AC/DC Says Lars

[dentalplan]

I remember Brian dismissed Stadium of Light because of him 'never being able to step foot in Newcastle again'. Might have been joking though.

I can't see them doing a proper tour of the stadiums like Foos are doing. With such a big setup, bands usually just do multiple nights at the same venue so they don't have to cart it around and assemble it over and over don't they?

[hurdy]

it's the 5th I believe

Thought I read the 3rd for absolute? Prob wrong, can't find any reference to it now.

[dentalplan]

Last tour they just played Manchester London Birmingham and Glasgow arenas. One night each I think.

True but this tour is supposed to have a massive centre stage.

That said though, U2 played at four stadiums on their 360 tour and if this setup is similar then it should be manageable.

[Dom Wall]

Wasn't there rumours of AC/DC doing St James' Park?

[hurdy]

True but this tour is supposed to have a massive centre stage.

Honest question... Other than the Hellfest organiser's quote, has there been any other reference to the ROB tour having a massive centre stage?

[dentalplan]

Honest question... Other than the Hellfest organiser's quote, has there been any other reference to the ROB tour having a massive centre stage?

http://www.byzegut.fr/2014/11/acdc-stades-de-france-scene-centrale.html

This was two weeks ago and this dude's a French radio DJ and big AC/DC fan.

[brettredmayne]

Wasn't there rumours of AC/DC doing St James' Park?

Too small , I know it is a bigger stadium then Sunderland but for gigs it is restricted to around 28,000 I think whilst Sunderland holds 57,000

[hurdy]

http://www.byzegut.fr/2014/11/acdc-stades-de-france-scene-centrale.html

This was two weeks ago and this dude's a French radio DJ and big AC/DC fan.

Erm... Is that it?

[dentalplan]

Erm... Is that it?

Yeah I guess so. It's obviously not officially confirmed yet but the dates aren't either. It's not like they're a band who usually just play in front of a banner though.

[hurdy]

Yeah, I know that. And I'm fairly confident that they will have a huge set up when they play their stadium/outdoor ROB global gigs.

What I'm struggling with is why that rules them out (or makes them less likely) of playing the pyramid. Other than one quote from a French festival organiser and previous demands at Download (some years ago and qualified in the Rolling Stone interview) that is?

[Dom Wall]

Too small , I know it is a bigger stadium then Sunderland but for gigs it is restricted to around 28,000 I think whilst Sunderland holds 57,000

Yeah seemed a strange layout for KOL, but if AC are having this massive centre stage wouldn't it work?

[Matt42]

By the looks of it this tour looks like it's completely for the money

I doubt they've even been asked to play Glastonbury, if they want big stadium shows it's a definite no

[hurdy]

Is it not possible to do big stadium shows... And outdoor shows... And... glastonbury?

[CaledonianGonzo]

As opposed to the intentionally loss-making tours that other acts do.

[dentalplan]

Yeah, I know that. And I'm fairly confident that they will have a huge set up when they play their stadium/outdoor ROB global gigs.

What I'm struggling with is why that rules them out (or makes them less likely) of playing the pyramid. Other than one quote from a French festival organiser and previous demands at Download (some years ago and qualified in the Rolling Stone interview) that is?

I don't think it rules them out but it certainly makes them less likely if they don't seem to be doing any other festivals, and the reason given being that they cost too much and their stage couldn't work with festivals. They could do Glastonbury and leave the stage and take a lower fee but why would they wanna? Plus, the rumour itself was borne out of somebody thinking Peter Mensch was still their manager.

By the looks of it this tour looks like it's completely for the money

I doubt they've even been asked to play Glastonbury, if they want big stadium shows it's a definite no

If they've gone all out with the stage setup, they need the big money to actually get paid on top of that.

Wouldn't say it's just for the money anyway. They can have stadiums full of fans getting probably their last chance to see them, why waste time playing to a crowd at a festival?

[CaledonianGonzo]

I think the Peter Mensch thing was that he's become their manager again.

That said, I've not seen that confirmed or ruled out anywhere else.

[dentalplan]

I think the Peter Mensch thing was that he's become their manager again.

That said, I've not seen that confirmed or ruled out anywhere else.

Someone needs to get on Twitter and ask Louise Mensch again. Not that it was particularly successful last time.

[hurdy]

They fell out with Mensch all those years ago didn't they?

I still haven't seen anything reliable that says it was him on the side of the stage. Just a supposition from the Indy and a tweet from someone at the bbc who doesn't actually say they witnessed it.

[ghostdancer1]

Wouldn't say it's just for the money anyway. They can have stadiums full of fans getting probably their last chance to see them, why waste time playing to a crowd at a festival?

i saw this mentioned a few times in the FM thred, and it makes no sense.

why would any big band "waste time playing to a crowd at a festival" in that case? they'd often make more money from their own gigs...

the fact is that festivals are an additional revenue stream, and mean more exposure and potential fans to make money from.

if the choice is:

10 gigs making 1m for each

vs.

10 gigs making 1m for each + 750k for headlining Glastonbury (plus additional album sales from new fans)

then why wouldn't you do the 2nd option?

there's only so many standalone gigs a band can sell to fans.

festivals are an easy payday.

[dentalplan]

i saw this mentioned a few times in the FM thred, and it makes no sense.

why would any big band "waste time playing to a crowd at a festival" in that case? they'd often make more money from their own gigs...

the fact is that festivals are an additional revenue stream, and mean more exposure and potential fans to make money from.

if the choice is:

10 gigs making 1m for each

vs.

10 gigs making 1m for each + 750k for headlining Glastonbury (plus additional album sales from new fans)

then why wouldn't you do the 2nd option?

there's only so many standalone gigs a band can sell to fans.

festivals are an easy payday.

That's not the same for every band. AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac are at a level where they can pretty much just keep announcing these shows and making more than Glastonbury would give them for each one, and album sales are obviously a pittance to them otherwise they probably wouldn't be touring in their late 60's. They're nearly as big as the Stones who didn't even want to be on telly, and quite rightly because a lot of the people watching at home thought they were crap.

£750k is more than the standard Glastonbury fee is believed to be anyway. It's more like 11 gigs for £1m (or more) vs. 10 gigs for £1m (or more) and Glastonbury without any production for £250k plus album sales.

[brettredmayne]

it's the 5th I believe

t in the park goes on sale the 5th

[CaledonianGonzo]

Even less likely for T than they would be for Glasto - not least because they're supposedly playing Hampden.

[Brave Sir Robin]

Isn't Mensch Metallica's manager? Isn't that why he would have been at the side of the stage?

[CaledonianGonzo]

Yes and yup. Not just Metallica - he runs Q-Prime, so also has folk like The Black Keys on his roster.

[michael eavis' beard]

i saw this mentioned a few times in the FM thred, and it makes no sense.

why would any big band "waste time playing to a crowd at a festival" in that case? they'd often make more money from their own gigs...

the fact is that festivals are an additional revenue stream, and mean more exposure and potential fans to make money from.

if the choice is:

10 gigs making 1m for each

vs.

10 gigs making 1m for each + 750k for headlining Glastonbury (plus additional album sales from new fans)

then why wouldn't you do the 2nd option?

there's only so many standalone gigs a band can sell to fans.

festivals are an easy payday.

As has been said several times, it comes down to how much they actually want to play Glastonbury/other festivals.

If they really want to play then they will have to accept a fraction of their usual fee and they won't be able to have their usual stage set up. If they aren't really that bothered about it or think it might be an alright idea, then they will probably decide against it when they find out what their fee would be.

Traditionally they have always gone with the payday. Possibly their recent changes in circumstances may mean their priorities have changed. However, if they're announcing 80,000 capacity gigs at around £100+ a pop then maybe the cash is still their main reason for touring.

The Stones traditionally went for the payday too but decided to forgo that to play Glastonbury - however they apparently got the highest fee paid to a headliner - and I doubt they would do that for AC/DC.