Rita wrote:

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you need to all come to London - to avoid that one being cancelled, lol

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Well, it was advertised in Time out today, so it should be OK.

In general, London gigs are rarely, if ever, cancelled (sometimes postponed).   And for some good reasons. 

1. They are often last nights/first nights and have a party associated.
   
2. Celebrities/music industry/liggers all turn up for it.
   
3. It's a bit more embarrassing to cancel than Bristol.

A few years ago the Kinks did Wembley Arena, but have only sold a handful of tickets, they just put a big curtain up about half way down and every one was in front of that.

Some of the after gig parties are so big in London, more often than not, you end up getting passes from people who just can't be bothered.  Had many a drunken night paid for by benevolent rock stars! 

Hell, for the Thrills, I swear there were almost as many people for the party as the gig.  Though I have to thank a lovely girl from Virgin for supplying us with the requisite wrist bands!

I think it'll sell out stalls and first level (I noted level 2 aren't on sale any more), as  Londoners only worry about getting tickets in advance for the sell outs (like Franz Ferdinand) and will leave it late (often just buy on the night).

That said, Shepherd's Bush isn't ideal as far as that is concerned, because it's not a place I would plan to be on a Monday Night in December. 

Now if he had played the Almeida the night before in a Madonna like gig at Koko (which is available on Sunday 11th, hint!),  I would buy the whole front row! I love seeing the reds of rock stars eyes!  We could all book tables at the adjacent Le Mercury pre/post gig (Best restaurant in London!). Ok, maybe not the whole front row, you guys can have some too!

http://www.almeida.co.uk

{OK, it's fifth, but I can't afford the top four!  But it is top for value!}

http://www.london-eating.co.uk/topten.asp

Go on Bob, you know it makes sense, maybe make it a forum exclusive

That said, he is planning a reworking of a couple of hits from 1979 for Shepherd's Bush...

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=48603&subForumID=136863&action=viewTopic&commentID=4646300&topicPage=

MissJessica wrote:

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Are they getting cancelled because not enough tickets are getting sold?

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Well if they are, is it any surprise?

He did Glasgow Academy a few years back to a packed out house (Avril Lavigne's favourite Scottish haunt)...so where is he doing the Scotttish gig this time....PERTH! Jesus wept!

Better to have waited for January & picked one of the main Scottish towns (or even dead centre Stirling which can be reached from anywhere in Scotland). Oh well.

To be honest who ever has promoted this tour has seriously gone about it the wrong way. Firstly, yes we all love Bob on this forum, but to the outside world he is largely irrelevant in musical terms. There is no way that he can fill the venues that have been chosen. Another act that I follow is Glenn Tilbrook from Squeeze. Now Squeeze played on right upto 1998 and played some fairly large venues such as the Royal Albert hall. However Tilbrook as a solo performer could never command even a fifth of a place. He now play at 300 seater venues etc. They are full and very lively.

Why couldn't the promoter pick sensible venues, such as intimate 300 seater venues. Theres the Leeds Variety, Komedia club in Brighton and many other places dotted around the place. These larger places also charge a lot more. The casual admirer will not fork out £20+ on a freezing Nov night, but might be persuaded to pay £12-£15.

Surely to have reasonable expectations and to actually play the dates is better than having to cancel and disappoint the fans that you have.

I iz not playing   Maybe it iz time to reform the East Dun Laoghaire massif