Band to pay for grief counseling for fans who witnessed apparent suicide at Calif. concert
By APWednesday, August 25, 2010
Band pays counseling for CA fans who saw suicide
PALO ALTO, Calif. — The Swell Season is paying for grief counseling sessions for hundreds of music fans who watched in horror as a man jumped to his death during the band’s concert in California a week ago.
As the band finished performing a song, 32-year-old Michael Pickels jumped from a roof covering the outdoor stage in an apparent suicide.
Pickels landed near lead singer Glen Hansard, who’s known for his role in the 2006 movie “Once.”
An estimated 1,900 people attended the alt-rock group’s show on Aug. 19 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga.
A spokeswoman for Palo Alto-based Kara counseling center, Stephanie Demof, said Wednesday the band has promised to pay an undisclosed amount of money for four group counseling sessions.
Those services will be free to any audience members.
