Arctic Monkeys, like Arcade Fire, are trying to do what they can to stop people touting tickets to their upcoming UK tour, details of which were announced this week. Arcade Fire, of course, have been making last minute tickets available via the venue on the night of the gig, so that fans who missed out on the original lot of tickets available have a chance of getting in at standard rates (ie rather than buying marked up tickets from online auction sites or the forty touts that were hanging outside Brixton tube station last night).
The Monkeys are restricting access to tickets to fans already registered with their email database. Those people have received an email telling them that they need to pre-register if they want tickets to upcoming gigs - stating which gigs they are able to attend. Fans must pre-register by midnight tonight. Registered fans will then be selected at random for each gig - and those picked out of the hat will be able to buy tickets, presumably only for personal use. Anyone not currently registered with the band's email database will not be able to get tickets this time, though the band recommend those people sign up now anyway in order to secure access to future gigs (which presumably means ticket touts everywhere will be signing up as we speak).
FYI - the Monkey's upcoming tour dates are as follows, though if you're not on their mailing list or in a position to blag press tix, then there's not much point in you knowing any of this...
9 Apr: Guildhall, Southampton
10 Apr: University Great Hall,Exeter
12 Apr: Astoria, London
13 Apr: Astoria, London
14 Apr: Academy, Liverpool
16 Apr: Academy, Newcastle
17 Apr: Caird Hall, Dundee
18 Apr: Barrowlands, Glasgow
20 Apr: Academy, Birmingham
21 Apr: The Leadmill, Sheffield
22 Apr: The Leadmill, Sheffield
The tour will coincide with the previously reported 16 Apr release of the new Arctic Monkeys' single 'Brianstorm' and the 23 Apr release of second long player 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'. Press info from those lovely Domino types.