Electric Light Orchestra founding member Mike Edwards has died in a bizarre accident. Ever since the notion of the ‘bizarre gardening accident’ was given birth in the film This Is Spinal Tap, musicians appear to have been lining up to make the joke a reality. First, Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro died while actually gardening in 1992 (he was spraying insecticide which he inhaled too much of, triggering a heart attack.) Now ELO’s cellist has been killed instantly when a runaway 600 kilo hay bale ran down the side of a hill, crashing through a hedge and into his van which was trundling along the road below.
The accident occurred near Totnes in Devonshire, England on Friday afternoon. Sergeant Steve Walker of the Devon and Cornwall police traffic unit told the media : “This was a tragic accident and we have now identified the victim as Michael Edwards, a founder member of ELO. We have used photographs and YouTube footage to identify him but we now need help contacting his family for formal identification. We don’t believe he was ever married and we have identified an ex-girlfriend but she is currently abroad.”
