by Rob Mugge, Media, PA

This year I went to Bonnaroo mainly just to see Ornette Coleman since he seemingly doesn’t do many shows in the US anymore. I went to his stage about an hour early, skipping both Wilco and the North Mississippi Allstars in order to get up against the rail, though a bit off to the left. It was about 100 degrees but he wore a full yellow suit. He played beautifully, but then after about a half hour he started sitting down and yawning. Then he collapsed. He fell a second time after being helped up and clenched his chest, most of us were worried he was dead. Turns out he had a heat stroke and was fine, but I’ll never forget the moment I saw his arm fall to the ground and hearing the song stop as his son instantly dropped his drum sticks and ran from behind his kit to help him.