The Amsterdam Dance Event became yet another electronic dance music staple that's been left with the unfortunate stigma of drug overdose deaths. Four people were reported dead over the course of the five day event and authorities are fairly certain that at least three were tied to substances, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
A 21-year old was hospitalized outside of an event on Saturday before dying at the hospital, a 33 year-old man collapsed outside of a nightclub hosting an ADE show that same day, and a 41 year-old woman passed away on Sunday at Club Lite-the same venue where the 33 year-old collapsed-on Sunday. According to police, only the latter death has been formally attributed to drug use (ecstasy) but there was "probably cause" that the other two were substance-related as well.
The fourth death was Felix Hines, the head of publishing for Phoenix Music International. It'd be unfair to say that the representative of a major music company was less likely to engage in drug use, no reports have suggested that was the cause. Still, no other cause of death has been suggested.
The curious aspect of all this news is that this is the first time in the Amsterdam Dance Event's 18-year history. Regardless of genre, an event that operates on the scale of the ADE should probably expect a death at some point, of drug use or dehydration or some other bizarre circumstance. More than 2,200 performers appeared at 300-plus events as part of the event, and have for years. Unfortunately now ADE is marred by the same cloud hanging over many EDM events that have experienced over the last few years, and the Dutch showcase will probably endure enormous security overhauls before next year's event as a result.
Concertgoers: Be responsible or risk ruing it for the rest of us. And more seriously for yourself.
