It's the 25th anniversary of the film This Is Spinal Tap. If you don't know about this movie, well you must not get out much.
This one of the funniest and most quoted movies of all time. Well the Tap are hitting the road again. The fictious heavy metal band has actually toured in the past. This time out they are going unplugged. No there are no wigs or big stage show from what I have read.
I just read this article on Pollstar. It seems that Ozzfest will be going on the road again this year. The interesting thing is tickets will be free. Yep, a free concert tour.
It's an interesting concept. They will definitely fill the seats. How will this tour cover it's cost? Corporate sponsors will be everywhere on this thing. Also Live Nation will be promoting all dates, the venues have not been announced yet. Of course these will be Live Nation owned which means a percentage of the concession and vending revenues will go in their pockets as always. I wonder how much a bottle of water or a hamburger will be this year.
The bands will not be getting paid. Ok well I wonder what "name" groups will be willing to play for free. Sure there will be younger bands will to do it for exposure. Just don't plan on a band like Judas Priest or Slipknot to play for free.
Distribution of tickets has not been announce yet either. I think you will still need a credit card to get them and don't be surprised if you pay a service and handling fee. They will need to set a limit on the number of tickets to each person. The other possibility is a lottery type system.
Here is the article Free Ozzfest Updated 11:46 PST Tue, Feb 06 2007 Ozzy Osbourne and wife/manager Sharon Osbourne held a press conference at the Concert Industry Consortium February 5 that was promised to be historic, and was. Osbourne dispelled rumors that he was retiring and announced the first free festival tour in the history of the U.S. "Ozzy's been touring for 30 odd years and he's done very well, and just wanted to give something back," Sharon said. The tour starts in San Bernardino July 7 and will continue through 25 cities including San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Pittsburgh, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Hartford, Charlotte, Atlanta, West Plam Beach and Nashville. A final confirmed list of cities and dates is forthcoming. How this will work logistically is unclear, but it will be a ticketed event and is a Live Nation tour. "For the last few years,ticket prices have steadily climbed as artists demand more and more money for summer tours," Sharon said. "We certainly want everybody to make money, however we also want the kids to be able to afford to come out and have an incredible experience. If we continued with the traditional touring festival model, we would have no choice but to raise ticket prices again this year." The bands will not be paid. This gives artists an opportunity to get exposure by playing in front of thousands of Ozzfest fans, Sharon said. The artists will have the opportunity to secure other gigs during the tour. A lineup is expected within two weeks.
It appears that 2007 is going to be another summer of reunion tours.
One band that many people have been waiting over 20 years to put together their original line-up is Van Halen. I know they have been touring for years with Sammy Hagar and then Gary Cherone.
Now David Lee Roth is back fronting the band. The thing is they are going to tour without bassist Michael Anthony.
Sure it will be good to see Dave back but why not all four members? Eddie your son might be talented. No one wants to see a 15 year old playing with a bunch of guys in their 50's. This is still not a complete Van Halen reunion.
The other reunion coming soon is The Police. They will be playing at this years Grammy Awards show. There has been no tour announced as of yet, but it will probably happen.
It will be interesting to see which reunion lasts longer.
Rants and discussions, from a roadie. I'm a tour manager and lighting director for major music tours. Posting things about the road and random thoughts as well.
The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.
