RE: Advance warning of shows.

["Nigel Morton" <nigel@adastey.demon.co.uk>]

I see that Kevin Mc has signed up for Pollstar to try to get ahead with news
of Who touring.  Yep, it's a great "trade" magazine - I've been reading it
for years and years.  BUT it can only publish information if they're
provided with it by either the management, agent, publicist or label.  Many
managements don't bother to advise Pollstar of what's happening.  To the
best of my knowledge The Who are represented in US by Premier Talent (though
there are rumours that it may soon be closing it's doors) and in the UK
they're, effectively, represented by Harvey Goldsmith @ AMP who also helps
sell-on or oragnize other European dates.  Another decent trade publication
is Audience - www.audience.uk.com but like Pollstar they're dependant upon
being provided with the information.

There's also been the debate about JEB playing in the UK and the fact he
doesn't.  I'd personally love to see them perform over here BUT they really
don't have a proven "track" record and the fact that JE is the bassist in
the greatest band in the world doesn't, I'm afraid, mean anything.  There is
an old adage I learnt off a promoter 20 odd years ago which is, "two
specials guest do not make a headliner" - in other words an act that's
capable of selling out a 1,000 cap venue in their own right when added to a
major act at a larger arena they are the special guest and will have, some
(minimal) appeal in adding audience figures if the headline act is perhaps
being ambitious in playing the larger arena or they want an insurance and
opt for a "name" special guest. But, conversely if you put together on the
same bill in a venue larger than normally played two acts that would qualify
to play there if they were the "special guests" to a bigger name there's
very little chance that between them they'd attract an audience that's
greater than what they'd have if they were playing alone.  I think this is
the case with JEB and I remember his ill-fated tour in the early '70's, when
The Who were probably at the height of their fame in the UK, and he didn't
draw diddleysquat!

Knowing the UK "oldies" market place pretty well I don't doubt that the
venues could be found BUT if they'd then realize the sort of money JEB would
probably need to make it work is extremelly doubtful.  And, as it's rumoured
that he's pretty skint at the best of times I doubt that John has spare
available cash to float and finance a tour off his own back.  A great shame
but it's the economics of touring and the wonderful rock n roll industry.
IN the meantime I satisfy myself on the JEB activities by reading the
postings and rantings of people like Bjorn etc.

Cheers folks,

Nigel