Plug pulled on Sir Paul McCartney

browneyedbazzi

dacouch wrote: »

The chances are the plug was pulled by the organiser rather than then council as he would be looking at a big fine. They have agree to a licence and have to stick to it.

That's exactly correct, the promoter/organisers are the ones who pulled the pug, not any council official as one or two people keep ranting on about. The event was licensed until 10:30, the organisers and performers would have known that anything after 10:30 would be illegal and find them facing fines and difficulties keeping/getting a licence for future events.

It doesn't matter if it's Bruce performing or joe nobody from down the road, they need to keep to the rules...if he wanted to do an epic long set then they should have taken to the stage earlier. If people are upset because the Clarence tribute didn't happen (which is very good btw, I saw it at IOW a few weeks ago) that isn't the council's fault, it is the performer's fault for not doing it earlier.

Some people are always on the look out for an opportunity to do a bit of council bashing, but if you choose to be ignorant of the full facts of a situation before starting in on it you just end up looking like the numpty you accuse the council of being.

bazster

paddyrg wrote: »

They probably will - don't forget this is an industry with big money involved, and money talks.

I suggest you take a look at the event's Facebook page and see the fury being expressed there.

My third event in Hyde Park. And my last. No fans = no shows. Don't care if Live Nation lose the venue, in fact I hope they do, then performers will have to find venues and events that are not organised/regulated by halfwits.

bazster

Someone on that Facebook page puts it better than me:

How embarassing for HRC, LiveNation and Westminster council. I hope they all realise that the opinions of thousands of ticket-buying concert goers - not to mention the slighted musicians - is worth so much more than a handful of miserable local residents who should realise that they live in the middle of a vibrant city and for a few minutes each year they might have to expect someone else having fun.

bazster

Just on BBC R4 news, even Boris says the show should've been allowed to finish. Epic fail on the part of Live Nation and Wastemonster.

Boris Johnson:

"It sounds to me like an excessively officious decision"

"You won't get that during the Olympics."

"If they'd have called me, my answer would have been for them to jam in the name of the Lord."

Amen to that.

giraffe69

for a few minutes each year they might have to expect someone else having fun.

Well you have made your point about six times and it doesn't get any more convincing. Anyone who enforces a regulation is a jobsworth?

It isn't a few minutes a year. It is a regular occurrence. If the licence permitted music until 11 or 11.30 or even 1a.m. it would be the same rant.

If the performers don't wish to come back then fine. You can go to a city which has no apparent restrictions but I suspect there will be enough promoters/stars and audience to overcome your non attendance.

dacouch

There was an interview with the Royal Parks / Westminster Council (Can't remember which) last year when they had problems with concerts in the park. They were asked about the income from each concert, they would not give an exact figure due to commercial sensitivity. They alluded to a figure above £100k and below £250k and the promoter having to ensure the park was returned to the way it was before eg repair any damage.

There are about 10 concerts at Hyde Park a year so the income is not that massive.

Westminster were going to stop all concerts in Hyde Park due to complaints by residents earlier this year, they agreed to continue but with stricter licencing from 2013. The promotors will obviously be aware of this and be ultra careful

paddyrg

bazster wrote: »

and for a few minutes each year they might have to expect someone else having fun.

I don't think anyone objects to a few minutes once a year - but it is a few minutes once a year for most people visiting, and several nights a week for the people who actually pay the council tax and live in the area!

That, plus the fact they'd already *had* a few minutes overrun yet were pushing it further and further... at what point *should* they be cut off? 10 minutes curfew overrun? 20? An hour? No curfews at all? A free-for-all? There has to be a line, obviously, and that line is well known to be 10:30 (make no mistake, timings form a part of the artists contract).

I think it *is* a massive shame that it disappointed the fans, I really do. It leaves a sour end to a sweet night, I completely agree. Fingers should be pointed, they should just be pointed in the right direction - not the residents, not the council, not the promoters but the artists who overplayed/started too late. The guys you paid money to go and see are the ones that let you down, and that is a massive shame.

bazster

giraffe69 wrote: »

Well you have made your point about six times and it doesn't get any more convincing.

Don't care if you're convinced. This is a forum for venting and I'm venting. Not interested? Well there's a great big World Wide Web out there for you to read.

And there are very, very few performers and stars of the stature of Springsteen, who could've drawn 76,000 to Hyde Park in the rain (official attendance, apparently).

bazster

paddyrg wrote: »

The guys you paid money to go and see are the ones that let you down, and that is a massive shame.

I have seen Bruce Springsteen 25 times, all over the world. This is the first time he has ever been subjected to this kind of police-state nonsense. I know exactly who is to blame.

giraffe69

I have seen Bruce Springsteen 25 times, all over the world. This is the first time he has ever been subjected to this kind of police-state nonsense. I know exactly who is to blame.

Sounds like numbers 26-50 will be elsewhere then. I think most on here know exactly who is to blame also.