OMD's McCluskey Expected SXSW Gig to be 'Canceled' After Camera Boom Incident

After their abbreviated set on Friday night (March 18) at SXSW due to a camera boom falling and injuring four people, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark bassist and singer Andy McCluskey said he expected the band's performance to be canceled, not delayed.

Late Saturday evening (March 19), McCluskey took to the band's website to give the band's version of what transpired Friday night at Stubb's, seeming surprised OMD were allowed to continue after the incident and performing a seven-song set that lasted about 30 minutes.

"Once we realized what had actually happened, and that there we people who needed medical treatment, it was obvious that we could not start playing," McCluskey said. "I guess that if there was any "luck" involved, it was the fact that the camera crane fell before we actually started. It would have been much more confusing and slower to resolve if we were into the set. I expected the concert to be canceled.

"We just waited to see if the injured were going to be OK. (I hear that they are OK.) Once the police said it was fine to play, we decided that we should at least do something for those who had paid money and waited until 1:30AM -- even though the 2AM curfew would not be pushed back! It felt rather weird at the beginning, but slowly the band and audience started to reconnect. It was actually a great seven-song set, and an even greater relief that no one is permanently hurt!"

McCluskey also summed up his opinion of the festival, one which he expects to never return to again.

"Strange gigs, at stupid times, in crap venues with impossible turnaround times," he said. "It seems that it is now so big that in reality it is a waste of time for new or unsigned bands as people only have time to find the gigs by bands that they have heard of."

As previously reported, the four people hit by the camera boom were being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Watch the full interview with Brother below, and visit AOL Music's SXSW site for more Live from Austin video interviews.

Watch Spinner's Interview With OMD

Watch a Camera Boom Fall at Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's SXSW Show


Download OMD Albums | Buy OMD Albums

MORE SXSW COVERAGE ON SPINNER
Keep Austin Weird: Fun Things to Do at SXSW | SXSW Survival Guide: Advice, Tips and Tricks From Artists | SXSW Road Trip Guide | Top 100 Bands at SXSW 2011
Latest SXSW News | All Things SXSW