Top 10 Times Musicians Almost Died On Stage

Ariana Grande Hey, we get it: having a killer stage set-up is part of the package when you become a pop icon; bringing an amazing show to the masses is the job. Unfortunately, those moving parts can sometimes malfunction and result in some potentially deadly consequences. Ariana Grande learned this first hand during her Honeymoon Tour in 2015, when part of a lift snapped, threatening to crush the diminutive singer against the stage. Thankfully, Grande's quick-thinking guitarists helped her up in time, and the singer avoided any major injury, but this incident could have easily been way worse.

#9: Set Ablaze

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Michael Jackson It's one of the most infamous events ever to take place on the set of a soda commercial: the time Michael Jackson was accidentally set on fire. Ok, so the stage in this case was constructed specifically for the commercial shoot, but there was an audience full of extras and an extravagant production budget to make this Pepsi ad feel just like the real thing. Unfortunately, the pyrotechnics that were planned were a little too intense, and set the King of Pop's hair ablaze. The damage to Jackson's scalp was so severe that he required surgery. As for the damages won by Jackson in a subsequent lawsuit against Pepsi, they were donated to a medical center.

Curtis Mayfield Outdoor concerts can often be a crapshoot, with unforeseen delays resulting in shows having to be moved or rescheduled at a moment's notice. Honestly, this is what probably should have happened with Curtis Mayfield and this tragic outdoor gig from 1990. Stormy weather was on the horizon, and the show's organizer, Senator Martin Markowitz, reportedly decided to push Mayfield's set up early in the hopes of getting at least a couple songs in before the wind and rain set upon the crowd. The soul legend's band had barely been introduced when part of the lighting rig was torn down by a wind gust, crushing Mayfield in the blink of an eye. Although Curtis survived the incident, he was left paralyzed below the neck.

#7: “Smoke on the Water”

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Deep Purple, Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention "Smoke on the Water" features one of classic rock's most recognizable riffs… and one of its most famous backstories. Deep Purple were recording at a casino in Montreux, Switzerland, and decided to take a break and check out a gig by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention over at the casino theater. During the show, a member of the audience fired a flare gun that set the ballroom's ceiling ablaze, destroying the band's gear and putting nearly everyone's lives at risk. Although there were no fatalities, Purple now needed a new place to record. It was during these sessions that "Smoke on the Water" was born, detailing all of these crazy events in song, while becoming an all time rock anthem in the process.

James Hetfield of Metallica Metallica. Guns 'n Roses. Faith No More. It was a dream bill for hard rock and metal fans that became a reality back in 1992, but it turned into a nightmare for Metallica frontman James Hetfield. The band's impressive pyrotechnic display was set to go off at certain, planned moments throughout the co-headlining tour. On the night of August 8th in Montreal, however, Hetfield became confused as to where his mark was on stage, resulting in the guitarist walking straight into a wall of flame. Hetfield suffered second and third degree burns as a result of the incident, and fans rioted when Guns 'n Roses didn't go on any earlier to replace Metallica's departure, and cut their own set short for good measure.

Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije of Delain A stage cannon that shoots glitter can't possibly hurt anyone… right? Well, not if you're Delain bassist Otto Schimmelpennick van der Oije, who was wacked from behind with a shot from the cannon so hard that it damaged his genitals. This heavy metal tough guy soldiered through the set and an encore before finally making his way to the hospital...where he sat in the waiting room in agony before finally being seen by a doctor for his ruptured testicle. A few hours later, Schimmelpennick was in surgery, getting some extensive work done on his "gentlemanly parts." Honestly, we're amazed that he made it through one SONG, never mind an entire set, so let's throw a set of devil horns in the name of this badass.

#4: Stage Electrocution

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Nick Lowe of Brinsley Schwarz The next entry on our list is a type of stage accident that has sadly claimed the lives of far too many unsuspecting rockstars. We're talking about electrocution—usually from improperly grounded or wet wires on microphones or equipment. One such incident proved fatal for Stone the Crows guitarist Les Harvey in 1972; thankfully, Nick Lowe survived his encounter with an electrified mic stand while playing with English pub rock band, Brinsley Schwarz. Lowe can thank his keyboardist for the save, as the bandmate kicked Lowe away from the stand. Although Bob Andrews was apparently aiming for the mic itself, it proved a lucky move, as onlookers reported that the move "restarted Lowe's heart."

Tiny Tim Ask any professional musician, and they'll likely tell you that they thrive on performing; it's in their blood. Oftentimes, bands will continue to perform long into their later years, running the risk of serious injury or even death, due to overexertion. Sadly, this was the case with Tiny Tim, who ignored an onstage heart attack while performing at a Massachusetts ukulele festival in 1996. His performing days should've ended there, but Tim ignored doctor's advice - and his own medical history of diabetes and heart trouble — taking the stage again just weeks later. It was during this benefit show that Tim had a second heart attack, this one fatal, collapsing shortly after leaving the stage.

Bill Berry of R.E.M. We imagine that having an accident on stage has got to be a harrowing experience, but Bill Berry of R.E.M. didn't just trip or fall: he had a freakin' BRAIN ANEURYSM. Berry played for over an hour while on tour in 1995 promoting the band's "Monster" LP, before what was described as an "acute headache" led the drummer to collapse behind the kit. The gig was in front of a huge crowd in Switzerland, but Berry’s health issues resulted in cancelled tour dates while he recovered from surgery. Thankfully, there were no major complications or internal bleeding, but it was a scary moment for one of alternative rock's most popular bands. Before we name our number one pick, here are some honorable mentions Blow Up During “My Generation,” The Who An Appearance on "The Smothers Brothers" Variety Show Turns Legendary Jump for Joy (& Pain), Watsky An Ill-Advised Warped Tour Jump from the Stage Pyromaniacs, Rammstein Don't You Know You Shouldn't Play with Fire, Boys? Falling, Pink An Aerial Mishap Results in a Hospital Stay

#1: Moon the Loon

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Keith Moon of The Who Hey! Did you ever dream about getting on stage to jam with your favorite band? We bet that you wouldn't want it to be under these circumstances though. Thomas Scot Halpin was just a fan watching The Who perform during their Quadrophenia Tour, when the legendary Keith Moon collapsed behind the drum kit. Twice. Turns out the classic rock icon and drummer extraordinaire indulged in a too-potent mixture, putting him down for the count after a second attempt by roadies to revive him failed. Enter Halpin, who was drafted from the audience and ended up finishing out the set with Moon's bandmates!