On July 7, 2018, rapper Del the Funky Homosapien, also known as Teren Jones, was severely injured after falling from the Orange Stage during a Gorillaz headline performance at Roskilde Festival in Denmark. The incident occurred around 00:30 local time.
During his verse in the song ‘Clint Eastwood,’ Del, who was wearing sunglasses, reportedly misstepped. He was said to be unaware of a platform jutting out from the stage, with the nighttime environment and a smoke machine contributing to the fall.
Del the Funky Homosapien sustained significant injuries, including seven fractured ribs, one punctured lung, and one lacerated lung. Following the accident, he was transported to a Danish hospital where he underwent surgery. For pain management, he received an epidural, and a cannula was used for breathing support. Gorillaz’s Damon Albarn addressed the crowd immediately after the fall, stating, “Thank you so much for a beautiful, beautiful night. Unfortunately, we’ve had a… I don’t know yet.”
After approximately five days, Del was discharged from the hospital. He remained in Denmark for an additional week for recovery before being cleared to fly. Doctors initially estimated a recovery period of about three months.
Del expressed concerns about potential long-term handicaps and not achieving a full recovery. The incident also affected his mental health, leading him to seek therapy and take Prozac due to difficulties with trust.
In a subsequent interview, Damon Albarn detailed Del’s injuries. He described the event as “an awful, awful thing that I can’t quite believe. I keep playing it through my head,” despite having initially hoped that Del would be able to continue.