Entire indie band 'Viola Beach' killed in crash
British rock band Viola Beach and their manager have died after the car they were travelling in plunged more than 80ft into a canal in Sweden.
The five men, aged between 20 and 35, were killed after their vehicle went through the barrier of a bridge which had opened to let a boat pass underneath.
Viola Beach – whose members were Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin – and their manager Craig Tarry died in the incident in Sodertalje, 18 miles from the capital Stockholm, on Saturday.
The family of River said they are “heartbroken”, while Craig’s loved ones said they are “devastated”, adding they are “grieving the loss of their son and also for the other families involved in this tragic accident”.
Tributes from the world of music were also paid to the group, from Warrington, Cheshire, who had played the Swedish music festival Where Is The Music? on Friday.
James Walsh, lead singer of Starsailor, and The Cribs drummer Ross Jarman, also paid tribute to the musicians and sent condolences to their families.
Very sad to hear the awful news about Warrington's Viola Beach and their manager. Lives and music tragically cut short in their prime.
— James Walsh (@jamesstarsailor) February 14, 2016
The sacrifice many bands around the world make for gig goers everyday- giving up days for traveling & sadly roads & skies can be dangerous.
— Ross Jarman (@RossJarman) February 14, 2016
Swedish police said they were called to the incident at about 2.30am and divers had recovered the bodies of the victims.
The bridge, at the Saltskogs junction between the E4 and the E20 motorways, has a middle section that rises directly upwards without tilting, leaving a gap that the Nissan Qashqai drove into.
Viola Beach were scheduled to play at the Boiler Room in Guildford on Saturday. Posting on Instagram, the venue said it was “saddened and devastated” to learn of the fatal crash.
It wrote: “Last night upon receiving the news the opening band Viola Beach had been involved in an accident, the decision was made by the headline artists Blossoms to cancel the performance.
“We are saddened and devastated as details have come to light of this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with friends and family.”
We are shocked and saddened to learn of the death of lifelong #mcfc supporter Craig Tarry, manager of the band Viola Beach.
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) February 14, 2016
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Craig and the members of the band at this very sad time.
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) February 14, 2016
Tributes were also paid to the band’s manager, who was described as a “man of unshakable (sic) optimism” and a passionate Manchester City football fan.
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