Rotella Speaks Out For EDM

Supervisors ordered the county’s chief executive on Aug. 3 to look into a moratorium after the deaths of two teenagers at the Aug. 1-2 HARD Summer event at Fairplex in Pomona, Calif.

Rotella released in a statement on Instagram Aug. 11 reflecting on the teens’ deaths and the media coverage that ensued.

“First and foremost, my heart goes out to the friends and family of those two young women,” he wrote. “We don’t condone or tolerate drug use, but the problem here isn’t raves or dance music, or even festivals in general. The health impact of drug abuse in our country extends far beyond what happens at our events. I lost five friends to drug overdoses at a young age, none of which occurred at dance music festivals; most of them weren’t even fans of the genre. No one wrote about them.”

He stressed the continuing popularity of dance culture and added that banning EDM shows at facilities where organizers can provide medical care and emergency services is “not the answer.”

“I hope that policymakers and the media do not turn their backs on a cultural movement that is thriving and brings so much happiness to a generation that, quite frankly, needs an environment where they can feel loved and accepted. … If we’re trying to create a safe and secure environment for these passionate fans, sending them back into the unregulated underground isn’t a step in the right direction. We all need to do our part in creating a national dialogue that educates our youth and encourages them to be accountable for their choices—especially when it comes to drugs.”

According to reports, 29 other festivalgoers were treated for drug- or alcohol-related problems during the two-day HARD Summer festival.