Venue roof collapses at Morbid Angel show in Illinois: 1 dead, 28 hospitalized

Moments before Florida death metal band Morbid Angel was scheduled to perform at the Apollo Theater in Belvidere, Illinois, on Friday night (March 31), the venue roof collapsed, killing one person and injuring at least 28 more, five of them severely.

The Belvidere Police Department said 260 people were in the Theater when the collapse occurred as a heavy storm rolled through the area.

According to the venue’s official Facebook page, doors were scheduled to open at 6:00 p.m., with Crypta set to perform at 7 p.m., Skeletal Remains at 7:45 p.m., Revocation at 8:40 p.m. and Morbid Angel at 9:40 p.m.

Morbid Angel posted a message on Facebook that the show was being canceled “due to a Tornado that hit the Venue, and caused the roof, over the area in-front of the stage, and marquee to collapse“.

“We ask anyone who is still traveling to the venue to please seek shelter and stay safe,” the band added. “We are currently sheltering in place, and want to extend our support and hope that everyone at the show tonight is safe. Right now our focus is on making sure everyone in the venue tonight is ok and gets home.“

Minutes after, Crypta guitarist Tainá Bergamaschi said in an Instagram post that all the bands that were scheduled to perform tonight “are safe.”