Rats not going to Scotland now.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Rats not going to Scotland now.

Ian D · House on Fire

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-36274818

A 1980s-themed concert at Queen of the South's Palmerston Park has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

The Boomtown Rats were to headline the event in Dumfries along with Rick Astley, ABC, The Stars from The Commitments and The Rezillos on 4 June.

Last year the Doonhamers hosted their first concert when Status Quo were the headline act.

However, advanced ticket sales of just 700 compared with 5,000 sold in 2015 prompted the decision to cancel.

Organisers said sales were "not sufficient to justify the event going ahead on a commercial basis".

"We have not been helped with the number of alternative outdoor festivals and concerts across Scotland and the north of England," they said. "After weighing up additional costs to go ahead with the concert from this point against the costs of cancelling altogether it was unfortunately a decision that had to be taken. Clearly all customers who have already bought and paid for tickets for the event will be refunded in full."

Mark L · Loudmouth

Bit surprised. Surely Status Quo are not that much more of a draw than the Rats? Perhaps people were waiting to see what Scotland's more unpredictable June weather was going to do or maybe 5000 or so last year didn't have a great time or there is, as they suggest, something clashing. Maybe a Republica or even more 'youthful' outfit could have boosted numbers?

Whatever, we had become used again to 'cancellations' and Rats/Geldof not appearing in the same sentence in the UK (I know about Australia a couple of years back) so it is a shame to see this phenomena again, Patrick.

suss · House on Fire

Interesting how we perceive. I always think of Quo like Bon Jovi or maybe Guns and Roses as a big stadium act with the fanbase to warrant it. Vaguely recall their reunion dates selling out in minutes. Guess I therefore wasn't so surprised they pull in the numbers but the points about how good was QOTS venue/organisation etc was and would people go back, plus more direct competition this year are entirely valid. Won't have helped sales.

I still thought comparing to Quo was a little unfair though. That's a band that's been around nigh on 50 years with generations of fans, and enough hits to attract casuals anywhere.

I'd still rather be in a crowd of < 1000 devotees any day. Same reasons I couldn't support a massive football club.

Think this all ties up with the 'cool band' thread. The press effectively demolished Rats credibility back in the day. Had they not done so and Rats not been forced from favour (with some self-inflicted blame admittedly) then I reckon the thousands who were 'fans' in 79 would come back for more nowadays. Sadly there still seems to be a big of a stigma. There's also the factor of ever diminishing returns - they've done Glasgow twice - and finally given the Rats pro-rata popularity a town/region like Dumfries has probably got very limited fanbase.

Or maybe it was Rick Astley that put people off? wink

Mark L · Loudmouth

http://www.itv.com/news/border/2016-05-12/queen-of-the-south-cancel-boomtown-rats-concert/

Talking of perceptions, interesting how ITV see this as the cancellation of 'a Boomtown Rats concert'. It's almost as though they're playing on the stigma element, fashionable again to mock the Rats. ITV did this on an obscure late night game show in 1986, after Self Aid ironically, when to the audience's hilarity, they announced 'in jest' first prize to some competition was a ticket to the next Boomtown Rats concert and second prize was......well, you can guess the rest.

Re the Quo aspect, definitely accept a bigger draw but just didn't think at this stage they could pull in seven times the number interested in seeing the Rats. There's a mocking element to them as well (reworking the same musical idea over and over again, never going to win awards for musical innovation etc).

Maybe, however, the fans last year flocked to see a band who'd had 50 number ones!

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Status_Quo.aspx

Shows how dodgy some of these internet 'fact' sites are.

-- Edited by Mark L on Friday 13th of May 2016 11:56:11 AM

Mark L · Loudmouth

ITV's local outfit, STV, call it a Boomtown Rats and Rick Astley gig:

http://stv.tv/news/entertainment/1353818-boomtown-rats-and-rick-astley-gig-cancelled-after-poor-sales/

ABC barely getting a cancellation mention, avoiding negative publicity. Once again, that poison arrow shoots at the Rats.

What's new, what's changed, eh?

suss · House on Fire

Mark L wrote:
Re the Quo aspect.....There's a mocking element to them as well (reworking the same musical idea over and over again, never going to win awards for musical innovation etc).

-- Edited by Mark L on Friday 13th of May 2016 11:56:11 AM

I suppose the fact they stuck with same formula but never took themselves overly seriously is where the appeal persists.

True or not, Rats were seen as matching contemporary sound and vibe for two years but then distancing themselves ever more both verbally and musically. Alienated both press and (dare I say fashion conscious) fans as we know...and fanbase decimated. Never fully recovered and unlikely to. I'm still glad to be in that relative minority and glad I was never fashionable (never will be ).

Quo however are probably one of the most consistent bands ever, love them or hate them, so fan swingometer is nowhere near as polar down the years. How many of their contemporaries were considered for Band Aid after all.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Maybe if the Rats actually wrote a few decent new songs and got a little bit of airplay on Radio 2 etc the might drum up some interest. I'm amazed Geldof has so little to say in song about the contemporary world- it wasn't like that in the old days.I'm not sure I can muster the enthusiasm to see the same old set again(very good though it is!)

The gigs the do seem a bit random. One minute big festivals, then out of the way places with little publicity.Worst of all is sharing bills with Rick Astley and his ilk.That certainly does nothing in the credibility stakes. I'm not too bothered about missing Leopardstown mainly because there is no effort to write some new songs and bring out an album. Not sure if I can stand hearing Mondays and Rat Trap again ad nauseum.Admittidly I've seen the reformed RAts about 12 times so unless there is 'new product' i can't really see the point. It's just way too predictable and a bit complacent If I'm being honest.

The Rats are not a mass market type band, maybe because their music and attitue was a bit too clever.Status Q are for 'white van man', music for bricklayers as someone once said.That's why the have more fans than the Rats ie lowest common dominator appeal. I don't get this media bias than some of you seem to think is the cause of all the Rats problems. Looking back of gigs like Chagstock, Cork, and Guildford the band went down a storm and everyone seemed to know the songs.Dumfries is probably too out of the way and there are hardly likely to be Boomtown Rats/Rick Astley crossover appeal (unless on serious drugs). The average Rats fan is more likely to be well read and 'brainy', a cut above some of the more mindless punk type bands .Not sure about the uncool bit either-there were lots of pretty uncool bands than ranked much higher than the Rats imho.Geldof was streets ahead of most of his contemporaries when it came to interviews, quoting Steinbeck etc.

They probably had a good turnout at Basingstoke so it's not all bad.Thought that won't make newspaper headlines.

-- Edited by noelindublin on Friday 13th of May 2016 01:05:52 PM

-- Edited by noelindublin on Friday 13th of May 2016 01:24:53 PM

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Shame for all those who bought tickets ... Maybe there would have been last minute sales as people do wait to see what the weather is like, or are not sure whether they will be free until nearer the time. But I guess it's all a bit of a gamble for promoters. I quite liked ABC, didn't rate Rick Astley at the time although mellowed a bit towards him in recent years, but wouldn't have chosen to see him. There doesn't seem to be a real theme/crossover with the acts. Have to admit that Quo are very listenable to, and good showmen - although do confess that I lay down on the grass at a festival back in the 80s, and had a bit of a snooze while they were on! Was it the beer or just not particularly bothered about them? Think it was the latter, although I probably did have a few teeny drinks.

Anyhow my nap fortified me and I had enough energy to enjoy Queen to the full which was the main thing.

But yes it is a shame that the Rats seem to get such negative press at times.

Mike menzies · V Deep

I remember one of the music rags slagging rats off in 1984 I sent them a nasty letter never replied though so that says it all I would love to see them live again last time i
Saw them was1985 itlg tour

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

I hated the music press for how they were to the Rats.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
Or maybe it was Rick Astley that put people off?

The irony is that Rick Astley has had a renaissance since this gig was cancelled with a #1 LP and a string of sell out dates on his forthcoming tour including the Royal Albert Hall.

http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/rick-astley-scores-first-official-albums-chart-number-1-in-29-years__15356/

Rick's latest album has been on the charts for 36 weeks and is still going.

Chart run (36 weeks / 23.06.2016 - 23.02.2017)

1 = Highest Position
3
4
8
6
9
10
14
14
13
12
7
13
18
23
27
36
48
52
42
28
18
23
19
25
25
17
17
13
10
14
23
25
30
32
37 = This Week

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
ABC barely getting a cancellation mention, avoiding negative publicity.

Yes, and they have pretty much sold out the Royal Albert Hall in April as well.

Had the gig been a month later with Astley's LP riding high in the charts with ABC also having a top ten album at much the same time, they would have sold out!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

How come Rick Astley is so popular? He was on the radio with Danny Baker a while back and I though he came across as a really nice guy, but that said how the fcuk has he pulled this off? This doesn't include tonight's effort at The Jazz Club for #britsweek which sold out in seconds

He will be playing the fricking O2 at Christmas at this rate.

16-Mar	MANCHESTER, UK	BRIDGEWATER HALL	SOLD OUT
17-Mar	HALIFAX, UK	VICTORIA THEATRE	SOLD OUT
18-Mar	OXFORD, UK	NEW THEATRE	SOLD OUT
20-Mar	BELFAST, UK	THE WATERFRONT HALL	SOLD OUT
21-Mar	DUBLIN, IE	THE OLYMPIA THEATRE	SOLD OUT
23-Mar	GLASGOW, UK	GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL	SOLD OUT
24-Mar	NEWCASTLE, UK	NEWCASTLE CITY HALL	SOLD OUT
25-Mar	HARROGATE, UK	HARROGATE INTL. CENTRE	SOLD OUT
27-Mar	PRESTON, UK	PRESTON GUILDHALL	SOLD OUT
28-Mar	SHEFFIELD, UK	SHEFFIELD CITY HALL	SOLD OUT
30-Mar	NOTTINGHAM, UK	ROYAL CONCERT HALL	SOLD OUT
31-Mar	MANCHESTER, UK	BRIDGEWATER HALL	SOLD OUT
01-Apr	LIVERPOOL, UK	LIVERPOOL EMPIRE THEATRE	SOLD OUT
03-Apr	LEICESTER, UK	DE MONTFORT HALL	SOLD OUT
04-Apr	SOUTHEND, UK	CLIFFS PAVILION	SOLD OUT
06-Apr	PORTSMOUTH, UK	PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL	SOLD OUT
07-Apr	BOURNEMOUTH, UK	BOURNEMOUTH INTL. CENTRE	SOLD OUT
08-Apr	GUILDFORD, UK	GUILDFORD G LIVE	SOLD OUT
10-Apr	BRISTOL, UK	BRISTOL COLSTON HALL	SOLD OUT
11-Apr	BRIGHTON, UK	BRIGHTON DOME	SOLD OUT
13-Apr	LONDON, UK	ROYAL ALBERT HALL	SOLD OUT
15-Apr	BIRMINGHAM, UK	BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY HALL	SOLD OUT
16-Apr	BIRMINGHAM, UK	SYMPHONY HALL	SOLD OUT

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Jules wrote:
Apparently the Queen of the South festival has been cancelled. Sorry folk.

I didn't realise at the time, but folk singular! LOL Whick folk bought the ticket?

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

I just can't let this sodding thread lie, but this can't be mere coincidence...

BELFAST 20-Mar Astley 24-Mar Rats
DUBLIN 21-Mar Astley 25-Mar Rats

Right enough about Rick Astley. I have Never Gonna Give You Up as a earworm right now after having Dancing in the Moonlight after the Guildford gig was announced (sigh)

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

ArrGee wrote:
Jules wrote:
Apparently the Queen of the South festival has been cancelled. Sorry folk.
I didn't realise at the time, but folk singular! LOL Whick folk bought the ticket?

It wasn't this one.