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Tornado Wrecks B-52s Gear at French Fest
28 Jun
Summary
- Tornado destroyed band's equipment, making performance impossible.
- Festival promoters allegedly provided no safety warnings during storm.
- Band has upcoming US shows in New Jersey and California.
The B-52s narrowly escaped disaster on Saturday, June 27, 2026, when a tornado struck the Retro C Trop festival in Tilloloy, France, leading to the cancellation of their performance. Much of the band's equipment was destroyed or soaked by the severe storm, which also caused scaffolding to fall from the stage.
Frontman Fred Schneider described the event as a 'total disaster,' noting that a ten-minute delay saved the band from being on stage during the worst of the tornado. He expressed frustration with the festival promoters, stating they received no warning about the unsafe conditions and that promoter staff were focused on signing posters backstage instead of ensuring safety.
The cancellation also affected the festival's final day, scheduled for Sunday, June 28, 2026, due to destroyed public facilities. The B-52s' European tour concluded with this incident, and they have U.S. shows scheduled for July 11 in Freehold, New Jersey, and August 21 in Lincoln, California. They will also resume their tour with Devo in September.
