Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst has been asked what he thinks about the removal of the D-Barrier system at the Big Day Out festivals in Adelaide and Perth this weekend. Durst was conducting an interview with spa to promote the upcoming Soundwave Festival, however the interviewer put him the spot, asking him what he thought of the decision to remove D-barriers at the smaller BDO dates. Durst replied:
Oh my gosh I can’t believe that. Are you serious
The D-Barrier system controls the number of people filling the mosh-pit area in front of the main stage. The System was implemented following the death of 16-year-old Jessica Michalik at The Sydney Big Day Out in 2001. Fred Durst was performing with Limp Bizkit at the event when Jessica Michalik was crushed in the mosh pit; she died as a result of asphyxiation five days later.
In a statement sent to spa, Big Day Out Production Designer Matt Doherty explained why they have removed the D Barrier for the smaller shows, and re-affirmed their confidence in the new system:
The smaller capacity shows in Adelaide and Perth have exactly the same medical and surveillance infrastructure as the East Coast shows. The barrier system for these shows has been re-designed to suit the single stage setup. The most important consideration here is the mobility of the audience. Audience health and safety is at all times the number one priority of the Big Day Out.
In the interview with spa, Fred Durst continues:
I would think that, you know, after all that you know… I would hope they would learn… we’ve all learned… that whole day of arguing with them before we went on.
Durst is referring to the relationship breakdown that occurred between Limp Bizkit and The Big Day Out organisers before the fateful day in Sydney in 2001. Durst alleged that he had warned the Big Day Out promoters about the possible dangers, but they didn’t listen:
We begged, we screamed, we sent letters, we tried to take precautions, because we are Limp Bizkit, we know we cause this big emotional blister of a crowd…the crush was already happening before we even walked onstage and the worst thing that could happen, that I told them would happen, did, and a girl died.
The next day Limp Bizkit left the country and only informed the BDO organisers through a note left in the band’s hotel room.
After an investigation into Jessica’s death, the state coroner issued a statement saying responsibility was on the Big Day Out’s promoters Creative Entertainment Australia, saying there was overwhelming evidence that crowd density was dangerous when Limp Bizkit went on stage. Limp Bizkit was also criticised in the report, the coroner said that Durst could have taken the situation more seriously, with his comments on stage during the attempt to rescue Michalik “alarming and inflammatory”.
Watch: Limp Bizkit – Big Day Out Sydney 2001
Recently Jessica Michalik’s father has also critisied the Big Day Out organisers for removing the D Barriers from the Auckland, Perth and Adelaide festivals, speaking with the SMH he said:
In my book it [the D barrier] was her main legacy. Her whole purpose of living was to make the changes for ever…I am dumbfounded that these people, after only ten years, forget why the secondary barrier was there in the first place.
Limp Bizkit will visit Australia for the first time in 11 years playing the Soundwave 2012 Festival, which kicks off in Brisbane on February 25th.
The Big Day Out 2012 tour will head to Adelaide on Friday before the festival winds up in Perth on Sunday.
