Monstrous behaviour: bands cancelled in favour of Doherty

thats pathetic.

Booking Pete Doherty, I mean..

though a bit of a closet Doherty fan this would be crazily unfair even without his reputation for cancelling shows and such. Truly rubbish.

and the Macbeth should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Also, will bands that are booked to play there now have the worry of thinking that their show could be cancelled at any minute just to accommodate someone else who's perceived as a bigger draw?

how chuffed i am that this actually made the news! xx

However on the flip side, a massive thanks to Drowned in Sound for introducing me to these awesome bands. If they ever re-schedual the Bournemouth date, I'd definatly go :)

in dalston/shoreditch

What an impact this had made! I would have been even more chuffed if it actually happened (and made the news too)! xxx

That is a bit shit of the venue to overide the promoter at the last minute. But as somene else said thanks for introducing us who havent heard of this band as they sound great.

Im not a Doherty fan at all but I met him in a guitar shop last year and as much as it pains me to say it, he was really charming. I can see how his fans get sucked into liking him and thinking music starts and ends with him. His music still a bit shit.

He/The Libertines have a lot of bad things to answer for, Thee Unstrung being one of them and the other copycat bands. Also the rubbish people talk about the Albion and arcadia as if they really know what it was like/is and the current trend for indie girls to be out there and hip by speaking french, well about three words, maybe a sentence at best. x

appalling!

I'm going to listen those acts, with a geniune hope, before I even hear a note, that they are utterly fabulous

bands pull their own gigs at the last minute with relative frequency. why shouldn't a venue manager have the same prerogative?

the real issue here is who the original line up was pulled in favour of. i'm sure DiS readers would not be displaying such outrage had it been a last minute patrick wolf / blood brothers / shins booking.

Paul Marshall is really good too :(

That doesn't matter, anyway.

weren't orion arm meant to be playing too? i wanted to see THEM! and then my friend said it was cancelled but I DIDN'T KNOW WHY! this is outrageous.

this is really annoying for the bands, but i wouldn't blame the promoter/venue for booking someone who will probably make them a lot more money!

obviously i meant 'most of us DONT know the specific circumstances...'

soz LOL.

that's all i have to say on the matter.

when bands/artists post on articles about themselves, but i just have to set the record straight here a little.

First of all I don't necessarily have a vendetta against Pete Doherty even though i have my personal opinions about him as a hyped up musician etc. and i do understand what people are saying with regards to the owners best interests etc.

However, this was a gig that had been booked three months in advance, and the promoters actually heard a 'rumour' that this was going on and phyisically had to chase it up themselves only to be revealed, 3 days before, about the sudden replacement by Doherty. So the owner had not only replaced myself and These Monsters, but had not even told the promoters, and so it was lucky the promoters chased up the original rumour or else we would have travelled all the way from Leeds to a gig that no longer existed. Which would have been 10x Worse.

Since then we have found out that the Concentration Champ/Silent Front 7" release party which was due to be held there on Feb 3rd has also mysteriously dissappeared from the books...

So yes, if this was just a shrewd business decision of a venue owner, even though it would still be ridiculous to be honest, i wouldnt lose any sleep over it. Id probably just think the situation was a bit of a shitter.

However on this occasion the owners actions were just plain out of order or perhaps just thoughtless.

I shudder to think how many other dissapointed promoters/bands out there still have something like this to come.

Hope that makes sense.

xxPaul Mxx

I can't believe that all these people are finding excuses for Mr Doherty on this occasion. This entire farce lies clearly at his feet, next to the rapidly cooling corpse of his credibility.

It's worth noting also that recent increases in the UK's inflation rate are a result of P-Doh's rampant crack use pushing costs up. The smoke produced by P-Doh and Mossball is one of the top five causes of global warming, and a very good source informed me this morning that the captain of that ship wrecked off Dorset was listening to Down in Albion shortly before things went terribly wrong. Let that be a lesson to anyone considering putting on music by this evil, corrupted man.

Just remember; anything good has nothing to do with P-Doh, and anything bad or unfortunate is almost certainly a direct result of his evil conniving.

However, 85% of his wrongdoings would be forgiven if he just stopped wearing such a stupid friggin' hat.

Finally, industry sources say his singing is improving and if he stays on track (about as likely as a Beatles reunion), then he will be able to sing a song in tune in 2013.

The thought process that must have gone into that decision ...oh hang on.. clearly no thought went into that decision. Why cancel a guaranteed booking for someone who is well known for a) not turning up and b) being a shit-faced shitty shit?

i can't help but wonder what thought process went into the first sentence of your comment?

as for the question 'why cancel a guaranteed booking...' i can hardly believe it needs to be asked. but for the sake of argument i would guess it's because, with all due respect to the bands involved, they were more or less unheard of. most people commenting on this news story admit they have never listened to these monsters and paul marshall and that's coming from some of the biggest muso keeners in the country. love him or loathe him pete doherty is a big booking and whether he shows up or not the venue is likely to packed all night with people willing to take the chance. either way the till will be ringing for hours. it might not be the most principled of thought processes but it's a likely one.

whether it constitutes a binding legal agreement or not the chances are neither these monsters or the promoter are about to get solicitors involved. the agreement thus ceases to be binding. yes it's bad practise, no it's not going to harm the venues ability to book gigs at this stage.

as i said before, if this becomes a commonplace occurence at the macbeth of hoxton street, then it might be a different story. but for as long as this is a one off or even a two off no one except the immediately affected band, promoter and handful of fans is going to give two shits.

anyway i don't know how this become such an issue. my initial point was simply this really isn't a big deal AT ALL.

......PD fails to turn up. They should be standing round the venue just in case

not a solicitor but a photographer. generally a music photographer no less. i completely agree with you about the internet but there's funny clever understanding-the-use of irony prat-ish and then there's cliched sanctimonious oblivious-to-irony prat-ish. i think you understand what i mean :) LOOK I JUST DID IT AGAIN.

ps stephanie zinone is merely my internet pseudonym. you have clearly never watched grease 2.

stephanie! if you had any F'ing idea(apart from about money) that actual hardwork blood, sweat and tears goes into booking these f'ing gigs(yes i am one of the promoters) and so do the Bands that play them, you wouldnt be coming out with this boring, cold case of shit that dont make sense(sorry you've got my back up now, your a wolf in sheeps clothing and i hold what i do with conviction, heart and unflinching hands)i work my arse off to play and promote music and almost get the sack from my regular job because of it! and you can say all you like about 'these bands are unheard off' well if you had any sense or know how of the band scene, its us 'unheard of bands (yeah i play in silentfront we're aparently unheard of, but we've played 3 european tours 3 UK tours, countless shows and release very well selling records, and just cos we're not in F'ing Nme or on here doesnt mean that your a F'ing music muso and it dont mean we're nothing, if anything we're more than that)' that keep these fucking places afloat, until some fucking crack head talentless prick comes along, in turn leading all the other idiots that think its COOL and IN to outwardly support this promoter of harddrug use/violence/arogance/and general F everyone else but me attitude! and pray to him like a fucking god when he plays his souless crap that he's probably only doing to get money for more drugs(hhhmm i wonder why he cancels show all the time DDUUUHH!) yeah ive got no problem with saying apart of my problem is with the fact bands that work hard, and have a genuine mission with their music get pissed on, yet again as soon as some prick like him comes along with his army of idiots, who actually so blind they still go to his show when its totally obvious he doesnt give to shits about them, just as long as their there when he needs money(just like the working class, the people who actually do the work get pissed on by the upper classes) and no its got nothing to do with the landlord feeding is poor family, its got to do with fucking profits and money and being greedy! when you make a deal with someone human to human you expect them to follow it through. its called respect and that exsists in a nice warm place, where people look out for each other, a place where soul and real meaning exsist, a place thats nice and deep, not shallow as a puddle! also a place where you obviouly have no idea about! so leave now, go back to your accounts and 'indie' records and copys of NME and come talk to me at show if you wish to continue, cos right now i think your out numbered! god i cant stand people like you!

sorry bad day!

we've never been fucked by a promoter(in years), maybe a bit short on the pay! but from my exsperience the only promoters that have ever tried to fuck us over properly are the ones who offer us a contrat for a show, where it actually says where and how they intend to do said fucking! we however do not use contracts or any of that shit as we genrally tend to play with or book bands that we know are nice people and are in it for the right reasons. and it always works everytime! i think contracts tend to show a side to people and a side of music id rather not be apart of. also what band in the underground can atcually afford to sue someone when they fuck you, contract or no contract? i mean come on like it fucking matters! what reasons are you init for? is a question i think people should ask themselfs, then we all know where we stand and people can go on there merry way, we know who to avoid and who to play with/book and have a fucking great time doing it!

"from my exsperience the only promoters that have ever tried to fuck us over properly are the ones who offer us a contrat for a show"

Umm yeah sorry, lesson learnt there!

seriously.

I was at a gig at The Old Blue Last a couple of Saturdays back and a gaggle of Doherty faithful were there because it had gone out on myspace and the forums that Babyshambles were rockin up for a set there (that's not why I was there I hasten to add; ever since I saw the Libertines play with out of tune guitars and so off their heads they couldn't remember lyrics I've given PD a wide berth live). Well, PD BS never showed and the barman told me that the promoter and venue had bent over backwards to fit BS in at the last minute, begged and borrowed equipment because apparently BabyShambles are above bringing their own and paid for double security.
All I can say is, as long as venues and promoters are willing to treat PD and his entourage like royalty in the hope of selling a few extra beers and perhaps a tabloid photo, they deserve what they get...I'm glad that the other bands have got some publicity out of this at least

your a genius! i tottaly agree, at least he's good for one thing!

oh and stephanie, it is also us, DIY promoters of unheard of bands that may also give them a helping hand to where the wanna get to(early gigs, support, respect for their sound, when everyone else follows whats fed into their skull from the TV/radio/websites without using here own mind to make decisions and follow each others tastes like sheep!) and without us DIY promoters maybe alot of new music(hopefully also bringing along with them their new ideas of the ways to look at music/life/commuity and to use it in a positive way) wont be heard if these 'so called' promoters(who are obviouly supporters of these idiots and this farse know as the mainstream music scene in britain right now) always booked mainstream twats like PD. i mean not bringing their own equipment come on, thats gotta say fucking something about the guy/band the way he/they think and their love for music. im gob smacked(and dont come on with the old your just promoting him now shit, cos thats just idiotic, how can i tell my views and hopefully try and change some views without mentioning the blokes name)i and my band mate once carried and whole fucking guitar cab and guitars from twickenham to old street so a gig would happen(do you know how far that is?)! its all bollocks i tell thee!

that is all!

you've really taught me a thing or two about music/the diy scene/leading a profound, meaningful life. THANKSSS.

id expect that reaction from someone who goes on like you! really intelligent come back, argument, maybe next time you should turn off the Ace of Base records, and think about stuff a bit more! wwaaahheyyy for standing by what you believe in and what you say!

well done you!

if you're worried about me ripping the piss out of your music, there's no need. i wouldn't be so crass.

Gig invites. This could be the start of a beautiful relationship...

as i said yesterday, stephanie is a pseudonym. i'm not in a band.

sorry to dissapoint you.

so if it is Sharon, hello and hope your multi-million pound rip off machine is going well? infact you sound just like her, so i dont blame you for not releasing your real name, we both know why dont we?

well if your telling the truth and your not in a band, i have just erased most of what you said from my mind, as its nonsense as you obviously have no idea about the inner working! you stick to your Ace of Base!

lacking! i think its quite clear to me and everybody from what you've written on here that YOU are the one lacking! and i think you've gotta be an absoulte numb skull to think that your gonna know it all, when your not even in a band, there for you have no idea of the daliy struggles/hard work/effort/passion and soul that goes into being in a band and also booking and playing shows,(that is quite clear by your attitude and what you.ve written)if you've never been in one! your a fucking judging spectator, you make asumptions and judgements and third rate opions you obviously read somewhere and poke your dirty little fingers into issues on here you obviouly have know idea about or concern you! and then you have the cheek to tell me/others and bands/promoters how to view a situation when ive/we've had first hand dealings with it and its something you have no idea about again! you say im lacking but ive come up with my reasons and stood behind what i say! what the fuck have you done? keep your thrid hand opions to yourself and go back to being a clone, your better at that!

p.s. honestly! i tend to spend my time more presiously rather than looking at peoples profiles(i didnt know you could do that)the Ace of Bass thing was a complete guess actually, fucking weird im right though aint it? like a book!

I'm sorry but what was the point in that? The only reason I ask is because I was just curious at what you would personally do in such a situation. I don't know but maybe I'll be able to learn something from it? Yes I admit I was rather annoyed at your comments but I'm sure you understand why now since you have discovered my part in this.

I too have suffered from bad experience with such related issues and do not wish for others to go through the same if not worse. If you have read over my posts, then you will notice that I have not said anything that remotely qualifies as 'assassinating the venue manager' (or anyone for that matter). All I did was merely state that the incident was beyond our control this time and was due to a venue fault, which I'm sure you'll agree is clearly the truth on this occasion whatever the reasons behind it.

Yes, we too hoped it was the first and last time that such an event would happen, however we have also been informed that a gig due to take place there next week has had to be cancelled because of the very same problem. Interpret that how you will.

i didn't imply you were 'assassinating the manager' i think that would be a little extreme by anyones standards. i was talking about character assassination. and i wasn't referring to anything you had said either you are well within your rights to point out that the gig was pulled by the macbeth manager.

i was talking about the myriad comments from other DiS readers such as "the owner is obviously a fucking prick" which struck me as being a bit harsh but maybe i'm just a pansy or something.

i've always understood your part in this, i've always understood that you are the promoter, i thought i made that clear. what i hadn't understood until a little earlier was that you were writing comments on each others myspaces about what an alleged cow i was.

i must of missed that one, as it really shows alot of sympathy for said people! you seem to be more concerned with people slagging down PD? what is he your brother or idol or something?

oh and thanks for defending all your other comments and proving me wrong with mine its great to know people believe in what they say?

oh and you dont have any view to promote you were not involved in any of the organision of the show or anything to do with it, thats exsactly why your views are black and white and not needed!

do i really have to repeat myself so much!

you dont have to repeat yourself so much, that is the exact reason why i'm not disecting every one of your comments and answering each point bit by bit. i think i've made all the points i want to and unless you particularly want to argue this out to the death, we're going to have to put this conversation to rest at some point.

i didnt say i'd written a thousand words of sympathy, what i said was that i'd never been lacking in respect and my comments had not been a critique of the promoter, bands, or disapointed fans. i hope my "for what it's worth..." communicated that and if it didn't then my apologies, maybe this might set the record straight.

i am not a friend of doherty and by no means is he my idol. but he is a human being and i believe he deserves empathy like anyone else.

strangely, even so.

since the discussion deteriorated into unreasoned ranting and i don't see why i should answer to people who are personally insulting about me. like i said i actually did write you about two thirds of a rather long reply to your question but then i saw your myspace and realised you anything i said would be utterly in vain. please, tell me i'm wrong but the way i see it is:

i say i'd do as the macbeth did;
you'll say i'm a greedy capitalist with bad taste in music and no soul.

i say i'd not do as the macbeth did;
you'll say i have no conviction in the things i say and thus still have no soul.

so what's the point?

I beg to differ. And for what it's worth he IS a prolific canceller of gigs. Justify that.

a dog for said purpose.
seems a shame really but.......

Right then...

First of all, as the percieved Lord of Darkness (new owner of the Mac), please lets stop speculating on my solo sexual habits for the sake of my sanity.

We rescued the pub in December from imminent doom and death. Circumstances meant that we had to re-assemble the diary from posters and fliers. Fortunately, promoters came forward to re-confirm dates after learning it was under new management. Unfortunately, one promoter didn't (until three days before last Sat). Hence the difficulty (incidently, there were no posters or fliers up at all - go figure).

As soon as we heard, we attempted to move the night to Sunday. This was all agreed until 24hrs before when the gig was pulled due to a sax player refusing to make the trip (strange bunch brass players...). We had to cancel staff etc. Young Mr Doherty as well as the resident promoter were unaware of all of this (so please re-holster guns gentlemen).

The Mac is now back in the pink and in the hands of a bunch of musicians and ex-promoters... We are not in the habit of cancelling gigs and we are not usually impressed by perceived vips and vvvips etc. We took imense risks buying a crumbly old boozer and have spent everything we have on the rescue plan (including 6k soundsystem and soundproofing).

So there. And please come and see us soon... And to the sound of calm waters i must go.

MacMark (of Roots Manuva)

from Harry too (ex Clor)

Err... We have apologiesed to the bands and offered to help with other gigs etc. Business venture? Not interested in business or ventures, interested in people and music (and tetris). Look to the 'promotor' if you really need to fire your guns...

why exactly should people fire their guns at us dude? i thought we spoke about this? i told you that we hadnt heard anything from the crackhead, id say from about november! i in turn presumed he was busy as we aint lovers and chat everyday. it was only until two weeks before the gig when i would usually phone just to double check(this is the usual process and is fine) and i left several messages on his mobile(which probably got sold haha!) asking him to ring me, which he would usually get round too, i had no reason to doubt that. you must take in to account while this is going on ive had very important things to do for my own band/life ie-booking a big eurtopean tour for us and a band from the U.S, weekenders, usual gigs, interviews, practice, reviews, plus while trying to deal with my own serious personnal problems and to hang onto my job so i can pay rent at the same time. it was then a week to six days before the gig that i heard through someone else that crackhead had buggered off! i then tried several numbers for the macbeth, until i know i had the right one and i left a message for you to phone me, now i know it was only a week before, but the point is and fact now is that no one should be firing any guns at anyone apart from crackhead as i did as much as i could within my power to sort it out! and i am quite offened that ive/we've been made out to be slackers, cos we're fucking not. id would die for music(not sure where that would come in, but i would haha)we've put on every successful nights in the passed, and have a good rep with great great bands who'll blow your head off! and we make every effort possible to get people along to the shows, treat the bands well with respect and feed and water them(which seems to be not such a frequent thing in the UK) so please please, i know you dont want the macbeth to go under(we dont either)or get a bad rep but we dont want to get that for ourselfs either cos we to are NOT to blame and you know this! the issue is settled now, leave it at that!

take the care!

phil - Pile Of Dead WhiteBoys Presents(8th member of S club 7)

I am glad to hear that you were busy with your band in the states and sorry about your job/problems etc. Its a shame that we didn't see any promotional material for the night so that we may have been able to spot the trouble sooner. Spilt milk etc usually tastes sour so lets leave it be. I am sure DiS' users have got the point by now....

Speak soon Phil and goodnight to the one or two people still reading this.

M

..i must say.

Right everybody, the discussion (turned into argument) on that subject got way too out of hand and was never supposed to happen! However, I'd just like to make it clear that all issues between us, the bands and Mark have been resolved now. We look forward to successful shows at The (new and improved) Macbeth in the near future. That's all folks!

Kara x

I've been in the situation whereby I've travelled to the other end of the country to play a gig, only to find out it's been forgotten about by some hapless fuck. It sucks. Doherty has nothing to do with it: booking a band is basically a contract, and if the venue owners can't be responsible enough to honour that they should have their music license rebuked. I don't care if they could've booked the Pope instead. Simple as that.

The Pope was booked for two gigs back in 1984 at the Marquee and failed to show for the second gig. This was after barely managing to bless a pair of drumsticks the first night after what was clearly an overly helpful portion of communion wine.

So booking the Pope is not necessarily going to help matters.

It’s clear where Doherty gets all his tricks from.

bar none.