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Topic: ...more news reports/reviews from Singapore... Return to archive
03-28-03 04:38 AM
crashbandicoot001 ...from The Straits Times...

Rolling Stones scrap weekend concerts in HK

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/latest/story/0,4390,179649,00.html?

MARCH 27, 2003

Rolling Stones scrap weekend concerts in HK

HONGKONG -- The Rolling Stones announced on Thursday that they have cancelled their concerts in Hongkong over the weekend citing fears over the fast-spreading atypical pneumonia which has claimed 10 lives in the city so far.

The band said on its website that it had cancelled the concerts scheduled on March 28-29 'as a result of the warnings on Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) from the Hongkong government and the World Health Organisation'.

'Increases in the number of cases of Sars in Hongkong and Southern China and continued concern over large gatherings have created apprehension among fans and concern for their safety,' it said.

A spokesman for the venue, the Hongkong Exhibition and Convention Centre (HKCEC) said: 'The group has cancelled its concerts' because of the atypical pneumonia, and that 'a rescheduled plan will be announced later'.

The band has also planned to perform in Shanghai, but it was not immediately known if the concerts there have been cancelled as well.

Earlier, veteran American singer Andy Williams, 76, postponed his concert in Hongkong set for April 12 until June 6, citing 'global health concerns'.

Williams said he did not want his band taking health risks, the HKCEC spokesman said on Wednesday. -- AFP

-------------------------------------------------

Flak over flag



'At their age, if you don't catch them now, you'll never get to see them again.' - Mr Edwin Soh, 49, on the Rolling Stones' concert -- JONATHAN DRAKE

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/life/story/0,4386,179695,00.html?

MARCH 28, 2003

Flak over flag

Were the Stones' blown-up dollies dangling flags too suggestive for Singapore?

By Samuel Lee

THE ROLLING STONES' second show on Wednesday was marked by the absence of two towering inflatable female dolls.

Towards the end of the band's two-hour concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Monday, two poles - one hoisting a Singapore flag and the other, the Stones' classic tongue insignia - dangled from between the legs of the giant dolls.

According to sources, this apparently shocked the management of the Indoor Stadium.

Its general manager, Ms Jennifer Pok, said yesterday that its employees had 'advised' the event's Hongkong-based organiser, Live Limited, to remove the dolls and flags after being taken unawares on Monday.

'We didn't know they would be using the Singapore flag, otherwise we would have asked them to seek clearance for it, just in case they get into trouble afterwards,' she added.

Under guidelines from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the state flag is to be treated with dignity and respect. Any use - be it commercial, educational or entertainment - requires the PMO's prior written consent.

Live Limited could not be reached for comment but a source said that the flags and the dolls were part and parcel of the Stones' routine for its Licks World Tour.

'It's a gesture of recognition. They have been using the flag of whatever country they are in, be it Japan or Australia, as a prop,' the source said.

There was also rife speculation that ambassador-at-large Tommy Koh, who was at Monday's performance, had walked out about 30 minutes before the show ended at 10.55 pm in protest.

Dismissing it as baseless rumours, a source close to him said that Professor Koh had left the stadium at about 10.30 pm simply because 'Mrs Koh was tired'.

The Kohs were there at the invitation of the British High Commissioner Alan Collins, who was also rocking along.

Monday's gig drew many VIPs, including the Prime Minister's wife, Mrs Goh Chok Tong, as well as hotelier Ong Beng Seng.

Wednesday's show drew MP (East Coast GRC) Tan Soo Khoon and Taiwan-based balladeer Emil Chau.



-----------------------------------------------------------


HK gigs cancelled


A SHARP rise in the number of cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in Hongkong has caused the Rolling Stones to cancel its concerts there today and tomorrow.

Yesterday morning, the band announced the cancellation on its website www.rollingstones.com

According to the posting, the Stones pulled the plug on Hongkong because increases in the number of Sars cases there and in southern China had 'created apprehension among fans and concern for the band's safety'.

The two sold-out shows at the Exhibition And Convention Centre in Hongkong's Wanchai district will be rescheduled and full refunds made for those who want their money back.

At press time, neither the band's management nor the event organiser, Live Limited, would give any indication when the refunds and the rescheduled gigs were expected to take place.

The Stones' China gigs - Shanghai next Tuesday and Beijing on April 4 - are still going ahead as scheduled, said Live Limited's managing director Colleen Ironside.

In Hongkong, fans like finance director Francis Heng were sad but stoic about the news.

'I'm disappointed but understand that the health risk is a real one.

'So it's a correct decision for the band not to go ahead with the shows,' said Mr Heng, a Singaporean in his 40s who had bought two pairs of HK$600 (S$132) tickets for his wife and another couple for tomorrow night's gig.

Meanwhile, the British band appears to be staying put in Singapore - for now.

Plans by its members to check out of their suites at the Four Seasons Hotel by yesterday afternoon were shelved, along with bookings for transfers to Changi Airport, a source said. --Samuel Lee



-----------------------------------------------------------


Did the Rolling Stones sink?


By TOMMY WEE


THE ROLLING STONES steamrolled into town, raised rock 'n' roll hell and caused a boulder-sized dent in the pockets of concert fans.

But Mick Jagger and crew are not your average rock band. They are a heavier investment, having been brought into town by Hongkong-based promoter Live Limited for a reported $3.5 million.

With tickets costing between $100 and $500, it was the most expensive rock concert in Singapore, beating out top-tier price tags of Michael Jackson ($200 in 1996), Whitney Houston ($395 in 1997), and Mariah Carey ($260 in 2000).

Industry sources calculated that in order for the Stones' concerts to break even, 95 per cent of the 8,500-seater Singapore Indoor Stadium would have had to be filled on both nights.

That works out to some 8,000 seats per night, with an estimated total ticket revenue of $7 million for both nights.

Monday night's concert saw some 6,500 fans, while Wednesday's concert played to 7,200 people. On Wednesday night, some 1,500 people received last-minute complimentary tickets from organisers, whom sources say were trying to fill the stadium.

Observers note that the 5,000 or so unsold tickets for both nights - plus concert taxes, GST, advertising costs, ticket and administration charges - may account for losses of up to $2 million for the organisers.

On industry talk that the Stones' concerts did not make money, Ms Colleen Ironside, managing director of Live Limited, says: 'It's got nothing to do with other people or observers. It's not their money. It's an honour to have worked with the Stones; I'll do it again.'

Over the two nights, the Stones' concerts were estimated to have sucked out a hefty $3.5 million in concert-spending dollars here, out of a total of about $10 million a year.

A veteran in the concert-promoting industry, who declined to be named, notes: 'For a band as big as the Stones, 70 per cent of the tickets should have been below $120 and a bigger venue should have been used. That way a critical mass of concert-goers is more likely to be achieved and everybody wins.'



-----------------------------------------------------------


The Stones could only get better


By ONG SOH CHIN
DEPUTY EDITOR


IF MONDAY night was the first date, Wednesday night was full-on consummation.

For it was on Wednesday that the Rolling Stones pulled out the stops and really hit their stride. They seemed more relaxed, too - in person and in their playing.

The 7,000-strong crowd was a little different from Monday's. Not only was it more evenly mixed in terms of race, age and gender - Monday's was almost predominantly white, middle-aged and male - it also seemed more responsive.

Perhaps it had something to do with the set, which boasted a few improved variations.

Instead of lesser-known numbers like Sweet Virginia and Can't You Hear Me Knocking, which were played on Monday, the Stones offered up the more familiar Angie and Midnight Rambler.

The latter, with its bluesy insouciance and its teasing loping rhythms, built up to an awe-inspiring crescendo of a jam which topped Monday night's Can't You Hear Me Knocking.

Angie, an obvious crowd pleaser and arguably the one song that was sorely missed on Monday night, drew roars of approval, even if Mick Jagger skirted around the high notes.

The band also served up Let It Bleed, All Down The Line, Live With Me, Thru And Thru and Happy. These came in place of Monday's Rocks Off, You Can't Always Get What You Want, Bitch, Slipping Away and Before They Make Me Run.

Also missing on Wednesday were the inflatable dolls, as well as the fireworks which ended the show.

But the Rolling Stones left the stage victorious, proving that even without the props, they are still the greatest show on earth.



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