management was told by local authorities to wait to go on stage because there was some sort of security issue. 

'Security issues are a normal occurrence and procedure at any show.. we were NOT told why which is also normal. 

'We waited as we were instructed. Still, we had no clue there was any such accident. We were given the ok. The band jumped into vans and drove to the main festival stage. 

Billie Joe Armstrong posted the lengthy message on the band's website and said the band 'did not even know there was an acrobat performance' 

A statement from Green Day said: 'A very brave artist named Pedro lost his life here tonight in a tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends'

One festivalgoer told MailOnline: 'The acrobat was moving inside a lit up cube which was then slowly hoisted up to roughly 100ft'

'This was to be the last show of our European tour and we were all so excited to play our hearts out one last time.

'We were on stage at around midnight and played around two and a half hours. Everything seemed normal. The crowd and fans had a good time. 

'We got off stage and drove back to our artist compound. It was there when we were told the shocking news about Pedro. All of us were in disbelief. '

'I don't know why the authorities chose not to tell us about the accident before our concert. All we know is what was said after our concert. 

'This has never happened in the 30 years Green Day have been performing live. If we had known prior to our perfo rmance we most likely would not have played at all. 

'We are not heartless people. The safety and well being at any of our concerts absolutely comes first. What happened to Pedro is unthinkable. Once again we are heartbroken for his friends and family.

'We are also shocked and heartbroken for anyone that had to witness this tragedy.'

The organisers of the event, the Mad Cool Festival, said they decided to continue with the show because of the panic or disruption which might have been generated among the crowd.

In their own full statement, they said: 'We, the festival management, would like to publicly express our absolute grief and desolation regarding the incident that happened yesterday while choreographer, dancer and workmate Pedro Aunión was performing. 

'We would like to express our love and support to all his fa mily and friends at this hard and devastating time.  

Tributes were paid to Mr Monroy during the festival last night with a tribute to his work.

He had hoped to develop his acrobatic show with amazing stunts in the UK. It is believed his funeral will take place today. 

His sister confirmed on social media that the artist had lost his life after falling 100ft from a suspended cage in front of 35,000 people at the Mad Cool Festival.

'I regret to tell you he died today,' his sister Estefi Chaje posted on Facebook. 

'He was doing what he loved the most... We are devastated.' 

Disturbing footage shows the acrobat falling from the box in front of 35,000 people in the crowd at the Mad Cool Festival in Spain

Paramedics could be seen helping the man as he lay on the floor, but it was later confirmed he died as a result of his injuries

Police consulted with festival organisers before allowing it to continue, El Mundo reported 

Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong in concert at Sheffield Arena on July 3, 2017

Jorge Gomez, who works at the festival, said: 'We saw a person on the ground who was the artist, the acrobat. We were right there in the place ten seconds after some people saw him falling and we attended him immediately. 

'After ten seconds we started advanced CPR (heart-lung resuscitation). We have done everything we can, but it was impossible to save him.'

Javier Erquiaga tweeted: 'Ashamed of you. An artist died just 20 meters from you and you still play. Worst band on the planet.' 

British actor Adrian Randle wrote: 'I couldn't in good faith stay to watch Green Day perform after that. Thoughts go out to the family of the performer. '

Disturbing footage shows the acrobat plummeting to the ground in front of a screaming crowd.    

One festivalgoer told MailOnline: 'It was all part of a tribute to Prince.

'The acrobat was moving inside a lit up cube which was then slowly hoisted up to roughly 100ft and he fell almost straight after it reached that height.

'It was a mixture of confusion, shock and disbelief.

'There's been no attempt to clarify the situation by the organisers either.'     

Paramedics could be seen helping the man as he lay on the floor, but it was later confirmed he died as a result of his injuries.

Police consulted with festival organisers before allowing it to continue, El Mundo reported. 

The cause of the accident is being investigated.     

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