The Who

[Spindles]

Yeah, a recent interview I saw where he was talking about how he got into music, from playing Joy division basslines on one string through to learning to play the songs he loves and how there are some great songs he still loves to play when he's just sat around at home really brought home his love of playing music. Wish I could find the link, because it really earned some respect from me to hear him talking with passion about his love for performing and so on, when I'd basically just fallen into seeing him as a tired old git rolling out sameish material for the money.

[thewayiam]

Definitely, he goes every year anyway when he isn't touring doesn't he?

He loves it.

Yeah, if he wasn't doing solo and playing Friday and Saturday elsewhere he'd just be at Glasto probably. Last year he made a point of saying about the lineup not being that great in his opinion, should he sub he'll probably make an after comment about it being much better than last years.

[Brave Sir Robin]

Posted on the Who message board an hour ago:

Yep, Paris rescheduling is official.

To add to what PV just posted, I received the following email this morning from the Fan Club:

Dear Guest,

The Who concerts scheduled for June 28th and June 29th at Le Zenith in Paris, France have been cancelled. These two show dates will be postponed into one show date on June 30th at 8pm at Le Zenith.

If you want to keep your current tickets and exchange them for the new show date on June 30th, please confirm by replying to this message. If we do not receive a reply by Friday, May 8th, we will automatically exchange your tickets for the new show date.

If you cannot attend the new show date on June 30th, please request a refund for your tickets by replying to this email no later than Friday, May 8th. Refunds may take 3-5 weeks to fully process.

Thank you.

Fan Clubs | ONELIVE

512-371-6924 | 866-521-9734 fax

fanclub@onelivemedia.com | www.onelivemedia.com

[Mash011]

So they're actually fucking over people going to both gigs, not just the one? Spectacular. I'll watch them and probably enjoy them anyway, but that really is lousy for those who'd made plans.

[bennyhana22]

Posted on the Who message board an hour ago:

Yep, Paris rescheduling is official.

To add to what PV just posted, I received the following email this morning from the Fan Club:

Dear Guest,

The Who concerts scheduled for June 28th and June 29th at Le Zenith in Paris, France have been cancelled. These two show dates will be postponed into one show date on June 30th at 8pm at Le Zenith.

If you want to keep your current tickets and exchange them for the new show date on June 30th, please confirm by replying to this message. If we do not receive a reply by Friday, May 8th, we will automatically exchange your tickets for the new show date.

If you cannot attend the new show date on June 30th, please request a refund for your tickets by replying to this email no later than Friday, May 8th. Refunds may take 3-5 weeks to fully process.

Thank you.

Fan Clubs | ONELIVE

512-371-6924 | 866-521-9734 fax

fanclub@onelivemedia.com | www.onelivemedia.com

I am staggered that there is anyone who doesn't think that this just dreadful behaviour.

The post including the terribly sad plea from the guy flying from BRAZIL to Paris for the gig should be evidence enough that this is treating people appallingly. I hope that I have the moral fortitude that were it to be the behaviour of one of my favourite bands, I would find it equally abhorrent.

Many seem to be finding the concept so little a deal because either they genuinely cannot see the amorality of what The Who are doing, or they are blinkered by their love for the band, or a misguided concept of how it being Glastonbury justifies ignoring doing what is right.

As I have posted before, this is a terrible example to set to young people, in terms of honouring a commitment when failure to do so means that others suffer. No-one would question a pull-out for personal illness, family bereavement or illness, or even some unforeseen technical issues. But this is simply a case of 'well, I know we've committed to play a show, but we've got this much more exciting offer that would be better for us...so fuck 'em'. Nice role-modelling, chaps. Really classy.

I know I sound like a moaning minny, and I know that there are lots of people on here with such a connection with the festival that almost anything seems justifiable in the name of Glastonbury, but whatever way you spin this, it ain't right. And I don't give a monkey's if 'lots of bands cancel gigs...' blah blah blah. To pejoratively link to other aspects of discussion of this issue, lots of people exploit children and use child pornography. That doesn't make that right either...

And no silly come backs with 'are you comparing cancelling a gig to child exploitation?', as if you read what I've written you will see that I am simply using the two examples, one extreme, one less impacting, to make a moral argument.

Harrumph.

Ben

[Funkyfairy!]

That's a real tough one to swallow. Never seen them, would like to see them, but the way it's been done really sucks.

Do you think there will be a backlash against the bookers/ The Who ? It just seems fundamentally wrong. Making a commitment to real fans and then cancelling because there is somewhere you'd rather be just seems so so wrong :-(

[CaledonianGonzo]

I like that one they do off of the CSI show.

[bennyhana22]

That's a real tough one to swallow. Never seen them, would like to see them, but the way it's been done really sucks.

Do you think there will be a backlash against the bookers/ The Who ? It just seems fundamentally wrong. Making a commitment to real fans and then cancelling because there is somewhere you'd rather be just seems so so wrong :-(

I am sorry to say that I think it will have a negligible reaction from the vast majority, who will either be unaware of the events, or truly not give a shit. After all, they're getting to see The Who at Glastonbury. Brilliant!

Ben

[Icewulf]

I am staggered that there is anyone who doesn't think that this just dreadful behaviour.

The post including the terribly sad plea from the guy flying from BRAZIL to Paris for the gig should be evidence enough that this is treating people appallingly. I hope that I have the moral fortitude that were it to be the behaviour of one of my favourite bands, I would find it equally abhorrent.

Many seem to be finding the concept so little a deal because either they genuinely cannot see the amorality of what The Who are doing, or they are blinkered by their love for the band, or a misguided concept of how it being Glastonbury justifies ignoring doing what is right.

As I have posted before, this is a terrible example to set to young people, in terms of honouring a commitment when failure to do so means that others suffer. No-one would question a pull-out for personal illness, family bereavement or illness, or even some unforeseen technical issues. But this is simply a case of 'well, I know we've committed to play a show, but we've got this much more exciting offer that would be better for us...so fuck 'em'. Nice role-modelling, chaps. Really classy.

I know I sound like a moaning minny, and I know that there are lots of people on here with such a connection with the festival that almost anything seems justifiable in the name of Glastonbury, but whatever way you spin this, it ain't right. And I don't give a monkey's if 'lots of bands cancel gigs...' blah blah blah. To pejoratively link to other aspects of discussion of this issue, lots of people exploit children and use child pornography. That doesn't make that right either...

And no silly come backs with 'are you comparing cancelling a gig to child exploitation?', as if you read what I've written you will see that I am simply using the two examples, one extreme, one less impacting, to make a moral argument.

Harrumph.

Ben

I don't know. While I do find what they've done to be odd, and a bit of an FU to fans, I don't feel quite as strongly as some people on here.

People break commitments all the time, for various different reasons, and for that reason I never choose to see a gig anywhere I have to buy flights/hotel bookings just to see them.

Part of it might be that I live in London, so most bands play within a short distance from where I live. But yeah, I'm struggling to feel utterly enraged about this turn of events.

Surely these people have some sort of insurance, etc. to cover the travel side of things?

Anyway I couldn't bring myself to part with 100 odd quid to see them at The O2, so while I'm not a huge fan, I am mildly pleased to see them turn up.

The Chemical Brother is a mighty tempting clash on The Other Stage though!

[rivalschools.price]

I am sorry to say that I think it will have a negligible reaction from the vast majority, who will either be unaware of the events, or truly not give a shit. After all, they're getting to see The Who at Glastonbury. Brilliant!

Ben

This is the main point,most will be totally unaware that they were due to play in Paris that night.

[ghostdancer1]

i'm quite interested in how they're going to manage to fit 12,000 people into one 6,000 capacity venue. while i'm sure there'll be people who cant go, i can't see anywhere near 6k people not being able to make the new date...

[Icewulf]

i'm quite interested in how they're going to manage to fit 12,000 people into one 6,000 capacity venue. while i'm sure there'll be people who cant go, i can't see anywhere near 6k people not being able to make the new date...

First come first served I guess? That would explain why they've announced it to the Fan Club via email first.

[Crystal Waters]

I'm really struggling with this (if it turns out to be true).

On the one hand, I'd love to see The Who again and, if we hadn't got Glastonbury tickets, might have spent money on concert tickets for The Who .... we'd even thought about Paris! I know how p****d off we'd be if we'd ended up with no Glastonbury tickets, had tickets for The Who in Paris only to find out they had cancelled the Paris gig to play at Glastonbury. I do feel for those fans. Will we go and see The Who if they play at Glastonbury? Yes. It won't sit easy with me though.

Edited May 4, 2015 by Crystal Waters

[incident]

I am staggered that there is anyone who doesn't think that this just dreadful behaviour.

I'm staggered that you've not noticed - nobody is actually defending them. Nearly everyone agrees it's shit behaviour so your rant about peoples reaction is somewhat misplaced..

But truth is it's not the first time it's happened and it won't be the last. Plenty of artists cancel shows for shit reasons.

A couple years ago I lost money on Trains + Hotel because Leonard Cohen realised his show fell on a religious holiday, which to my mind is an even worse reason for postponing a concert.

In Dublin a few years ago, Prince cancelled a sold out 80,000 capacity stadium show basically because he was angry with something his management did.

Same stadium, last year Garth Brooks sold out 5 shows, the council pointed out the venue was only licensed to run 3 so instead of move 2 of them across town he got the huff and cancelled the lot.

Edited May 4, 2015 by incident

[Keithy]

I'm equally disappointed that Glastonbury are involved in this whole shabby episode. Doesn't really fit in with the Glastonbury ethos to me. Infact, to me, it's the exact opposite of what Glastonbury stands for. Self serving, opportunistic and a bit desperate.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Meet the new (high) hoss, same as the old (high) hoss.

[Ipayne]

Yes, an extremely shitty move from the band and they really shouldn't be able to just get away with it. However, I don't think we should try crush peoples excitement for being able to see The Who at Glastonbury either. I'm not going to miss a band I really like and may never get to see again because of their poor professionalism, sure I'll have the Paris thing niggling in the back of my mind feeling slightly guilty when it should have been someone else seeing them that night, but at the end of the day The Who are playing and if someone really wants to see them don't try bring them down because of a problem that should only be The Who's.

Sorry for the rant btw. I don't usually. Be Happy.

[oneeye]

If this is true, then yep they're class A arseholes for fucking over the French, but not really surprising.

From not paying taxes to letting fans down, they've all graced the hallow fields of Pilton over the years, and we all turn out to see them.

I'll watch them, and enjoy them, but they're still arseholes.

If I was a true man of principles I wouldn't have watched the Rolling Stones or U2 for example, but I am weak........

[Redwinevino]

Utter scum move from them and from the festival to ask them to do it, very very disappointed.

[dan05delaney]

i'm quite interested in how they're going to manage to fit 12,000 people into one 6,000 capacity venue. while i'm sure there'll be people who cant go, i can't see anywhere near 6k people not being able to make the new date...

Thats if both concerts were sell outs... they will know the numbers and they obviously sold only enough tickets to hold one date

[ghostdancer1]

First come first served I guess? That would explain why they've announced it to the Fan Club via email first.

well, that's even shittier so.

[mozzy]

Who-shmoo, I’ve still got a ticket for The Smiths gig at Liverpool University in 1984 which the twats pulled out of to do Top Of The fucking Pops - we only found out on the night that they’d bumped up support band Red Guitars but were at least offering refunds. Frankly I’m beginning to think it’s not going to be rearranged either.

[bennyhana22]

I'm staggered that you've not noticed - nobody is actually defending them. Nearly everyone agrees it's shit behaviour so your rant about peoples reaction is somewhat misplaced..

But truth is it's not the first time it's happened and it won't be the last. Plenty of artists cancel shows for shit reasons.

A couple years ago I lost money on Trains + Hotel because Leonard Cohen realised his show fell on a religious holiday, which to my mind is an even worse reason for postponing a concert.

In Dublin a few years ago, Prince cancelled a sold out 80,000 capacity stadium show basically because he was angry with something his management did.

Same stadium, last year Garth Brooks sold out 5 shows, the council pointed out the venue was only licensed to run 3 so instead of move 2 of them across town he got the huff and cancelled the lot.

Except they have defended them, incident. I've been indulgent enough to have followed the threads since the first sign of The Sun Online breaking the story, and a number of people have commented on it being 'only 6000 people'. Yes, most have some moral outrage, but not all.

I'm probably being a bit disproportionate, and like other posters have observed, I'm not naive enough to realise that plenty of the privileged consider it acceptable to fuck people over, and we're all guilty of turning a blind eye. I also am not trying to encourage any 'movement' against the band.

Maybe what I am is disappointed. I romantically envisage my first Glastonbury as retaining the unique communal, morally sound egalitarian values with which I associate it. This just doesn't fit with that ethos. Enough said. I'm not going to be at the Pyramid, and never was, so I'll get off my soapbox.

Ben

[rivalschools.price]

Thats if both concerts were sell outs... they will know the numbers and they obviously sold only enough tickets to hold one date

If the tickets weren't selling well and they had booked two dates but only sold enough tickets for one, then I suppose the cancellation isn't so bad.

[Spindles]

I am sorry to say that I think it will have a negligible reaction from the vast majority, who will either be unaware of the events, or truly not give a shit. After all, they're getting to see The Who at Glastonbury. Brilliant!

Ben

It was pointed out in this thread that Morrissey did exactly this 4 years ago to play Glastonbury and no one gave a flying flick for it.

Thats if both concerts were sell outs... they will know the numbers and they obviously sold only enough tickets to hold one date

This.

Which doesn't exactly speak volumes of their appeal, if it is the case. It could be that they had less than 6000 tickets sold over 2 nights, if that's the case as a returning recent headliner with no new material you have to wonder how much of a draw they will be on the night regardless of any reasons to dislike them for behaviour.