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Chris Martin: I didn't know how greedy I am
It's not, of course, the first time Chris Martin has been caught living a life that doesn't match up to the pretty slogans he writes on his hands - let's not forget he drives an SUV, but even so, it's a special kind of surprise to discover the Make Poverty History man charging up to USD160 for a gig in Chile.
His excuse, frankly, is as weak as his music:
“We just found out how expensive they are and would like to say we are sorry. We didn't know beforehand.
"The price is a little embarrassing. When you are a famous band, a lot of things happen that you don't know about."
"The price is a little embarrassing. When you are a famous band, a lot of things happen that you don't know about."
Actually, Chris, it's not "a little embarrassing" - it's shameful. And to try and bluster that you "didn't know about it" - what, you don't sign contracts for this sort of thing? Nobody looks over the financial plans before you sign on the dotted line? - is both unbelievable and unacceptable.
Of course, the way to dig yourself out of this hole is quite simple: do a couple of free gigs at the same time, distributing tickets amongst the locals. It might wipe out your profits, but - hey - you're not a profit-motivated kind of guy, are you?
Then we'll have a chat about the carbon impact of playing a gig in Chile, shall we?
3 comments:
Hmm, bit harsh there. Claiming that bands should know every intimate detail about their financial goings on... if that argument is followed to its logical conclusion, you end up with bands as account managers when they are supposed to be, you know, artists.
Easy pop at Coldplay - not very well thought through methinks.
Matt
ginsoakedboy21@gmail.com
Maybe Chris was wondering whether he should call his next kid Montevideo.
I disagree Matt - sure, you wouldn't expect Martin to know if tickets were retailing at $4.55 or $5.75, but if you're a self-appointed figure of international social justice, and you're playing a part of the world where it's well known that promoters sometimes price tickets way beyond the means of the average citizen, wouldn't you at least make it clear to the people who do the negotiations that you don't want that to happen?
Coldplay may or may not be artists; but Martin is also CEO of an international business. And in the same way as you wouldn't expect the CEO of Wal-Mart to check every butcherry department each morning, but would hold them ultimately responsible if an Asda store was selling condemned meat, Martin has to be responsible for what's being done in his name.
And if he doesn't like being CEO of an international corporation, then he shouldn't play gigs in the developing world.
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