On this day in 1979 one of the most tragic events in rock music history took place in Cincinnati where 11 fans were suffocated in a rush for seats on the concourse outside Riverfront Coliseum before The Who concert there.

The concert was a sell out and they had festival seating- first come first served basis. This was a disaster waiting to happen. Since it was festival seating many of the fans had arrived early to get the best seat they could. The crowd outside waiting heard the sound check going on inside and thought the concert was beginning. There was a rush for the doors, the doors were not open. Some of the people in front were trampled as those who were rushing the doors didn’t realize they weren’t open.

The Who weren’t notified of the tragedy until after the concert was over.