Green Day explain why they played at Mad Cool Festival immediately after acrobat Pedro Aunion Monroy fell to death

'We are not heartless people'

Green Day performing in Brooklyn, New York in March 2017 (Getty)

Green Day have issued a statement following the death of Pedro Aunion Monroy at Mad Cool Festival in Spain, the acrobat having fallen 100 feet from a crane shortly before the band took to the stage.

Festival-goers watched in horror as Monroy dangled momentarily under the suspended stage before plummeting down. Aunion died soon after the fall, despite emergency workers’ attempts to save his life.

Green Day carefully detailed the minutes leading up to their set and questioned why the authorities had not informed them of the accident.

Billie Joe Armstrong's statement in full:

'Last night at the Mad Cool festival in Spain there was a horrific accident. An acrobat by the name of Pedro was killed during his performance before Green Day played our show.

We are so sad for Pedro and his family and we pray for them in this time of grief. I can’t imagine how much suffering the friends and family are going through.

Many of you are wondering why we continued to play our show after the accident.

Pedro Aunion Monroy (Facebook)

Green Day did not hear about the accident until after our show was over.

We didn’t even know there was an acrobat performance at all.

these festivals are huge.

There are so many things happening at the same time it’s impossible to keep up with every performer/artist..

We were in a back stage compound about a half mile away from the main festival stage. We were warming up ready to go at 11:25 pm.

15 minutes prior our tour management was told by local authorities to wait to go on stage because there was some sort of security issue.

Security issues are a normal occurrence and procedure at any show.. we were NOT told why which is also normal. we waited as we were instructed. Still, We had no clue there was any such accident.

We were given the ok. The band jumped into vans and drove to the main festival stage.

This was to be the last show of our European tour and we were all so excited to play our hearts out one last time.

We were on stage at around midnight and played around two and a half hours. Everything seemed normal. the crowd and fans had a good time. We got off stage and drove back to our artist compound.

It was there when we were told the shocking news about Pedro. All of us were in disbelief. I don’t know why the authorities chose not to tell us about the accident before our concert. All we know is what was said after our concert.

This has never happened in the 30 years Green Day have been performing live.

If we had known prior to our performance we most likely would not have played at all. We are not heartless people. The safety and well being at any of our concerts absolutely comes first.

What happened to Pedro is unthinkable. Once again we are heartbroken for his friends and family. and we are also shocked and heartbroken for anyone that had to witness this tragedy.

sincerely

Billie Joe Armstrong'