Rules are rules und zey must be obeyed at all times!
“English cops may be the only individuals left on earth that wouldn’t want to hear one more from Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney!”
According to Westminster Council, however, the decision to end the concert was made by its organisers and not local authorities.
“Concert organisers, not the council, ended last night’s concert in Hyde Park to comply with their licence,” said Leith Penny, Westminster Council’s strategic director for city management.
“Licences are granted until certain times” – in this case 22:30 BST – “to protect residents in the area from noise late at night.”
No discretion of any kind allowed. About three decades ago, I was driving within 5 miles of a tennis stadium, listening to Oh Carol from the stadium. It was grand. I know of no one who complained about “the noise” that day, though the older members of the community may not have bought the Stones as a concept.
Bottom line was – it was a major event and was treated as such.
Some of you might recall a group of four lads who set up on top of a building and began an “impromptu” concert, playing such numbers, I seem to recall, as Hey Jude and Let it Be. Again – not too many ordinary people found this offensive. In fact, I’d love to have been there on the day.
Today the rooftop concert by the Beatles would have a) been shut down straight away by the council tossers and b) the band would have prosecuted for smoking cigarettes while playing.
The Beatles final gig on the roof of the Apple building was shut down by the police. The crowds of people who stopped to watch and listen blocked the roads and the police ordered the band to stop as a result.
link to beatlesbible.com
The context is all. As I understand it, this is one of s series of concerts that have provoked a lot of complaints. If the promoters want to keep on promoting in such an environment, they need to observe curfews and not indulge a couple of geriatric teenagers who still want to break the rules
With the greatest respect, I really can’t agree here. For example, if the Beeb were broadcasting a big game and it ran overtime, then sure I might wish to see/hear the news, followed by a concert but I’d certainly not support cutting off the end of the game for a schedule and thank goodness, neither do they.
This is not as if someone next door to me decides, at 10:25, to start using a drill in the wall or if they leave a dog howling while they go out on the tiles. That’s noise, pure and simple. This though was a major concert with 80 000 people. Sure it gets a bit woolly around the edges but it’s not every night, is it?
There has to be a little bit of common sense here. If it had gone on to 11:20 or whatever, well fair enough, moves would have to be made but wasn’t this Friday or Saturday evening, with no work next day?
Come on, people, a bit of give and take. I’m not into Sir Paul or the Boss – they’re a bit dinosaury for me now but 80 000 people beg to differ and so … fair’s fair.
The Boss, dinosaury? Wash your mouth out.
Perhaps if he rewrote “My Hometown” based on Obama’s devastation of industry he would be worth listening to, -until then a hypocritical dinosaur.
And what about people’s right to the quiet enjoyment of their property? Let’s leave aside the local council’s assumption that it is empowered to override that by granting (selling) a licence.
Frankly the outrage at the curtailment of the concert is infantile and such behaviour is symptomatic of our age. It never occurs to the participants to continue in a manner that affects no one else.
James, if common sense was applied such events would take place at venues which did not cause annoyance to vast numbers.
As I’m not a devotee of either of those two, suppose I’m just saying it wouldn’t worry me as a one-off. It would if it were every Friday night but I do see your point too.
“Frankly the outrage at the curtailment of the concert is infantile and such behaviour is symptomatic of our age. It never occurs to the participants to continue in a manner that affects no one else.”
This! Oh, so much this!
A couple of clapped out champagne socialists, who can’t start on time should not require others to be inconvenienced. If they really want to play all night let them rent out an indoor venue where the noise can be muffled, like they used to before they got greedy and demanded larger venues with the all important larger revenues.
About time all these superannuated groups called it quits anyway they are embarassing, unmusical and don’t need the money.
Perhaps they’ve spent it all.