|
Take your pick...the stories slightly differ.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Stor...W&IssueID=30108
Fans riot after DJ 'no show'
By ALISTAIR BAPTISTA
IRATE trance fans wreaked havoc at the Marina Club in Manama early yesterday after noted Dutch DJ Tiesto failed to turn up at his debut Bahrain concert. More than 3,000 fans were expecting the DJ to begin his performance by 11pm on Wednesday.
But when he didn't show up by 1.30am, they hurled bottles and empty cans and stormed the stage, destroying equipment, lights and speakers.
Fans also destroyed surrounding barricades and made away with the equipment when they noticed security guards had fled the scene.
Police intervened to disperse the crowd, and prevent any further damage.
The show's organiser, Ayman Al Hamad, was in police custody yesterday, according to sources.
Marina Club food and beverage manager Suresh Naik said that it only rented out the venue and wasn't part of the organising team.
"We only did the catering for regular ticket-holders while they (the organisers) handled the VIP and VVIP catering," Mr Naik told the GDN.
Mr Naik said that there was "considerable" damage done to furniture, glasses and fridges, but was unable to project an estimated amount.
Local event organisers Outlaw Productions urged the organisers to refund tickets to disgruntled fans.
"The organisers requested Outlaw Productions to provide some ushers from the crew members to help out at the event, so Outlaw Productions crew members were merely manpower," it said in a statement.
"We would like to express our strong resentment to bad planning, lack of organisation and the way the organisers dealt and are dealing with the chaotic situation."
The event's warm-up DJ Karim Miknas said that the biggest shame was that the headlining artist didn't entertain the audience, some of whom had flown in from Kuwait, Dubai and other Gulf states.
He also urged the organisers to refund tickets and compensate fans, injured during the fracas.
"I agreed to play purely for the honour of opening for the best DJ on the planet," he said.
"The youngsters were enjoying themselves and were excited, but how much longer could they wait for their hero?
"I don't blame them at all, it was the organisers who messed up."
Dubai-based MC Hanane and local DJ Jackson were also attacked by irate fans during the melee, he said.
Disgruntled fans who bought tickets from Hava Java at the Seef Mall stormed the store yesterday demanding refund for the failed show.
A spokesman for the store said that they only provided tickets for the show and that their involvement ended there.
"Unfortunately the event's promoter took the ticket sales money with him just before the show," said the spokesman.
"He (the organiser) really should be ashamed of himself."
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/79551.html
Manama, Bahrain - Thousands of fans of Dutch DJ Tiesto turned rowdy in Manama Wednesday night when he failed to turn up for a performance. Some of the more than 2,000 techno and house music fans had been waiting more than five hours for DJ Tiesto when they began hurling bottles and empty cans at organizers after news of Tiesto's decision not to perform spread through the waiting crowd.
One alcohol bottle caught fire after being hurled toward the stage as other members of the crowd began to throw empty bottles and glass at the organizers, a witness told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. Others stormed the stage before police intervened to disperse the crowds.
DJ Tiesto, the first DJ in the world to sell out a solo stadium event for over 25,000 people two nights in a row, had refused to perform before he was paid in full by the organizers.
Several people were slightly injured during the rampage that also caused a multi-car collision between fleeing fans.
Police sealed-off the concert venue and blocked nearby roads.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It says the fans rioted after Tiesto didn't show. The other one says he refused to perform until he was paid.
___________________
Electronic Night Life
<3
Last edited by euphoria on Jul-06-2007 at 13:39
|