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Gigs & Festivals Top Stories
No refunds for Dublin GnR gig
By CMU Editorial | Published on Friday 3 September 2010
Dublin-based concert promoter MCD and the management of the city’s O2 venue have issued a joint statement following the previously reported Guns N Roses show on Wednesday night, which saw the band storm off stage just five songs into their set after fans, angry that the band had not come on stage until 10.30pm, threw bottles at Axl Rose.
The statement goes into detail about the evening’s events, but makes no mention of refunds for those who left the venue during the 30 minute period before the band were coaxed back on stage. Although announcements during that period told the audience talks were underway to get Axl to return to the stage, after 20 minutes – possibly for safety reasons – the house lights were turned on. Some gig goers – the “majority” according to entertainment.ie – took this to mean the show was over and left. The band came back on stage ten minutes later.
Yesterday’s statement confirmed: “During the second song Axl requested members of the crowd who were throwing plastic glasses containing unknown substances to immediately stop or he would have no option but to leave the stage. He confirmed band’s wish to perform stating ‘we want to stay… [but] one more bottle and we go home’. Despite his continued appeals, having tried to continue performing for 22 minutes, people continued throwing unknown substances leaving the artist with no choice but to leave the stage”.
After the band stomped off, and following a previous announcement that organisers were attempting to convince Axl and co to recommence their performance “MCD Promoter Denis Desmond again appealed to the audience to refrain from throwing items and stated that the band would be back on stage shortly. Following backstage discussions Guns N Roses went back on stage at 23.20 hrs and performed their full set until 00.53 hrs”.
The statement added that “while the artist has a long history for being late on stage, NO artist should be subjected to missiles and unknown substances being thrown at them” and concluded: “MCD and The O2 wish to apologise for any inconvenience caused due to late running of the show”.
You can watch a video of these very events unfolding here: youtu.be/nxLUUQdqA0I
In related news, Reading and Leeds Festival boss Melvin Benn has said he anticipates a fine may be charged for Guns N Roses playing past the Council-set curfew at the Leeds Festival last Sunday night. Whereas at the Reading Festival on Friday the power was cut to the main stage to ensure Axl and co were finished before curfew, despite their late arrival on stage meaning that their set was cut short as a result, at Leeds they were allowed to finish their show.
But Benn has told Billboard that the decision to let Guns N Roses play on could result in a fine of up to £20,000 being charged by the local authority. He added that any such fine will be deducted from the band’s fee because they were aware of the curfew before the show. As previously reported, Rose, or one of his reps, made a blog posting this week saying Guns N Roses’ late starts at both the Reading and Leeds festivals were down to the over-running of the previous bands and not any tardiness on their part. That possibly means they’ll dispute any pay cut resulting from a curfew fine, though that remains to be seen.
Between their Reading and Leeds shows and the Dublin shambles Guns N Roses played in Belfast on Tuesday night. We’re pleased to report that gig went ahead without incident, other than the band taking to the stage the customary 43 minutes late.
