Stones: Little Sympathy for Toronto? Wed Jul 23,12:45 PM ET By Lia Haberman The Rolling Stones to Toronto: We might not spend the night together. Unhappy with complaints from fans and the press over the upcoming Stones benefit show in the Canadian city, the band's promoter threatened to pull the dino rockers from their July 30 appearance. Michael Cohl, who's been orchestrating the Stones' world tours since 1989, sounded off in the Toronto Sun this past weekend, saying that media nitpicking about transportation issues and limits on what concertgoers can bring onto the grounds could test the band's goodwill toward the SARS concert. "I'm reading too much of this bulls--t in the Toronto press about the concert. What a bunch of assholes, pardon my French. It's outrageous. I just hope Mick doesn't read it--even though it's my job to show it to him... [He might say,] 'I think I might not come after all. It's not what I signed on for.' " "The most important thing I do for the Rolling Stones is make that decision above all others. They look to me to say: 'We can go here to play,' and, 'We can't go here to play,' " added the promoter, speaking from the Stones' latest European tour date in Stockholm. Cohl went on to suggest that despite the media's kvetching, the news outlets would be devastated if the concert didn't go off. "Everybody's getting ready to go, 'Oh my God, what a bad idea this was,' " said Cohl. "What do you think would happen tomorrow if I canceled? If I called in and said the Stones cancel, I mean, they'd have a fit, wouldn't they?" However, a statement from the band's publicist suggests the group is ready to rock and roll. "The band is excited and are looking forward to the concert," Fran Curtis told E! Online Wednesday. Indeed, the Stones promoter backtracked on his tough talk later in the Sun interview, expressing confidence that the venue would be up to par by July 30. "I can't imagine that between ClearChannel Entertainment and House of Blues and Molson's and...the Toronto Police and the Toronto Emergency Services and all of the same people who looked after the Pope at Downsview last year, that these people aren't going to get it together," said Cohl. "And if I didn't think they were able to get it together, I wouldn't have given them the band." Based on public complaints, concert organizers recently eased back on the regulations about what fans can bring to the show. The original list of banned items included blankets, coolers, and food and drinks--except for two sealed bottles of water. Transportation issues for the massive crowd expected to attend are also being dealt with. Plans for the music marathon kicked off in mid-May after the Stones committed to playing a benefit concert for the SARS-stricken city--the respiratory epidemic has cost the city's tourism industry an estimated $763 million. Proceeds from the show will benefit the area's tourism and health-care workers. An estimated 430,000 people are expected to plunk down $16 each to attend the daylong concert hosted by Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd and featuring Justin Timberlake, The Guess Who, Rush, and AC/DC.
Don't really care about this, but to give the perspective of a Toronto fan... It's supposed to be a day long concert in the middle of the summer, that fans are paying for, and they weren't going to be allowed to bring anything other than two small bottles of water? No food, no blankets, no soft drinks, nothing...just a little water...honestly, for an entire day in the sun...Do any of you doubt that this would be a problem anywhere? It's not that people don't recognize that the Stones are trying to do a good thing, but that kind of restriction certainly wouldn't make the day terribly comfortable or enjoyable, so what's the point? Basking in their celestial power ought to be sufficent for 10 hours?
I don't understand your post MB. Are you criticizing the Stones? And $16 for an ALL DAY concert? The Stones, AC/DC, The Guess Who, Rush? That's a hell of a bargain, and for a good cause as well. If Toronto can't get their act together, I wouldn't blame the Stones for backing out. We don't need another Altamont Speedway.
Ummm...Altamont's problem was, if I'm not correct, the presence of Hell's Angels as security and a lot of people on heavy frugs, not Snickers bars and blankets. What do you mean by Toronto getting it's act together? Wanting to have access to some sort of food in a 10 hour concert is not having your act together? Remember, this isn't the Stones reaction to poor organization, ie act together...Toronto media outlets have voiced concerns about the seemigly severe restrictions on, not drugs and biker gangs, but Coke and blankies...and the Stones' manager threw a hissie fit; if we're not good enough without chips and pop, we're not coming! And no, not criticizing the Stones themselves, doubt they have anything to do with it...prima dona attitudes are among the several things rock stars have other people to take care of these days... What does the relative value have to do with anything?
I honestly don't know...haven't really paid attention. Possibly. Possibly that is an area of concern...who profits from the concessions at a purported charity event where they restrict refreshments to those provided? I am just throwing stuff out here, I really don't know.
Isn't that Toronto's responsibility? To provide for the fans? They had very little transportation (shuttles and such) set up (not very organized). When you have 430,000 people coming to an event, you better damn well be organized. ummm...yes it is The relative value has a lot to do with it. $16 is a MAJOR bargain for a concert of this type in today's economy, therefore people will have plenty of money to spend at the event.
Part of the goal here was that it was supposed to be an inexpensive festival for the people of Toronto. It is being heavily subsidized by the government, and the Stones were not donating their time (I'm pretty sure). This isn't your typical promoter sponsored event. At just about any all day festival outdoor concert I've been to, I've been allowed to bring a cooler, some sandwiches and the like. Restrictions on bottles or other 'projectiles' I can understand. No food, just seems like its forcing you to buy from concessions and driving the price up. By the way...That's $16 cdn dollars, or about $1.99 US (give or take).
Possibly one of us is misinformed, possibly both. In terms of the controversy, and as I read this article, the Stones' manager isn't complaining about the organization, but about fans and media criticism of an apparent effort to restrict patrons ability to bring their own refreshment for a 10 hour event in the middle of summer, which I, for one, have never heard of for one of these all day outdoor events. Possibly you don't know the history of this event...it was originally promoted as a free concert. It was supposed to be entirely about celebrating Toronto in the wake of the SARS crisis, and was supposed to be a feel-good event. Then tickets were priced, although very reasonably, and Torontonians, to my lnowledge, didn't utter a word in protest, as the profits were going to charity...Now this restriction, which seems to be intended to re-route the profits in a supposed non-profit event. Also this restriction wasn't made known, as I understand it, until after many had purchased their tickets. I don't have much information, so I could be wrong about this, but as I understand it it isn't a Stones complaint about orgainzation, but about a Stones complaint about criticism...sort of a hissy fit, if you ask me.
I did realize this was, at one time, to be a Free event, hence my Altamont reference In the first part of the article he was complaining about the nitpicking of the media and fans, but later in the article he says that "I can't imagine that the same people who looked after the Pope won't be able to get it together." Seemed like a shot at not being very organized. I could be wrong though. Very few "Charity" concerts are what they seem. After everyone gets paid for their "Charity" work, the actual charity gets what's left over.
you couldn't bring none of that stuff into Ozzfest in San Antonio last month either. That show started at 9:30am, and ended 11:30pm.
