Due to inclement weather and impending lightning, the 2023 Cruel World Festival abruptly ended tonight in Pasadena, California.
The ’80s alternative music event orchestrated by Goldenvoice transpired at the Rose Bowl today, boasting a lineup that included reunited Love and Rockets, as well as showcased Echo & The Bunnymen, Squeeze, Berlin, Gary Numan, Modern English, Gang of Four, ABC, The Vapors, and numerous others. Overall, the festival was a rousing success, bringing joy to those hoping to see their favorite acts live in one place.
The weather cruelly turned sour during Iggy Pop’s performance of “The Passenger.” The proceedings came to an abrupt, extremely confusing halt as his microphone was switched off, and an immediate evacuation message reverberated across the festival through the public announcement system. Iggy alerted the crowd: “OK, we have lightning, we need to evacuate the stage I’m told.”
The ensuing situation prompted the police to shutter the festival, ensuring the safety of the attendees was not compromised. The Twitter handle of Cruel World then announced the postponement with a series of tweets ordering festival goers to evacuate.
This unfortunate turn of events prevented Siouxsie from making her first grand appearance on a US stage after a hiatus of fifteen years, disappointing thousands who had been anticipating her performance all day. The Cruel World festival was set to be Siouxsie’s exclusive performance on American soil as part of her summer tour, which is predominantly centered in Europe.
Siouxsie’s most recent onstage appearance in the United States dates back to a 2008 tour, which was organized to publicize her solo debut, Mantaray. After an extended hiatus from live performances, she made a much-anticipated comeback earlier this month in Brussels, marking her first live gig in the span of a decade.
The weather’s wrath indeed cast a shadow over the hearts of hopeful goths awaiting their heroine. The subsequent course of action, specifically any plans for a rescheduled Siouxsie performance, remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Cruel World fest cancelled 5 songs into the Human League due to possible lightning strikes. No Siouxsie for me, but better that she didn’t get fried I suppose. Still got to see ABC, Love & Rockets, Boy Harsher, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Billy Idol ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/1w3yfIQdJm
— Meni (@MeniTsirbas) May 21, 2023
Oh no! A severe weather alert was just issued for Pasadena – right in the middle of Iggy Pop and The Human League’s sets, and the police have ordered the festival clised to ensure everyone’s safety. Lost for words pic.twitter.com/CZ6uuOF6E1
— Richard Blade (@richardblade) May 21, 2023
