Girls Aloud say they ‘almost died’ after huge stage blunder on tour-Asyia Iftikhar-Entertainment – Metro

They all remember the moment The Cage snapped (Picture: Tom Dymond/Shutterstock)

As Girls Aloud embark on their first stadium tour in over a decade, they revealed the ‘terrifying’ moment they saw their lives flash before their eyes.

The girl group – made up of Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh – kicked off their 20 year anniversary tour, in memory of their late band member and friend Sarah Harding, last week in Dublin.

The UK tour has already brought fans to tears after an emotional tribute to Harding, who died from breast cancer aged 39 in 2021. Elsewhere one video captured the sweet moment Nadine stepped in to do Cheryl’s solo in her time of need.

But as the band build a whole new batch of tour memories, they reminisced on the one time everything almost fell apart during their first tour back in 2005 to 2006.

This was certainly one onstage malfunction that they all vividly remembered.

‘That’s when we almost died!’ Nadine recalled to Rylan Clark on BBC Radio 2 about a strange piece of stage equipment called The Cage which suspended the band in mid-air.

Nadine continued: ‘We were just attacked by tiny little seatbelts. Holding onto tiny wee bars. And we were like dangling for our lives, and we were like, “Is this it, is that where it ends?”‘

The pop group in 2005, around the time the incident occurred (Picture: Getty)

‘It was the first one, the first arena [tour]. We were hanging 20 foot in the air,’ Cheryl added.

Kimberley then picked up the horrifying tale: ‘It was like a cage platform thing that lowered. And in the tech, one side lowered and the other didn’t… terrifying.’

The way it broke down also meant no one backstage was able to see or hear their cries for help.

‘Because the music was so loud, we were screaming over the mics and no one in production could hear,’ Nicola explained.

‘We had a kabuki curtain so it was lowering behind the curtain and no one in the arena could see what was happening. So Kimberley’s hand was literally like sweating and slipping out of my hand.’

Luckily they managed to escape the situation unscathed, even if it has left a lasting impression on them all.

The whole band together on their final tour in 2013 (Picture: Getty)

Their most recent concert in Manchester hosted a guest of honour as Harding’s mum Marie Hardman was spotted beaming in the crowd.

The venue was just a stone’s throw from where Harding grew up in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

‘[Sarah] would have been so proud of the reception we’ve had in here tonight, thank you so much Manchester for making it special for her, and for us,’ Cheryl told the 20,000 strong crowd at AO arena.

‘Sarah’s mam’s in here tonight and I’m sure she’s feeling all the love and energy in the room. We love you, Marie.’

The tour will continue throughout June arriving in Cardiff, Newcastle, London, Liverpool and Glasgow.

The Girls Aloud Takeover with Rylan! is from 2-4pm on May 27 on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.

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