Fan Falls to Death During Chicago-Area Rock Concert

Sad news from outside the world of classic rock as a 24-year-old fan fall to his death during a concert at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. He's been identified as Kyle Kirchhoff, a defensive line coach for the College of DuPage, by the Chicago Tribune.

Apparently, Kirchhoff and two other friends slipped through an unlocked side door in the second-floor balcony of the Aragon in order to watch a Friday (May 22) appearance by the band Chevelle from atop a catwalk. Kirchhoff tumbled some 6-8 feet before landing on two metal rods around 10:20 p.m., suffering fatal chest wounds.

Chevelle's show was brought to a stop as emergency personnel attemped to save Kirchhoff. He was pronounced dead at 10:54 p.m. at Weiss Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office and police.

Chevelle, which was wrapping up tour dates with the Used, later expressed their condolences via Facebook.

"We were asked by police to stop our set so that the authorities could tend to an injured fan," the band said last night. "Once the severity of the accident was determined, the authorities cleared out the venue to give them time to investigate. We want to thank our Chicago fans for their respect of the authorities and for understanding that these decisions made by the authorities were out of our control."

Chicago police are still investigating the impaling death. The Aragon Ballroom has, thus far, not commented on the incident.

A former four-year football player at Iowa's Loras College, Kirchhoff had also coached at his alma mater, Illinois' Bartlett High. “You talk about tragic,” DuPage head football coach Matt Foster told the Tribune. “That kid had everything in front of him.”

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