Did Neil Young Just Call Dead & Co. And Phish Sell-Outs?
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Philzone Refugee
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Along with all the other large touring acts? Sure sounds that way.
Neil's statement today:
Recently I pulled out of Farm Aid for fear that unprotected children may become infected with Covid by folks who went to the show, caught the virus, had no symptoms and returned home to hug their kids or someone else’s kids. I felt that we didn’t know what we were up against and we were endangering others, unprotected innocent children in particular. I know of tours that are out there and have to stop where they are and isolate in motels because one person among them tested positive. I ask myself, why are they out there?
Money and business. These two need each other. This has been the American way for years and years. Now it has turned on the country in a new way.
Garth Brooks and others like him have been responsible and pulled back from doing more shows. That’s a good example. But it will take the big promoters and managers/ agents to make the difference. If it’s all about money, I think they should protect the people who are their livelihood.
The big promoters, if they had the awareness, could stop these shows. Without that, everyone just keeps going like everything is OK. It’s not. Live Nation, AEG and the other big promoters could shut this down if they could just forget about making money for a while….. They control much of the entertainment business. They hold the power to stop shows where thousands congregate and spread. It’s money that keeps it going. Money that motivates the spreading. The big promoters are responsible for super spreaders.
These giants of entertainment just renovated a lot of old venues and spent a lot of cash to do that. Now they can’t stop selling tickets to pay for it. Money and business. That doesn’t make this OK. It’s a bad example. Folks see concerts advertised and think it must be OK to go and mingle. It’s not. These are super-spreader events, irresponsible Freedom Fests. We need Freedom to be safe. Not a bad example. This could be just the beginning.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: long live the dead
Complete sell out
Complete sell out
money gougers
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
>>>Complete sell out...money
>>>Complete sell out...money gougers<<<
Says the guy who's been to every single show that's happened the past six weeks.
And I say that statement is Neil's crazy wife talking, or he's just so full of himself he doesn't know what's up or down, except in his own mind of course (which has very possibly been true for about 50 years now).... or both.
And Neil Young is bitching about money-gougers??? He's always been a league-leaguer in that category.
And it sure sounds like Neil (or whoever wrote that message) thinks he's smarter and has "deeper vision" than any of us poor, mindless patrons, sadly unable to understand what's happening and make our own decisions.
I don't necessarily think he's wrong, but I say shut up Neil. It's a crazy topsy-turvy world these days, everyone is making their own call now.
You made yours, others are making theirs.
I guess this I-know-it-all-better-than-you attitude is what happens when one becomes an American citizen.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skifurthur
While I don't disagree with
While I don't disagree with what Mr. Young is saying, I also understand that he is in a fiscal position to postpone any show until the coast is clear.
The truth is most components of the touring world are not in that position and that includes the big promoters. Most of the performers and promoters NEED the shot of capital that touring provides, as do all the various crew members of both. Without exception, every crew member I have spoken (and there are a lot) has stated that if the current tours they are involved in get shut down, they lose everything...their homes, their cars, etc. It's come down to die or tour and hopefully not die. Even the performers who have continued to pay payroll for crew have run out of those funds for the most part.
These are uncharted waters and nobody really knows were any of this will end up yet. All I know is if I had the funds available, I would short Live Nation and AEG.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: doctor
>>Says the guy who's been to
>>Says the guy who's been to every single show that's happened the past six weeks.
LOL
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
>While I don't disagree with what Mr. Young is saying, I also understand that he is in a fiscal position to postpone any show until the coast is clear.<
true.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: JP (J Bomb)
I believe we are at a point
I believe we are at a point where you can stay home if you want to, or go the out if you want to. For many people the risk is negligible and for others the thought of leaving their house makes them nervous. Make up your own fucking mind.
And yes, that statement has Hannah the Banana written all over it. I'd imagine they penned it while sipping a silky Santa Barbara pinot, on their Malibu lanai.
Tony I actually picked up Live Nation stock this week. Unless the FTC gets heavily involved (unlikely) I think you'll see it double in the next year.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
I recall reading about Tom
I recall reading about Tom Waits disdain for Crosby, Stills and Nash (and presumably, by association, Young). He felt they were profiting off of their image as being revolutionaries, while living the excessive lives of rock stars. He referred to them as Crosby Steals the Cash. This was in the early mid-70s, when their tours were amongst the biggest draws on the road.
Of course, since then, they have all remained involved in charitable causes, most notably Neil's work with The Bridge School and Farm Aid. For Neil to drop out of Farm Aid is no small thing. He is part of the Board of Directors. His stance is similar to the one recently announced by Alejandro Escovedo, who has cancelled his shows for now, as he can't stomach the thought that someone coming to see his music could become severely ill or die, or cause someone else to through transmitting the virus. I'd imagine that in financial terms, this is a riskier proposition for the less popularly acclaimed Escovedo than it is for Young, but in either case, their decisions are respectable for their empathy for others and personal sacrifice.
There is no question, Tony, that for the less affluent artists, these times are a crucible, both for their livelihoods and artistic aspirations. The question I posited in the original post wasn't about them, however. It was about the already established, large concert drawing artists. There's a big difference between Phil playing to small, socially distanced crowds at the outdoor park next to TXR and D&C playing at packed stadiums and sheds. Same goes for Phish. Undoubtedly, these shows are serving as superspreader events. There is a probability that someone will contract the virus (even if vaccinated themselves) and take the virus home with them, resulting in a child, elder or immuno-compromised contact becoming ill and possibly dieing. The question is whether touring under these circumstances for the well-heeled artists is the ethically correct move, and if they have chosen profit over social responsibility, I.e. have they sold out?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skifurthur
I did get where you were
I did get where you were coming from, Dave. You might be surprised on how many of the big acts are also on the financial ropes from this all. Some of these tours are round trip deals with the promoters who paid out and large advance as well as a minimum pay out at the end of a tour. Those who have accepted the advance, which may be already spent, now face substantial penalties if they cancel these tours, payable to the promoter. With some we are talking millions of dollars in penalties. I can't say what the financial status of Dead & Co or Phish is but I have a feeling that it isn't quite as rosy as some may think. I base this on the early tour dates not having any attendance protocols in place until they were forced upon the promoters by the various states. Only then did LN say, "We are only going by what the artists want." While that might be factually correct, they aren't saying that "we are taking the additional cost out of the artists payouts to cover the additional cost of screening those protocols. After all, somebody has to pay for it!"
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: long live the dead
Slow and co charges wasaaay
Slow and co charges wasaaay tooooooo much
and gouges
yes, I love going to shows, and do love a good price per ounce show
Everyone has their own view, and value system
obviously
god bless rock n roll
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: An organ grinder’s tune
i thought the dso campout was
i thought the dso campout was a good test. i mean if if multiple didn't by this time come out with it...there was no real way to be fully hygenic.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Dr. Benway
how dare i make the choice
how dare i make the choice for myself to engage in activities that may hold some level of risk? i need neil young to tell me how to fell about things, apparently people are no longer capable of making basic risk assesments or deciding what kind of discussion they want to engage in online - freedom is to dangerous, we need to end the freedom pandemic
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: long live the dead
Sample of price per ounce
Sample of price per ounce
China cats free free parking
GREAT cover band in capitola $15 With way better singing than slow curdle
crows free outdoors loud free parking
GNR $40 indoors $15 parking super loud w like 20,000 people mask on
Apple jacks today free
and another approx 15 shoes recently Some free some not
The greatest band in the land tomorrow $50 (Life is worth living)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Neil Young helped gentrify
Neil Young helped gentrify California.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: .44 Smokeless
>> The greatest band in the
>> The greatest band in the land tomorrow $50 (Life is worth living)
DNB are absolutely a good time and I have enjoyed seeing them every few years for the last 27 years. I could not imagine seeing them multiple nights in a row, but that's just like my opinion, man.
And $50 probably gets you through the doors into any Dead Co show you'd like even if they are keeping the pit and close seats priced for their investment banker fans. Different strokes for different folks but I've enjoyed following the Dead Co setlists from afar and getting reports from the road from old friends taking in the shows. I'm not seeing them this tour but I'm sure I'll see them again someday and they've always been good times.
Have fun seeing the best band in YOUR land tomorrow, maybe let everyone else follow their bliss and refrain from pissing on their happiness like a cranky old bitch as that is a pathetic look and if I were in your shoes, I'd stop embarrassing myself in that manner.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Roarshock
"maybe let everyone else
"maybe let everyone else follow their bliss and refrain from pissing on their happiness like a cranky old bitch"
Maybe take your own advice in that regard.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: and then there's
phish at least is worth the
phish at least is worth the risk
also:
neil'sgonnaneil
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: long live the dead
Different strokes for
Different strokes for different folks
dnb 20 times a year yes
Former members of the Grateful Dead once a year yes
Follow YOUR bliss From afar
I will do fish Tuesday just for the novelty
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
Paid $120 face to see Neil
Paid $120 face to see Neil solo acoustic a few years back. Money & business....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Strangha
It's not all about you and
It's not all about you and your "freedom", Daylight.
It's about overall effect on the health of the people as we're dealing with a stealthy HIGHLY transmissible virus that has killed over 600,000 fellow Americans, not to mention the economic effects of closing our country down.
Now if the unvaccinated would just agree to stay away from everyone else, it might not be so bad. But they mingle, unknowing of the possibilities.
But they have their freedom! And as I was told last week from the podium at an anti-vax/mask rally, they HAVE THE RIGHT to spread disease. But I wasn't able to find that in the Constitution.
And now a Texas veteran is dead from a gallstone because an ICU bed wasn't available. https://vivalazone.org/other-stuff/vet-dead-texas-fin-gallstone-no-icu-b...