Anyone weighing up their chances of purchasing tickets to the recently announced Eagles ‘History Of Eagles’ Australian tour, pay attention. Don Henley says he wants fans to bring only their cash and best behaviour, and to leave with just their memories.
That’s right, the baby-boomers are taking a very baby-boomer stand against those “three or four people” who insist on standing at their gigs, or anyone watching through the viewfinder on a smartphone. Henley, speaking to News Corp, said they would prefer that the actions of some don’t prevent others from being “in the moment”.
“This could be our last time around, we want people to… experience the concert through their eyeballs and not a tiny square on a phone,” he says. “People can be incredibly selfish at times and not respectful of other audience members. We feel everybody who bought a ticket has a right to enjoy the show undisturbed with a view that is unobstructed.”
His views don’t just spring from the well of philanthropy, though. Henley also has a problem with those who feel “entitled” to use their gadgets, taking particular aim at fans who turn gigs into “their own personal photo session”, anyone “texting during the show” as well as the scum who provide YouTube with video of their shows:
“Videoing a concert with a phone is a violation of our copyright. Google own You Tube. They don’t need any more free content. We don’t want our shows posted on YouTube. It spoils it for people who are going to come to a show in the future. We’d like for them to experience it for the first time in the audience rather than experience it on a crappy video that sounds horrible. But I don’t think there’s any going back now.”
I don’t know about you, dear reader, but it’s starting to sound a little like Henley….doesn’t…want us to be on our phones during the concert? Is that right? It’s all starting to sound a bit “old man yells at cloud”, but at least he’s self aware enough to see it.
“I’m from a different generation, I don’t understand it,” he says. “It’s not a very pure experience. It takes away from the immediacy of the live performance. If we’re just going to watch TV we can stay home and do that.”
Yeah, you’re right! We’re out of the house, having a good time at an Eagles gig! We should be having a boogie! Just, uh, don’t boogie until you’re given the signal, OK, guys?!
“We get to a point in our show when it’s quite obvious it’s time to stand up and we give the audience a signal,” Henley says. “But people who start standing up in the beginning when we’re doing ballads are a great annoyance to us and to the people behind them. We have our security people gently tell them to sit down. You pay for your seat, sit in it.”
Pay for it we will. Ticketing options range from $130 to $670 to god knows what once the scalpers have had their turn. Eagles are touring Australia in February 2015. Details below.
Eagles Australian Tour Dates
American Express Card Members Pre-Sale: 2:00pm local time Tuesday, 27 May 2pm ) to 5:00pm local time Saturday, 31st May – or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted. Check Facebook for details
Frontier Members Pre-Sale: 24 hours from 1:00pm* AEST Wednesday, 4th June [*start times vary per show – visit site for details] – or until pre-sale allocation is exhausted, via Frontier Touring
General public on sale from 10:00am local time Tuesday, 10th June
Wednesday, 18th February 2015
Perth, Perth Arena (All Ages)
Tix: Via Ticketek | 132 849
Sunday, 22nd February 2015
Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena (All Ages)
Tix: Via Ticketek | 132 849
Saturday, 28th February 2015
Macedon, Hanging Rock (All Ages)
Tix: Via Ticketmaster | 136 100
Monday, 2nd March 2015
Sydney, Qantas Credit Union Arena (All Ages)
Tix: Via Ticketek | 132 849
Wednesday, 4th March 2015
Sydney, Allphones Arena (All Ages)
Tix: Via Ticketek | 132 849
Saturday, 7th March 2015
Hunter Valley, Hope Estate (All Ages)
Tix: Via Ticketmaster | 136 100
Tuesday, 10th March 2015
Brisbane, Entertainment Centre (All Ages)
Tix: Via Ticketek | 132 849
Saturday, 14th March 2015
Auckland, Mt Smart Stadium (All Ages)
Tix: Via Ticketmaster | 0800 111 999
