U2 fined $22K for rehearsing too much..

[luitanent_dan]

U2 were rehearsing for their 360 tour in a local soccer stadium, apparently went two hours over their scheduled rehearsal time, and offended the ears of the Spaniards living nearby by going above the permitted sound level.

For this, they have paid a fine of $22,000, and, I’m sure, have promised never, ever to let the noise generated by their giant space station that is 16 stories tall and takes 120 trucks to transport disrupt the residents of that peaceful hamlet again.

Check out the full story here:
http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/08/25/u2-fined-for-being-too-loud/

 

[StompBoxBlues]

Seems like a weird (misleading?) article.

For one thing, and I don't know about stadium rock bands, maybe someone here, but...I would think they didn't rehearse live in a stadium but merely did sound checks usually? I mean, don't they rehearse in rehearsal space with less equipment, etc? I'm probably wrong on this..but..

Spain is seriously going through the ringer economy-wise. I just spent two weeks in July near Valencia, and my experience in a rented villa...they had dogs barking loudly all night long with no visit from the police, and I mean keeping the whole neighborhood up. They also had a small festival in a nearby town that we could hear well into the night.

I'm thinking the city of Barcelona saw a chance to make 22,000 by sticking to the letter of their contract and aren't worried U2 will shun them next time.

 

[TB72]

Seems like a weird (misleading?) article.

For one thing, and I don't know about stadium rock bands, maybe someone here, but...I would think they didn't rehearse live in a stadium but merely did sound checks usually? I mean, don't they rehearse in rehearsal space with less equipment, etc? I'm probably wrong on this..but..

It's common to go through rehearsals with the full rig. A band like U2 will have all sorts of lighting cues, video, pyro, etc. to be worked out. I'm sure there were smaller rehearsals in a studio, but this is like the "dress rehearsal" before opening night.

Later...

 

[loudboy]

It's common to go through rehearsals with the full rig. A band like U2 will have all sorts of lighting cues, video, pyro, etc. to be worked out. I'm sure there were smaller rehearsals in a studio, but this is like the "dress rehearsal" before opening night.

Later...

U2 is also pretty big on adding new stuff and changing the show regularly, which isn't quite as easy for their crew as just calling out a new song...

 

[russiancrowe]

$22,000 is pocket change to those guys. I'm sure they could care less about a fine that small.

 

[Ted Witcher]

That show probably brings 6 or 7M to the local economy. They should let those guys play all night.

 

[marktweedy]

It's common to go through rehearsals with the full rig. A band like U2 will have all sorts of lighting cues, video, pyro, etc. to be worked out. I'm sure there were smaller rehearsals in a studio, but this is like the "dress rehearsal" before opening night.

Later...

Some years back they were in Vancouver for a month rehearsing for a month in what was then called GM place, the local hockey arena, before starting the Vertigo tour.

I seem to recall that the Stones routinely get ready for their tours by rehearsing in a hangar at the Toronto airport.

 

[thornie]

Did Bono or Edge just pull out their wallet and write the check right then and there? Gimme a break 22k for U2 is like $2.20 for us.

 

[telesquire]

Make that 2.2 cents!

 

[aroman]

22K is a lot of money !!!

 

[Nielsnielsniels]

22K is a lot of money !!!

Not for U2!

 

[gproud5150]

That's a nice Tele...

 

[sanhozay]

I don't think they've made many mistakes over the years...

 

[pir8matt]

$22k? Wow! They probably had to skip a round of coffees for the band and crew after that.

 

[Phalanx200bc]

A shakedown is a shakedown.............

 

[Member 995]

A shakedown is a shakedown.............

I disagree. A lot of venues (outdoor concerts, car race tracks, etc.) have strict noise ordinances that result in fines if violated.

 

[Broken Cord]

You have to pay the Vig.....

 

[StompBoxBlues]

It's common to go through rehearsals with the full rig. A band like U2 will have all sorts of lighting cues, video, pyro, etc. to be worked out. I'm sure there were smaller rehearsals in a studio, but this is like the "dress rehearsal" before opening night.

Later...

Okay...good to know. I thought almost all of that stuff could be worked out without them having to play for hours and hours, but I figure you know better than I about it, since I was only guessing

Good to know!

 

[agradywills]

That show probably brings 6 or 7M to the local economy. They should let those guys play all night.

'No good deed goes unpunished'

 

[itkindaworks]

Some years back they were in Vancouver for a month rehearsing for a month in what was then called GM place, the local hockey arena, before starting the Vertigo tour.

I seem to recall that the Stones routinely get ready for their tours by rehearsing in a hangar at the Toronto airport.

I actually stumbled into a Stones rehearsal in DC in the early 90's. My uncle(a detective at the time) was giving us a tour of the city and we went to RFK stadium not realizing that the Stones were rehearsing! Lo fi pics my mom snapped.