ATLANTIC CITY — The pedestrian struck and killed near Tropicana early Sunday has been identified as a longtime Phish fan and concert taper whose death has prompted an outpouring of grief from the band's close-knit fan community.
Duncan Oldham, 69, of Geneva, New York, was killed after leaving Phish's Saturday night concert at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, according to published reports.
Oldham was struck near Iowa and Pacific avenues shortly after the concert.
Atlantic City police previously said officers responded to the 2700 block of Pacific Avenue at approximately 12:30 a.m. Sunday for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle.
Oldham died at the scene.
The driver stopped and has been cooperating with investigators, police said. No charges had been announced as of Monday evening.
The fatal crash occurred in the middle of a major concert weekend in Atlantic City. Phish performed three consecutive nights at Boardwalk Hall from Friday through Sunday.
But Oldham wasn't simply another fan in town to see the band.
A longtime member of the Phish taping community
Friends describe Oldham as a longtime member of the community of fans who record Phish concerts — commonly known as “tapers.”
Oldham had reportedly been taping Phish for approximately three decades, dating to the 1990s.
Concert taping has long been part of the culture surrounding Phish and other jam bands, with fans using high-quality recording equipment to preserve live performances and share them with other listeners.
Oldham's recordings were well known among fans.
One member of the Phish.net community described him as a “friend and fellow taper” while announcing his death. Another fan said many of Oldham's recordings remain in circulation and are considered among the best available recordings of some performances that have never received an official release.
Others who knew Oldham personally remembered something beyond his contribution to the band's musical archive.
“Not just a taper, but a super nice guy,” one fan wrote. “This a loss not just to his close friends, but also those of us that casually knew him from shows.”
Friend witnessed the crash
Well-known concert taper Charlie Miller was with Oldham when he was struck.
Miller subsequently posted an emotional message saying he witnessed the crash and then spoke with police.
“I watched my best friend die in front of me,” Miller wrote.
The following night, Phish returned to Boardwalk Hall for the final concert of its three-night Atlantic City run.
But there was now an empty space in the taping community.
Fellow tapers created a memorial for Oldham in the taping section before Sunday's concert. Miller said members of the Phish crew also stopped by to offer their condolences.
The tributes continued online, where fans who knew Oldham — as well as many who knew him only through his recordings — shared condolences with his family and friends.
“Tapers made the scene we all benefit from today,” one fan wrote while thanking Oldham for what he had contributed to the community.
Investigation continues
The circumstances leading to the collision remain under investigation.
Atlantic City police initially announced that a pedestrian had been struck in the 2700 block of Pacific Avenue near Tropicana and that the motorist remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
No charges have been announced against the driver.
Authorities also have not publicly said whether speed, impairment, distraction or another factor contributed to the collision.
South Jersey NewsBeat will update the story if investigators release additional information.
For Oldham's friends and the larger Phish community, however, the three-night Atlantic City run will now be remembered for something beyond what happened on stage.
Oldham came to Atlantic City as he had done for decades at Phish concerts — helping preserve the music for other fans.
By the band's final show Sunday night, the place where he would have joined his fellow tapers had instead become a memorial to him.
About the Author
Karen Johnson
With over 30 years of news experience in major markets like Los Angeles, Denver, and Columbus, Karen now covers our area for South Jersey NewsBeat. She also brings her articulate and conversational news delivery to WOND radio listeners every weekday. Her background includes work with the NBC Radio Network, and she thrives in fast-paced news environments.
