International rock bands scratch Mumbai off their concert tours

Entertainment tax used to be the excuse given to explain the dearth of international acts. Post the 2008 terror attacks, the lack of security became another.

Entertainment tax used to be the excuse given to explain the dearth of international acts. Post the 2008 terror attacks, the lack of security became another. A number of bands have chosen cities like Bangalore, Delhi and Shillong over Mumbai.

HT Image

Def Leppard, an English rock band that was to perform in here in October 2008, cancelled their gig only days before the show, citing “recent serial blasts in various cities and the church burning fiasco” as the reason.

Our biggest loss was Live Earth 2008, an initiative by producer, Kevin Wall and environmentalist, Al Gore. The concert was to include Jon Bon Jovi, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, Black Eyed Peas and Will.I.Am and was cancelled just two weeks prior.

Kevin Paul, Al Gore and Rajendra Pachauri said in their joint statement, “We are saddened to announce that Live Earth India has been cancelled. We will continue to work for solutions to the climate crisis. Our prayers are with the victims of this terrible attack, the people of Mumbai and everyone in India.”

No show

Wanna know how many acts we’ve missed out on? The second leg of Mr Big’s reunion tour in 2009 included Bangalore, Shillong and Dimapur (Nagaland). A spokesperson said, “Mumbai is expensive. We thought the Northeast suited us better.”

The second leg of the Aerosmith World Tour 2007, which was to include Mumbai changed its destination to Bangalore. Opeth, the Swedish heavy metal band performed at IIT Madras’ annual festival in February 2009. Despite a Mumbai huge fan-base, Deep Purple (2006), Black Eyed Peas (2007), Textures (2009), Amon Amarth (2009) and Megadeth (2006) chose Bangalore to perform in. Finally, Backstreet Boys will be performing in Delhi and Bangalore.