Festival Republic managing director Melvin Benn tells Billboard.biz “it’s been another good year” for his events. As he looks back over a strong U.K. festival season, he makes Axl Rose‘s antics at Reading and Leeds Festivals sound like nothing more than a little local difficulty.
However, the approximate 20-minute overrun in breach of the 11pm curfew by GNR at Leeds Festival on Aug. 29 could cost Axl Rose and co £20,000 ($31,000) – or £1,000 ($1,539) for each minute.
A quick recap: Guns N’ Roses went on an hour late, at 10.30pm, at Reading Festival (Aug. 27) and protested when the sound was cut at midnight. The curfew was 11.30pm but Benn had secured an extra 30 minutes from the licensing authority, so no fine will be payable.
The band went on 30 minutes late in Leeds, but there was no such deal to extend the curfew. Rose has since taken to Twitter to make various claims, but Benn is clear that they should have finished at 11pm. He took the decision to let them play on, but today (Sept. 1) he confirms that Axl Rose may have to pay for his tardiness.
“There will probably be a fine to pay, it’s not determined yet,” says Benn. “The consequences are probably greater for Guns N’ Roses than they are for me.”
He confirms that any fine payable to Leeds’ licensing authority will be approximately £20,000 and will be deducted from GNR’s fee.
“I’m very bored about it because Guns N’ Roses were just one of 236 acts that played at both Reading and Leeds, and quite frankly every [act] is as valuable to me as any other,” he adds. “When you think of the other performances that actually did just bring amazing delight without any stupidity, people like Blink [182], Arcade Fire and the Libertines… all the bands that are starting out on the Introducing Stage, and Pendulum, Klaxons and Mumford & Sons. It has become a bit boring focusing on the antics of Axl Rose, really.”
Rose’s behavior has certainly become predictable, and may deter festival promoters from booking them in future.
Last night (Sept. 1) Guns N’ Roses also went on late – reports suggest at least one hour – at Dublin O2 Arena. Fans showed their frustration by throwing plastic bottles, which prompted the band to walk off after 20 minutes. They were persuaded to return an hour later and the show finally ended at 1am. Promoter MCD apologized to fans for the late finish.
Benn says Reading and Leeds sold out as quickly this year as in 2009 and confirms that he hopes to increase the capacity of Leeds from 70,000 to 80,000 next year. Reading’s capacity will remain at 87,000.
Andre Paine, London
