Fatal Fall at Madison Square Garden Rocks Goose Concert—Band Learns of Death Moments Later
Jam band Goose is ‘reeling’ after a married dad of two had fallen to his death at their Madison Square Garden concert — as the group paid tribute to the concertgoer who had been celebrating his anniversary.
Paul Kueker, 51, fatally plunged 150 feet from the Chase Bridge inside the World’s Most Famous Arena shortly before 10 p.m. on Saturday as Goose performed the second of their two-night stint.
“We are all reeling following the events that occurred at last night’s show,” the band said on Instagram on Sunday evening — just before they played their sold-out gig in Central Park’s SummerStage.
“Getting off stage to learn that news was devastating for us and our crew, and we cannot imagine how some of you left the show feeling last night.”
Paul Kueker fatally plunged to his death inside Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.Facebook/Patti Hoxsie Finelli
Kueker, director of operations at energy management company Smartcon Solutions, was attending the show with his wife, Kristen, to celebrate their upcoming 25th wedding anniversary, according to the New York Daily News.
Police found Kueker “unconscious and unresponsive” after he fell from an “elevated position” inside Madison Square Garden, NYPD told The Post. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Kueker, of Niantic, Conn., left for the restroom during the show and never returned to his seat, his mother Patricia Finelli told the outlet.
Finelli remembered her son as the “greatest kid in the whole wide world.”
“He’d give you the shirt off his back,” she told The Post. “He has two children, a beautiful wife, and he took care of me like I was a piece of gold.”
Venue staff taped off and cleared at least seven rows in the area’s lower bowl where the fatal fall happened, according to fan photos shared on social media.
Paul Keuker was pronounced dead at a hospital after falling from the Chase Bridge at Madison Square Garden.Chris Kornfeld via Fox 5 New York
Goose — which consists of Rick Mitarotonda, Trevor Weeks, Peter Anspach, and Cotter Ellis — kicked off their show in Central Park with a 15-second moment of silence for Kueker.
“Just want to take a moment to address some of the tragic events that happened at last night’s show and extend our deepest condolences to Paul, his family, his friends and everyone who was affected by what happened,” Anspach said.
“In moments like this, you realize life is so fragile and we’re so lucky to have an incredible community here around us. Everybody, if you’re struggling with something, please don’t be afraid to reach out to somebody in your life or send us a message. Please. We got to help each other out. That’s why we’re here. People are meant to talk and be with people.”
Peter Anspach pays tribute to Paul Kuerker during Goose’s concert in Central Park on Sunday night.Goose / YouTube
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The Connecticut-based band said it weighed whether to play the concert in the wake of Kueker’s death.
“We considered whether or not we were going to play and came to the decision that the best thing we can do right now is bring our community together, lean on one another, and offer a space for healing,” Goose said in a statement earlier on social media. “So let’s be kind to each other tonight and remember our friend.”
Goose has since announced that it is working with grief counselors and licensed therapists to hold online therapy sessions for fans affected by the tragedy.