Photo: Hard Rock/Intervention Sundays
Having had to cancel a number of gigs after losing his voice, Steve Aoki's year goes from bad to worse with news that he is currently being sued for accidentally breaking a fan's neck at a concert.
Three years ago Brittany Hickman, a country music fan who had never heard of Aoki, was hurt after the DJ launched himself from scaffolding onto a life raft in the crowd during a gig in San Diego. Hickman was knocked unconscious, broke an ankle and reportedly suffered a broken neck. Hickman is also suing the Hard Rock Hotel where the concert took place.
Speaking to a local news station ABC News Hickman claims "He pretty much landed on top of the pool raft, hit me on top of head and I got knocked over. And I didn't get up." Hickman's lawyer also offered the immortal line "It is only a matter of time before someone else gets hurt or killed." The case is now being taken to trial.
It marks another blow for Aoki who recently had to cancel two UK festival appearances this month to undergo surgery on his vocal chords. The DJ was due to play at We Are Fstvl in Upminster and Northern Lights in Newcastle both on May 31, but has now pulled out to mend his vocal chords which have been damaged by years of screaming at gigs.
Aoki took to Facebook to tell his fans the news: "I'm deeply saddened to share some terrible news with you guys. For the past 20 years, all the screaming at my shows have severely messed up my vocal chords. As a result, I have to get surgery or else I cannot even speak anymore. I've prolonged this surgery for quite some time and the doc said its now or never. Because of this, I unfortunately have to cancel some of the shows listed below in Europe. I apologize to everyone who has been waiting to see me perform. I will make it up to all of you very soon! I promise. Thanks for understanding. Love you all!"
Below: Watch Steve Aoki talk about working with Linkin Park with Gigwise
The cancelled shows across Europe are as follows:
MAY 25 - Aoki's Playhouse - Ibiza, Spain
MAY 30 - Emporium Festival - Wijchen, Netherlands
MAY 31 - We Are Fstvl - Upminster, United Kingdom
May 31 - Northern Lights - Newscastle, United Kingdom
June 1 - Aoki's Playhouse- Ibiza, Spain
