Goose has paid tribute to a fan who died after falling from an elevated section during the band’s concert at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night (June 20).
According to the New York Police Department, 51-year-old Paul Kueker of Niantic, Conn., fell from an elevated position inside the venue shortly before 10 p.m. local time. Officers responding to a 911 call found Kueker unconscious and unresponsive with injuries indicating a fall from an “elevated position,” police said.
Authorities said Kueker was in Section 300 of the arena. He was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police do not suspect foul play, and the investigation remains ongoing. Kueker was attending the concert with his wife, according to police.
Following the concert, Goose shared a statement on Instagram mourning the loss.
“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show,” the band wrote. “We extend our deepest sympathy to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support.”
Madison Square Garden also addressed the incident in a statement.
“While we await the police report on the tragedy at last night’s Goose concert, we are deeply saddened by the loss of a fan’s life at Madison Square Garden,” the venue said. “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the concertgoer.”
The Connecticut-based rock band proceeded with their scheduled SummerStage performance in New York City’s Central Park on Sunday evening. Before the show, Goose said they had considered whether to go ahead with the concert, but decided to move forward as a way to bring fans together.
“We considered whether or not we were going to play and came to the decision that the best thing we can do right now is bring our community together, lean on one another, and offer a space for healing,” they said. “So let’s be kind to each other tonight and remember our friend.”
The band also said proceeds from the SummerStage show would go toward a charitable fund providing support and resources for their fans.
At the start of Sunday’s performance, multi-instrumentalist Peter Anspach addressed the crowd and led a moment of silence for Kueker.
“We just wanted to take a moment to address some of the tragic events that happened at last night’s show, and extend our deepest condolences to Paul, his family, his friends and everybody who was affected by what happened,” Anspach said.
“In moments like this, you realize life is so fragile, we’re so lucky to have an incredible community here around us,” he continued. “Everybody, if you’re struggling with something, please don’t be afraid to reach out to somebody in your life or send us a message. You know, please.
“We got to help each other out. That’s why we’re here. People are meant to talk and be with people, so thank you everybody for coming tonight, and we really appreciate you guys so much. We love you.”
The Madison Square Garden concert was part of a two-night New York run for Goose, who have built a devoted following through extensive touring and improvisation-heavy live shows.
At the time of publication, authorities had not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the fall.
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett took an unplanned trip into the crowd during the band’s show at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Friday (June 19), slipping off the stage as the group launched into “Seek & Destroy” in front of approximately 40,000 fans.
The 63-year-old lost his footing on the stage edge and tumbled into the audience, missing only a few notes before being helped back onto the platform and continuing the performance without further incident. Confirmation that Hammett was uninjured came a few hours later when he shared fan-captured video of the fall on his Instagram Stories, captioning it “Slip & Destroy.”
The moment quickly went viral across social media, with multiple fan-shot clips circulating on YouTube and X. Hammett’s self-deprecating response drew praise from fans who noted the guitarist’s ability to laugh off what could have been a serious accident.
The Dublin date was part of Metallica’s ongoing European tour, which continues with shows at Glasgow’s Hampden Park (June 25), Cardiff’s Principality Stadium (June 28) and two nights at London Stadium (July 3 and 5). After the European run wraps, the band will embark on one of the most ambitious residencies in rock history — a 24-date run at the Las Vegas Sphere beginning Oct. 1, with dates stretching through March 2027.
One of the most commercially dominant acts in rock history, Metallica have sold more than 150 million albums worldwide and scored six No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 — Metallica (1991), Load (1996), Reload (1997), St. Anger (2003), Death Magnetic (2008) and Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (2016).
Their most recent album 72 Seasons (2023) debuted at No. 2, their first album since 1988’s …And Justice for All not to open at No. 1. The band have won eight Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. “Seek & Destroy” — the song Hammett was launching into when he fell — is from the band’s 1983 debut Kill ‘Em All and has been a staple of their live set for more than four decades.
Gina Ortiz Jones, the mayor of San Antonio, Texas, is pushing for the cancellation of Kanye West’s Fourth of July concert at the Alamodome. Ye announced the show last week, and tickets are currently available via Ticketmaster at prices ranging from $127.50 for a standard admission, upper-level seat to $1,461.25 for the “YE – Front Row Experience,” a row-one seat in the lower level of the stadium closest to the floor.
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On Saturday night (June 20), the San Antonio Democrat, a U.S. Air Force veteran, shared her stance on Ye’s scheduled event in the south-central Texan city, citing the musician’s history of hate speech and antisemitic remarks as reason for the Alamodome — which can accommodate a crowd of more than 70,000 with an in-the-round concert layout like that of Ye’s globe-shaped stage — to pull the plug on the Independence Day booking.
“I support canceling the @kanyewest concert,” she wrote in a post on X.
“Military City USA should not host someone with a record of hate speech and antisemitic comments in a city-funded facility like our Alamodome—not ever, and certainly not on July 4th, our Nation’s 250th birthday,” Ortiz Jones said.
The San Antonio mayor added, “Standing up to antisemitism is exactly what it takes to achieve a more perfect Union.”
Ye’s July 4 San Antonio date lands in the middle of concerts in Tampa, Florida (June 26, 28), and Tirana, Albania (July 11). The rapper’s summer mini tour — as it stands right now — then brings him to Madrid, Spain (July 30), and Algarve, Portugal (Aug. 7), before routing back to the U.S. for a pair of homecoming shows in Chicago, Illinois (Sept. 3-4). He hasn’t had an official full-scale tour in this decade.
Though West has successfully put on his show this year in Mexico City and Los Angeles, and in cities in Turkey, the Netherlands and Georgia, he’s also had shows pulled in England, Poland and France.
Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida recently called for Ye’s performances to be called off in Tampa.
Scott wrote in a statement on June 4, “Kanye West’s consistent antisemitic attacks are an affront to the values of the people of the Hillsborough community. He has openly praised Nazis, called himself one, and slandered Jews across the world. Kanye West also funded a Superbowl ad in 2025 that directed viewers to purchase merchandise featuring swastikas.”
“West’s remarks are vile and a slap in the face to our state’s Jewish community,” said the senator. “It is troubling that a stadium supported by taxpayer dollars would openly subsidize an event led by an artist known for pushing this dangerous, hateful rhetoric, especially with Florida having one of the largest Jewish populations in our country.”
On Friday, Ye released a deluxe edition of his latest album, Bully, featuring updated mixes of its original tracks and new songs “OK” (featuring Don Toliver) and “Mission Control.”
Rod Stewart was forced to pause his concert in Utah after nearly fainting onstage and requiring an oxygen tank.
During his show at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre in West Valley City on Friday (June 19), the 81-year-old rock legend appeared visibly unwell and was seen doubling over in discomfort before using an oxygen tank to assist with his breathing, according to TMZ.
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After struggling to finish his hit “Young Turks” — which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981 — Stewart appeared less mobile than usual and leaned against stage equipment before members of his team brought out an oxygen tank, as seen in video footage published by the outlet.
The “Maggie May” singer later told the crowd that he had nearly fainted but insisted that the “show must go on.” He then jokingly asked, “Would you mind if I sat down for this one?” before continuing the performance.
Stewart ultimately finished Friday’s concert while seated in a chair. West Valley City sits at approximately 4,300 feet above sea level, which may have contributed to the incident, TMZ reported.
In late May, Stewart suggested that his current One Last Time farewell tour could mark the end of his large-scale touring career.
“I’ve got 40-odd shows this year and that’s not really a lot,” Stewart said on the TalkSport soccer chat show in the U.K. “And I’m touring the U.K. next year and doing the O2 and that will probably be it, I think. I’ll have to do something new … come on your show more often.”
The iconic singer-songwriter added that after his remaining dates this year and a planned U.K. run in 2027, he may step away from major touring commitments.
Stewart recently faced criticism after canceling a June 12 concert at San Diego’s North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre less than an hour before showtime due to health issues. Hours later, however, he made an appearance at the Scotland World Cup match in Boston.
“He traveled to the venue and made every effort to perform, but on the advice of his doctors, and following a diagnosis of an acute upper respiratory infection that has resulted in laryngitis, he is unable to take the stage this evening,” a statement posted to the venue’s Instagram read at the time.
Stewart currently has numerous U.S. dates scheduled throughout July and August as part of his One Last Time tour. The trek is set to conclude with a show in St. Louis on Aug. 15. He’ll then head to Las Vegas for a handful of residency dates.
Ed Sheeran brought both solid songs and plenty of spectacle to his Saturday night (June 20) headlining show at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium. Spearheading his Loop Tour, the solo stadium show featured Sheeran building each song live using a loop pedal, highlighting both Sheeran’s energetic, entertaining showmanship and musical precision. A folk-pop star known for writing his own material, the approach also allowed him to give fans a glimpse into the process of how he constructs his slate of hits.
Instead of launching the show from the main stage, he walked through the crowd, shaking hands with audience members before holding court at a smaller b-stage in the middle of the stadium. He launched into “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” and “Sapphire.” Though he was commandeering the show solo, the set also offered plenty of visual extravaganza. By the second song, he had fireworks brushing the sky in shades of pink and dark blue, while fiery pyros were utilized throughout the evening. A retractable bridge that stretched over the audience allowed Sheeran to move back and forth from the main stage to the smaller b-stage multiple times throughout the show.
He sailed through a setlist that included over 30 songs, including renditions of “Shape of You,” “Thinking Out Loud,” “Perfect” and “The A Team,” but also left room for improvisation, allowing fans to text in song requests, and obliging on songs such as “Dive” and “A Little More.”
During the set, Sheeran called Nashville “my favorite city in America,” and talked about several previous times he’s played Music City venues including Nissan Stadium and the Ryman Auditorium, and even lived in Nashville for brief stretches of time over the past decade or so. His Nashville ties include working with artists over the years, ranging from Luke Combs and Megan Moroney to Taylor Swift, and he’s regularly popped up at shows in more intimate Nashville venues, including The Bluebird Cafe, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, and even playing a show with Noah Kahan at Santa’s Pub just last year.
His show featured everything from guest artists, to quiet moments of reflection, love-struck ballads and songs with infectious grooves that got fans jumping, cheering, dancing and singing loudly along. Below, Billboard highlights five best moments from Sheeran’s Nissan Stadium show.
A concert-goer died after falling from an upper-level seating area during a Goose concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday night (June 20).
The 51-year-old man, whose identity had not been released at press time, fell from an “elevated position” while attending the sold-out show by the rock band at the iconic venue.
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“At approximately 9:51 p.m. inside Madison Square Garden, officers observed a 51-year-old male unconscious and unresponsive,” the NYPD told the New York Post in a statement.
The man, who was attending the concert with his wife, was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities have not disclosed additional details about the fall, and the incident remains under investigation. The man had been seated in section 300, according to the Associated Press.
Goose, which is currently touring in support of its latest album, Big Modern!, shared a statement on social media following the tragedy. Saturday’s performance marked the band’s second consecutive sold-out show at MSG.
“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show,” Goose wrote on Instagram. “We extend our deepest sympathy to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support.”
As of Sunday morning (June 21), Goose remained scheduled to perform at New York City’s Central Park SummerStage later that day.
The incident is the second fatal fall involving a concert attendee at a major New York-area venue in recent years. In 2021, a fan died after falling from a stadium balcony during a Dead & Company concert at Citi Field. The man, who was in his 40s, fell from a second-floor staircase during intermission at the Queens ballpark, home of the New York Mets.
On Saturday (June 20), for the second show on his North American leg of his global headlining Loop Tour, Ed Sheeran brought his eclectic, energetic and heartfelt brand of pop-tilted singer-songwriter fare to one of music’s songwriting capitals, Nashville.
Appropriately, the four-time Grammy winner’s Nissan Stadium show, which stretched over two hours, was chock full with his signature hits, deep emotional ballads and rapid-fire, uptempo grooves. But on the Loop Tour, his solo stadium show featured Sheeran employing live audio looping instead of a full band to build the sonic tapestry of his songs, weaving in looped instrumentals, rhythms and layered vocal harmonies — and in the process, offering fans a glimpse into the process of constructing hits including his Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers “Perfect” and “Shape of You.”
“I always feel like it’s coming home playing here,” Sheeran said of Nashville, noting that he has not only previously played Nashville venues including Nissan Stadium and the Ryman Auditorium, but he also lived in Nashville for brief periods of time, including living in a home in Hendersonville, Tenn., in 2013. Many Nashville-area songwriting sessions from that time informed his 2014 album x (“Multiply”). Of course, his Nashville connections extend deep, including collabs over the years with Megan Moroney, Luke Combs and Taylor Swift.
Just before Sheeran took the stage Saturday night, an image of a cassette mixtape was emblazoned on the massive screen, along with a message encouraging fans to sign up to request a song for the night’s setlist. In addition to planned songs such as “Give Me Love,” “Perfect,” and “Thinking Out Loud,” this allowed for some off-the-cuff moments and fan-requested songs “A Little More,” “Dive” and “Supermarket Flowers.”
Throughout a set punctuated often by fiery pyro and fireworks, Sheeran spent time toggling between the main stage and a smaller b-stage, using a retractable bridge that spanned over the audience, connecting the two stages. He also surprised fans by welcoming guests, traditional Irish folk band Beoga and country duo Dan + Shay (Sheeran mentioned that his friendship with Dan + Shay stretches back over 10 years when they wrote songs together).
Sheeran’s Nashville show featured opening sets from Myles Smith, Amble and Aaron Rowe. The trek will visit more cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Boston.
Below is the setlist for Sheeran’s Nashville show:
Fabolous hosted a special Father’s Day luncheon for fathers who have been impacted by the criminal justice system on Thursday (June 18).
The Brooklyn rapper teamed up with REFORM Alliance to throw the event at Sei Less in NYC, which saw Fab mingling with fathers from various backgrounds.
Fabolous made the trip to Sei Less after appearing at the New York Knicks championship parade, where he celebrated the Knicks’ first title in 53 years atop the hip-hop float with fellow NYC rap dignitaries, which was hosted by Fat Joe.
Fab and the families in attendance enjoyed grubbing on go-to dishes from the Asian fusion restaurant’s menu like chicken satays, vegetable spring rolls, crispy chicken wontons, filet mignon, Beijing chicken and chicken fried rice.
“Fatherhood means everything to me, so being part of something like this with Sei Less and REFORM was an easy yes,” Fab said in a statement. “These fathers been through real challenges, but they never stopped showing up for their kids. I wanted to come through, show some love, and help give them and their families a moment to celebrate.”
Sei Less co-founder Dara Mirjahangiry has made a concerted effort to lend his eatery’s space to give back to the community with events like this, while connecting with the fabric of NYC’s rap scene.
Last year, Fat Joe and Jadakiss threw a Father’s Day luncheon at Sei Less, while Cash Cobain and Bay Swag hosted a group of underprivileged teens from the Children of Promise, NYC organization for a Thanksgiving dinner feast at the Manhattan staple restaurant.
“At Sei Less, our goal has always been to create moments that go beyond dining and bring people together in a meaningful way,” Dara Mirjahangiry said. “Partnering with Fabolous this year and continuing our partnership with REFORM Alliance for this Father’s Day celebration allowed us to honor fathers who continue to show up for their families despite real-life challenges and give them an afternoon where they felt seen, celebrated, and supported.”
Bebe Rexha isn’t interested in turning female artists into competitors.
The singer recently pushed back after a social media user attempted to compare her commercial success to Olivia Rodrigo’s, whose third studio album You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and shattered streaming records.
The exchange began after Rexha shared a heartfelt tribute to late artist Oliver Tree on social media, revealing that the pair had recorded a song together for her latest album, Dirty Blonde, that ultimately didn’t make the final tracklist.
“I’m in shock. I was in the middle of my cd signing in nyc when I found the news of Oliver tree. I can’t believe it,” she wrote. “We recorded a record together to be on dirty blonde. He was so smart. Passionate. Talented. Kind. I’m so sad. May he rest in peace.”
But the conversation quickly veered off course when one commenter replied: “Olivia outsold u btw.”
Rather than taking the bait, Rexha answered: “I’m actually happy for her. No need to put women against each other. Stream DIRTY BLONDE for women empowerment. Livies X Rexhars.”
The response was widely praised by fans, with many applauding the singer for rejecting the increasingly common trend of framing women in pop as rivals.
The “I’m Good (Blue)” singer also made headlines last year after publicly criticising former collaborator G-Eazy, with whom she scored a major hit on 2015’s “Me, Myself & I.”
“I have been UNDERMINED. I’ve been so quiet for the longest time,” she wrote on social media at the time. “I haven’t seen the signs even though people constantly are bringing them up and they have been SO OBVIOUS. And when I have spoken up I’ve been silence and PUNISHED by this industry Things must change or I’m telling ALL of my truths. The good the bad and the ugly. (sic)”
The pop star later removed the post and added: “Someone from my team had me take down my Instagram Story,” she explained.
For now, however, Rexha seems focused on celebrating fellow female artists rather than competing with them.
Iron Maiden are enforcing a phone-free standing area at their Paris show on Monday (June 22), confirming the La Défense Arena performance will be filmed for their forthcoming Run For Your Lives Tour concert film.
The band announced the policy via social media on Friday (June 19), sharing a step-by-step graphic guide for using Yondr pouches — the lockable phone storage devices that have become the live music industry’s go-to solution for phone-free shows.
Fans in the standing and General Admission area will have their devices locked in pouches upon entry, with the pouches remaining with the fan at all times throughout the night. Designated phone-use areas will be available within the arena for emergencies, and physical payment cards will be required at bars and merchandise stands.
The band’s social media caption confirmed the policy directly: “The standing/General Admission area in La Défense Arena will be entirely phone-free to make sure the experience is optimal for the live recording of the Run For Your Lives Tour film. Yondr pouches will be provided upon entry to the venue to store your mobile device during the show. Your device will be locked in the pouch on arrival and unlocked when you leave at the end of the night.”
Iron Maiden have been consistent advocates for phone-free concerts throughout the Run For Your Lives Tour, having told fans to “put your phones away” ahead of the run’s launch in 2025. The enforcement for the Paris filming makes that preference official policy for what will be one of the tour’s most documented nights.
The Run For Your Lives World Tour was announced in September 2024 as a global celebration of the band’s 50th anniversary since forming in Leyton, East London in 1975, with the setlist focused on material from their first nine studio albums. The run has been one of the most commercially successful rock tours of the cycle — Billboard ranked it in the Top 3 of its Top Rock Tours 2025 chart, with the band generating approximately $150.9 million in revenue across 1.5 million tickets sold. The 2026 European leg, which includes the Paris filming date, represents the latest chapter of an expanded campaign that has since added North American, Central and South American, and Oceania dates. Iron Maiden will tour Australia in November — their final shows of the tour before a 2027 touring hiatus — with extra shows added due to demand.
The Run For Your Lives setlist has drawn heavily on fan favourites and rarities, including “Infinite Dreams” from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, played live for the first time in 38 years. The set typically includes “The Number of the Beast,” “Run to the Hills,” “The Trooper,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” “Aces High,” “Fear of the Dark” and “Wasted Years.”
One of the most commercially successful heavy metal bands in history, Iron Maiden have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and placed 29 titles on the Billboard 200, including four top 10 entries. Their most recent studio album Senjutsu (2021) debuted at No. 3 — their highest-ever U.S. chart position — while The Book of Souls (2015) and The Final Frontier (2010) both peaked at No. 4.