It appears our plans have been kazumped!
Geldof cancels his show in Norwich
SARAH BREALEY
15 November 2005 08:44
He famously sang about not liking Mondays - but now it appears Bob Geldof is not too keen on Thursdays either.
The former Boomtown Rats frontman and humanitarian campaigner yesterday cancelled his proposed appearance in Norwich in two days' time.
Though organisers are saying little about the cause of the last-minute cancellation, it is understood ticket sales had failed to live up to expectations.
The Live Aid organiser rallied millions during Live 8 this summer - but barely 400 people had booked to see him at the 1500-capacity hall at the University of East Anglia.
Diane Anderson, of the UEA events team, said: “We didn't want to cancel it. It's a shame.”
It is understood tour promoters were keen for the Norwich date to go ahead, but Sir Bob vetoed it.
Those who had booked will be offered refunds for their £20 tickets.
Norwich is not the only venue to have suffered. An announcement on the North Devon Theatres website states: “We regret to announce that due to a protracted and ongoing contractual disagreement between Bob Geldof's promoter and agent, the concert rescheduled for 5th November has had to be cancelled. Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to secure another alternative date.”
Sir Bob's representatives were not available for comment on the cancellation yesterday.
In a recent interview, he said: “Getting on stage and playing is completely cathartic; I feel absolutely at home doing that - and yet it's not enough for me. It doesn't occupy enough of my brain space, yet it is the only thing that satisfies me. That's my problem.”
He also reportedly said campaigning makes him grumpy. “I get bored rigid with the stuff. Which is why I'm so grumpy a lot of the time, and sort of seemingly dismissive.”
The tour was supposed to mark the issue of an anthology of his solo work, which he describes as “brilliant works of genius.”
Concerts in Cardiff on Friday and Peterborough on Saturday did go ahead as part of what was originally planned as an 11-date tour. Promoters had been promising “enthralling stories from a remarkable career” along with Boomtown Rats hits and new material.
Yesterday Sir Bob was named as a new entrant to Debretts People of Today, and last month he was given the Man of Peace award by the Nobel Prize committee.
