Limp Bizkit blamed for fan's death

An Australian coroner today criticised Nu-metal band Limp Bizkit and the organisers of an open-air music festival over the death of a teenage fan caught in a crush at the event.

New South Wales Deputy Coroner Jacqueline Milledge also recommended educating teenagers about the dangers of crowd surfing and violent dancing in concert mosh pits.

Milledge ruled that 15-year-old Jessica Michalik was crushed to death by the crowd at Sydney’s Big Day Out event in January 2001.

She said festival organisers Creative Entertainment did not properly assess the risk of crushing.

She also criticised Limp Bizkit and lead singer Fred Durst for not stopping its performance once it became aware of crushing in the crowd.

“He should have acted more responsibly,” she said of Durst. “I accept that it may have been difficult for him to stop because of the intensity of his performing.”

But she accused Durst of using language that was ”inflammatory and indeed insulting to the security staff who were engaged in their best efforts to extricate crucially injured patrons from the crowd collapse.”

In a statement, Durst said Limp Bizkit would only return to Australia when concerts were better organised.

“No one is a winner in a court case where a young girl has lost her life,” he said. “When the industry is properly regulated I look forward to bringing the Limp Bizkit band back to Australia.”