Kind of an important look at what is happening right now with concert pricing and the monopoly choke hold Ticketmaster and Live Nation hold.
And a decent piece from the beeb on the situation in the UK
The worlds monopoly & cartel, and phrase market manipulation, are not used in the article, but certainly come to mind after reading it
I go to quite a few gigs
Can’t remember the last time I bought a ticket from either of those companies
Live Nation UK acquired the Mean Fiddler and owns 51% of Academy Music Group, giving it a stake in most major [music festivals] 25 % and medium-sized London music venues. It also owns all O2 venues and many more stadiums and theaters. They have an artist agency and management company. Ticket master merged with Live Nation controls 80% of event ticket sales in the UK. Oh and they also own Showsec the largest event security co
When you add this up they dominate and whilst people attending small gigs in indi venues may not feel the effects of this, the artists certainly will if they become large enough to outgrow small venues / require better management etc etc.
I stand corrected then as am going to see Nick Cave at the London O2 soon.
My very week cop out is that Pete bought the tickets 
weak
Most of the stuff I go to is small-scale and I love the DICE app.
As soon as the artists get more than “200 people in a toilet”, and these aren’t household names, it’s Ticketmaster all the way and it absolutely sucks balls 
At least some of the venues here (the Barbican, Kings Place etc.) have their own infra that keeps Ticketmaster out of the loop.
With all due respect, you tend to watch lesser known artists at smaller venues, so won’t be as impacted as many.
Don’t apologise Mike you are quite correct.
I would rather watch King Hannah in a 200 capacity venue than a major band at a 10,000 capacity venue.
Nick Cave at the O2 is an exception. Normally the biggest venue I go to is Brighton Dome at 2000 capacity.
Bandsintown will often list 3 or 4 agents for the same concert so you can go through the process with each one to find the cheapest.
Good job we work from home these days.
Imagine not being able to work without thumping you co-workers!
Only thing I know about Jane’s addiction is that I really like this track. However went and bought the cd single just after this performance,and it was nothing like the acoustic type version.
Bastards
They are a strange band of riches and ruins
Pussies, back in the day that was a normal Kinks show 
Warren Zevon was a long time friend of the Late Night show and David Letterman.
I cried when I watched this in 2002 and just now rewatching . . .
Great band
What a brilliant interview. Knew nothing about Warren Zevon and still don’t, but comes across as having been a thoroughly decent sort.
Incredibly talented and equally troubled .
Had periods of severe alcohol snd drug addiction and periods of incredible writing and success. Then he would dissappear for years at a time. Wrote movie scores for Star Trek films. Suffered with OCD all his life.
Was incredibly respected in American arts circles. Hunter S Thompson quoted his lyrics in his books.
Never really heard anything bad about Warren Zevon.
I’m a huge fan of Warren Zevon, but as you’ve found out it’s not necessary to appreciate this exchange.
I love Zevons humour and dignity, I love that Letterman didn’t go all soft voice and kid gloves, I love that Paul Schaffer and the band played I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead as Zevons intro music.
Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner was included in the set because Zevon asked his friend Letterman what song he wanted to hear. Good choice Dave 