agree with what you said apart from this bit :

"Remember that UK is the only country in Europe to get all seated venues so that the old fans don't get too tired - other European audiences are much younger (as a rule). "

The only reason for the UK shows being all seated is so that they can get away with charging higher prices for tickets. If the audience is indeed older, its BECAUSE of that. Its NOT the other way around.

Gazza Wrote:
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> agree with what you said apart from this bit :
>
> "Remember that UK is the only country in Europe to
> get all seated venues so that the old fans don't
> get too tired - other European audiences are much
> younger (as a rule). "
>
> The only reason for the UK shows being all seated
> is so that they can get away with charging higher
> prices for tickets. If the audience is indeed
> older, its BECAUSE of that. Its NOT the other way
> around.

OK, but it is one of my major gripes - how to kill the atmosphere at a gig in one foul swipe.

The other reaon I mention the age thing is because of peoples reactions. If I mention that I'm going to see the Stones to my work colleagues they look at me funny and ask whether I'm a bit too young to see an old group. I'm 30 so no spring chicken. Like it or not, that is the perception of many in the UK and I'm all for anything that reverses the ill deserved reputation that the Stones have got.

By the way, I think the real BIG reason for the older audience is the price - most young people won't pay out big buckets for ONE band when they can go to a festival and see maybe 20 bands for the same price. I have many friends who are minor stones fans (maybe own 2 - 5 albums) but who won't go to see them for the prices charged - especially to sit at the back of a stadium.

sjs12 Wrote:
> By the way, I think the real BIG reason for the
> older audience is the price - most young people
> won't pay out big buckets for ONE band when they
> can go to a festival and see maybe 20 bands for
> the same price. I have many friends who are minor
> stones fans (maybe own 2 - 5 albums) but who won't
> go to see them for the prices charged - especially
> to sit at the back of a stadium.


Thats exactly my point. All seated shows = Higher prices = older audiences.

No coincidence that at any US Stones shows I've been at, the audience appears older than it is in the UK, and even more older than at shows on the continent (I've only seen South American shows on film, but they appear to be even younger again...)

Applications/registration form available from today.
I've thrown my hat into the ring and have applied.

[news.bbc.co.uk]

Interesting bit at the end of the bbc article, that michael eavis has denied that the biggest band in the world is U2, radiohead or the chilli peppers...

So was he just talking crap or is there another REALLY big band to be announced?

_____________________________________________________

What's your favourite flavour?...........Cherry Red!!

Mr Jimmy Wrote:
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>>
> So was he just talking crap or is there another
> REALLY big band to be announced?


probably the former

If the stones did play Glastonbury it would be a great way to re appeal to the younger generation, but i really can't see it happening

The biggest band in the world are the Stones. I'm surprised that you have to discuss this matter.

Why is it so hard to have the Stones to play this Festival?

crazymama Wrote:
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> The biggest band in the world are the Stones. I'm
> surprised that you have to discuss this matter.


WE know this crazymama, its just that other people don't necessarily agree, so we are trying to guess what other peoples idea of 'biggest band in the world' might be. You know what I mean?

_____________________________________________________

What's your favourite flavour?...........Cherry Red!!

marquess Wrote:
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> Why is it so hard to have the Stones to play this
> Festival?

Because tickets for a 3 day festival cost £100-150...depending. That money is paid by roughly 130,000 people. The money brought in pays for a gazillion different bands/acts/djs/sideshows and the like spread over (what seems like) half of somerset.

The stones, on past experience, appear to charge an arm and a leg to appear; thus if they *were* to appear at glastonbury, the amount paid to other acts would suffer, or the amount/quality of other acts/events would decrease.

As the bill of the festival is traditionally not made public until *after* the tickets have all been sold, there is only one way I can see the stones playing and that's

a) for free (or cheap)
b) for the sake of their credibility.

Y'all are entitled to your opinion as to the validity of (b) above.