In case you haven't noticed, 2007 is rapidly shaping up to be the year of the reunion, as far as what you will be seeing on your nearest concert stage this summer. Bands who could barely stand to be in the same room with each other — no less actually play together — seem to be tripping all over each other to cash in on the possibilities offered by the lucrative market of $200 plus concert tickets and a quick pay day.
I could easily go off right now on how the price of tickets these days has priced the average Joe right out of the experience many of us boomer types shared (along with a bong hit or two) in the years of our youthful rebellion "sticking it to the man."
Just last year, there was a single week here in Seattle where the Stones, The Who, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, and Dylan played shows, which any one of us would have gone to at any cost back in the day, but usually ended up costing around six bucks a ticket. These days however, a week like that might work if only you are Bill Gates or Paul Allen. But anyway, like I said, I won't go into that right now.
Rather, let's talk about the big bonanza the upcoming concert season looks to be, with the reunions of everyone from the Police to Crowded House to Jesus Christ and the Three Wisemen, for all I know.
With tickets for even two of these shows, the concert-goer and his special someone — with all of the accompanying parking, condiments, and the like — Joe Six Pack is likely to spend a weeks pay. We feel it's our obligation, as a public service, to handicap these shows in order for you, the concert-goer, to get the best value out of your entertainment dollar.
What follows is our basic guide to all of this 2007 reunion mania. We will tell you what is actually happening and give you our prognosis on the best bets (The Reality). We will also cover the rumors of what may lie ahead (The Rumors), as well as going over some of the reunions, in the best MAD Magazine tradition, we would actually like to see (The Ridiculous).
But before we start, let it be noted that the one reunion not being talked about that I would pay these sort of prices to see would be the original Pink Floyd with Roger Waters. Which right now I expect will actually be underway sometime next year. Anyway, onward we go:
The Reality:
The Police: Right now this hands down looks to be the tour of the year unless the rumors (which I will address below) of a Led Zeppelin reunion prove to be true. Sting may have once said he would be insane to reunite with his bandmates Summers and Copeland, but the advance sales for this tour have only proven he would have been insane not to. The timing is apparently absolutely right for this and whether or not Sting really needed it or not, our three favorite New Wave blond cops from the eighties are going to positively clean up on this one.
Article comments
1 - JC Mosquito
Sublime, Mr. B!
I suppose it was too, too, easy to slip in some comment about the G'n'R tour this summer.... or was that next summer? Hmm..... when's hell s'posed to freeze over next?
2 - Perry/Chicago
I think you should hedge your bet on the Genesis Tour. Although I for one was hoping for the five piece, the bulk of the fans are indeed into the pop trio version. Even saw a poll somewhere that had the preference as high as 76%.
In an article from The Bob Lefsetz Music Industry Newsletter, he states the numbers were run by promoter Michael Cohl and again they were favoring the pop trio. "Rumor has it that Gabriel just won't commit. He's not ready yet. And that might be true, but the real story is Michael Cohl ran the numbers and he found out NOBODY WANTED TO SEE THE OLD GENESIS!" Read the entire story "Reunions" here.
And with the Fan Club and American Express presales underway, and judging by the fact that nothing but nose bleeders are being offered at this point, I think come the General Public sale on Monday, you will see the act adding second shows in some of the bigger cities.
Perry/Chicago
The Best Radio You Have Never Heard
3 - lono
I can't possibly see the Zep thing happening. As happy as that would make me, I just don't see it. Also, it is too late for this summer. Something THAT massive (I am talking about the most important and massive tour in the history of rock and roll) would not sneak up in a few months. If they started today it would be 2008 at the earliest.
Holy shit that would be amazing. They would have to play only football stadiums, which would also be cool... because these basketball arenas just totally suck.
Also, I have to mention my beloved Pumpkins. It isn't really even a re-union, just Billy and the drummer. However, that is all the studio pumpkins ever were - Billy and Jimmy. The other two were just there to fill the band out live.
Viva Led Zep!
4 - lono
Oh, and we must put somewhere between the rumors and ridiculous a full Guns $ Roses reunion.
By the way, not a typo. I shall be referring to Guns & Roses as Guns $ Roses going forward. As Gonzo Marx would say > your results may vary
5 - Glen Boyd
I dunno man. I'm still holding out hope for either a Raspberries or a Blind Faith reunion tour this year. Anybody with me on this?
-Glen
6 - Mark Saleski
i'd be curious to see Zep but...i dunno. Page isn't exactly known for being a tight live player. every live recording i've heard (barring the very early Led Zep stuff) has been a kind of sloppy mess.
7 - Glen Boyd
I've seen Zep about half a dozen times, and Page has been a shadow of his formerly great self for years now. I saw the Page/Plant reunion thing ten years ago, and outside of a certain nostalgia factor (there was more pot smoke in the air that night than I've seen at a show since the seventies), it was no big deal. Still, Zeppelin's legendary status pretty much guarantees that a tour would do huge business. Especialy since there is now an entire generation who have never senn them, that still hold them in very high regard. Would I go though. Nope.
-Glen
8 - JC Mosquito
Pagey - sloppy? Excpet early Zep? Nawww... sloppy all the time! But that's his style - I was just listening to the break in Heartbreaker yesterday - go ahead - try to hum or scat along with that solo. Near impossible, but impossibly beautiful at the same time.
9 - John Bianco
Genesis is a toss up, I think either version will sell. Saw them 22 time, 4 with Gabriel and 16 with Collins. I would take Selling England by the Pound and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway hands down. But either way, Tony Banks is why I would go, he is Genesis, regardless to what Peter or Phil did, Progressive or Pop, Mr Banks is the best keyboard player around.
10 - jay
Genesis did a smart thing in terms of selecting only the US cities that they know they will be a draw. They sold out in Philly in no time and added a second show. Sure a Gabriel led Genesis would be amazing, but there are plenty of us that still "give a shit" and know that the music that Genesis did with Phil is significantly better than the corporate rock crap output of a band like REO Speedwagon.
11 - Perry/Chicago
What is the difference between crap output and corporate crap output?
Crap is crap
Bands have all the ability in the world to turn out crap all by themselves.
It's not always "the Man" who is behind crap output.
One must look at each other.
Give people a choice, and they pick crap every time.
Isn't the man just filling our plates with more fast food hell?
And much has been made about bands being sellouts to corporate sponsors and should be ashamed of themselves for not being true to the art.
But then the cries for high ticket prices ($227 top price) for an un-sponsored tour (Genesis) and the bedwetters are crying foul that the show is priced out of their pocket.
Pay your money make your choice.
Look at a few silly banners or commercials and have them whack the top end off that ticket for you.
Corporate scum suddenly doesn't sound so bad . . .
Perry/Chicago
The Best Radio You Have Never Heard
12 - Max
Well, tickets for the Genesis show in Toronto went on sale at 10:00am today. I logged onto ticketmaster at 1:00pm. and did a search for two tickets. I was presented with two floors in the 20th row for $227.00 if I wanted them (I didn't). I think it's pretty safe to say if these tickets are avaialable three hours after they were released, this isn't shaping up to rival The Police reunion.
13 - Lono
regarding the Blind Faith comment, that would be nice. However, Clapton is playing for 'Police' like prices ($200 for a good seat) for the last twenty years. Let's just say that we could somehow get the AMAZING Stevie Winwood and the terrific Eric Clapton together... who the hell could afford those seats? using my current rate inflation calculator, tickets would be approximate $800 each.
This would only be eclipsed by a full Pink Floyd reunion, which would sell tix at a flat rate $1000 per ticket.
Sorry y'all, I just can't get excited about rock anymore. Tickmaster and the touring business have sucked all the joy out. Last weekend, Police tickets went on sale. When I logged on around 2 pm to see if tickets were left, I was told by Ticketbastard that I could begin bidding on tickets at $500 each.
really? go fuck yourself Sting. Sorry, a loaded rant as I was just commenting over at my piece on Eddie Van Halen. That news, coupled with Chinese Democracy being not released again as promised after 15 years makes me wonder what we are doing this for?