Neil Young News: CANCELED - Tonight's Los Angeles Concert

Thursday, October 30, 2008

CANCELED - Tonight's Los Angeles Concert

Neil Young has canceled tonight's Oct. 30 Los Angeles/Inglewood Forum concert.

Neil Young has called off his concert scheduled for Thursday night at the Forum in Inglewood rather than ask his fans to cross a picket line that the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said they would set up at the arena, which has a long history of labor disputes with IATSE.

"I am extremely disappointed to have to choose between satisfying my fans or backing my brothers and sisters of the IATSE," Young said in a statement issued late tonight (Wednesday) from San Diego, where he was performing on his way to L.A.

"I will miss playing in Los Angeles and apologize to my fans for the inconvenience this has caused," Young's statement said. Young and his wife, Pegi, are honorary lifetime members of IATSE.

The L.A. show will be rescheduled for next year, according to his publicist. Those holding tickets to the Forum show may get refunds at the point of purchase.

I'm proud to be a union man
I make those meetings when I can, yeah
I pay my dues ahead of time
When the benefits come I'm last in line, yeah.

I'm proud to be a union man.

-"UNION MAN" from Hawks And Doves (1980) - Human Highway Lyrics Database

More on the labor dispute, union busting, and religious greed on Justice at the FORUM.

Also, see Neil Young 2008 Fall North American Tour and Concert Reviews.

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39 Comments:

At 10/30/2008 09:52:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Good for Neil.
At 10/30/2008 10:24:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Okay, so they have been picketing for over 2 years in front of the Forum. They were out front when I saw Pearl Jam there in 2006. So who is the jackass that booked Neil to play there? Ugh! This is really frustrating.....
At 10/30/2008 10:58:00 AM, Anonymous said...: if ther on strike why the FU(k would u schedule at the FORUM. very very disapointed. CRAZY HORsE WAS SUPPOsE perform with neil.
could of picked hollywoood bowl irine some where close to LA.
At 10/30/2008 10:59:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Fucken gott to be keddin me why would u sale tickets if u know ther on strike.
At 10/30/2008 11:01:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Fucken IDIOT
SALE tickets to an arena that he cant go into.
At 10/30/2008 11:12:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Someone has some 'splaining to do.

My guess is that Neil is avoiding CC owned venues and his booking agent found the venue as an alternative.

Too bad the hypocrisy of this church (Faithful
Central Bible Church) owned venue can't walk the walk of it's savior...

Still, I agree with Neil's decision.

-Chicago
At 10/30/2008 11:46:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I would like to thank Neil for standing up for the working man. I'm a member of IATSE Local #33 and one of your biggest fans.Thanks for taking a stand. I wish some of these other bands would remeber that alot of their fans belong to the working class.Once again THANK YOU SO MUCH !! United we stand
At 10/30/2008 12:09:00 PM, Anonymous said...: neil's booking agent is a douche. i'm sooo disappointed.
Neil should have his people scramble to find another venue for a show in los angeles before the tour is ovedr...come back to LA Neil!!!
At 10/30/2008 12:53:00 PM, Henry Holland said...: I'm very pro-union but what a boneheaded lack of research by Neil's booking agent!

Very very very bummed out by the cancellation, I was really looking forward to the show tonight because the setlist has some choice bits in it (Cortez, Cowgirl, RITFW).

Damn.

By the way, thanks for a great site.
At 10/30/2008 02:34:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I disappointed to miss the show, for sure, but I think the cancellation speaks to the man's integrity. I support Neil fully.
At 10/30/2008 02:42:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Neil is a member of the IWW! Had 2 tickets to tonight's show. Very depressed about the show being cancelled, but more than understand and support Neil's decsion - the guy walks the walk! But what about refunds if the tix were purchased through Today's Music? Ironically, The Forum used to be THE PLACE for bands to play. No more.
At 10/30/2008 03:08:00 PM, NO said...: FROM HOTROD42 NEIL CAN YOU REBOOK IT AT A VENUE WERE YOU WILL PLAY, YOUR A UNION MAN THATS COOL BUT WHAT ABOUT THE UNION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR LA FANS IS THAT COOL, WE JUST WANT TO SEE YOU PLAY YOUR MUSIC IS GREAT. PEDRO ROCKS WITH OUR WITH OUT PEACE LONG MAY YOU RUN...........
At 10/30/2008 03:47:00 PM, Anonymous said...: If he knew this earlier in the week why didn't he announce it then? I would have driven to San Diego for the that show. HOW DISAPPOINTING!
At 10/30/2008 03:48:00 PM, Anonymous said...: My husband and I won tickets (from a local radio station) to see this concert at the Forum tonight.We live in Bakersfield,and we really were looking forward to seeing Neil play and sing. I feel that I am his biggest fan here in Bakersfield. Did anyone else cry?
At 10/30/2008 04:17:00 PM, Anonymous said...: what! the shows cancelled.. i just took a day off my union job, i got from union negotiations and was gonna have dinner with my union friends at a union sponsored restaurant.. oh well, i guess ill have a beer at the union hall.. thanks stage hand workers...
At 10/30/2008 04:41:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Anyone know how to get a refund, exactly? I ordered online from ticketmaster, but I'm concerned they are going to stick me with all their exorbitant fees, as their website implies they might.
I was looking forward to being around so many fans in this exciting time for the LEFT!
A
At 10/30/2008 05:20:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Bottom line with this is that it is sketchy...ticket sales for this show were beyond low..thats the real reason for cancellation. I hate cover ups and this one is obviously that. No one else see's this?
At 10/30/2008 05:24:00 PM, The Commuter said...: And you now, L.A.
Uptight, city in the smog, city in the smog.
Don't you wish that you could be here too?
Don't you wish that you could be here too?
Don't you wish that you could be here too?

Well, it's hard to believe
So you get up to leave
And you laugh at the door
That you heard it all before
Oh it's so good to know
That it's all just a show for you.
At 10/30/2008 05:42:00 PM, Anonymous said...: >.Bottom line with this is that it is sketchy...ticket sales for this show were beyond low..thats the real reason for cancellation. I hate cover ups and this one is obviously that. No one else see's this?

Proof? What's your source?
At 10/30/2008 06:18:00 PM, Anonymous said...: My My Hey Hey...we got a raw deal on this one. How does Neil justify supporting the working man and charge $270 bucks for a premium seat...which I had. It doesn't add up. Neil is a pro and doesn't need the dough. But he screwed 15,000 fans tonight for a bad decision in the first place...the Forum aint so fabulous. Why the cancellations on the Midwest swing?
At 10/30/2008 09:36:00 PM, Anonymous said...: He tried to do his best-but he could not. He tried to do his best-but he could not. He was a friend of your's. Was he a doper? Or was he just a loser? Open up your tired eyes, open up your tired eyes. "Well; now we're all left to ponder" 'This and so much more' I want the world to know that I love Mr. Young.
At 10/30/2008 09:40:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Neil is a Wobbly?
At 10/30/2008 11:15:00 PM, YogaforCynics said...: You mean the "Union Man" quote ironically, as it was mocking the pro-union position, right? I'm glad to see that Neil's left his late '70's/early '80's shift to the right behind, and that that includes embracing unions.
At 10/30/2008 11:48:00 PM, Anonymous said...: I back Neil on this, but the whole situation could have been avoided. Why book in at the LA Forum where this is a well known issue and not book in the Bay Area (except for the BSB)?
At 10/31/2008 12:14:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I of course agree with what he did. It's his union. He has integrity, and everything else that's good. Who couldn't love this man and everything he stands for.
At 10/31/2008 12:19:00 AM, Anonymous said...: AHHH...whoever thinks there wasn't a major sale of tickets on this one sure isn't on the inside. Not a good idea to spout off on things you you have no idea on. Bet ya do that alot, though.
At 10/31/2008 01:03:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I flew in from Phoenix and am out 400$. I am a working union man. Thanks Niel, You Prick
At 10/31/2008 07:13:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I totaly understand where Neil is comming from in cancelling BUT I can more understand the frustration and upset not from the local fans , but from fans who travelled great distance at a big expense and then see nothing ! That realy sucks for them. I travlled myself to Winnopeg to see a show at great expense and vacation time off from work etc. Had he cancelled, I would never buy a Neil ticket again. there should be some way Neil could compensate the travelling fans ?!!! That would be the right thing to do. I spent almost $ 2K for me and my wife to do the Winnipeg show between tix,airfare, hotel, can rental.I cant imagine what its like to do that and the show is cancelled.Hey Elliot, you know alot of people travel to see Neil.ALOT OF PEOPLE.You cant ignore these folks now !
At 10/31/2008 09:35:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I feel bad for all the fans, especially those that made travel and hotel arrangements. I am a retired union worker and I support Neil. Had the concert not been canceled I wouldn't have crossed the picket line. I have tickets for 12/4 and 12/5 in Toronto. I will have to stay 2 nights at a hotel. Needless to say it will be an expensive outing. I have to say I am a little nervous about the concerts getting cancelled if the weather is bad. I bought my tickets through the fan club presale to be sure I got tickets. Then I front row front section tickets on ebay. The plan is to sell my fan club tickets. The Dec. 4th show sold out quickly. Then they announced the Dec. 5th show and sales have been slow. If the concerts get cancelled there is little chance of getting refunds for the tickets I bought on eBay. I have gotten pretty spoiled and anything less than front row doesn't quite do it for me. I paid 1000.00 for my 2nd row seats at Massey Hall last fall. And 1000.00 for my front row seats at Shea Theatre in Buffalo. I never feel more alive than when I am at a Neil concert. I always hope it won't be the last time. If Neil makes both nights in Toronto it will be 30 times I've seen him. 34 days and counting. tuned4life
At 10/31/2008 12:18:00 PM, Katie said...: I was so surprised. What short notice! Im glad I checked my email yesterday morning. Me, my husband and daughter all took the day off from work. I had to do lesson plans for my sub and planned all week for this excursion. I agree, the show shouldn't have booked at the Forum seeing the history of the union picketing the place over and over the past few years. So disappointed.
At 10/31/2008 02:54:00 PM, Anonymous said...: How can you fools possibly support him for stiffing so many? This whole thing could have easily been avoided if he'd booked elsewhere. What an a****le move. What does he care? His sheeple will still be licking up every drop of snot he flings and paying handsomely for it. You blinded apologists are pathetic. Grow a frickin backbone.
At 10/31/2008 03:16:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Well, I think Neil owes EVERYBODY at least the service charge fees that were not refunded. And why no rescheduling? That would have avoided the lost fees. It's great that Neil has such INTEGRITY for the union but what about his integrity for his fans!?
At 10/31/2008 06:55:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Of course the show shouldn't have been booked. Neil's booking agent is an idiot. But you folks who are bitching and moaning without the caveat of understanding the sacredness of picketlines are supporting scabbing. There's nothing worse than a scab.

But to suggest that Neil should scab and encourage his fans to cross picket lines is to suggest something far more disturbing than missing a concert. As a proud socialist and a union member about to enter a strike situation, it gives me a great sense of solidarity that my favorite musician is not a scab, in spite of his bourgeois fan base.
At 11/01/2008 05:34:00 PM, Anonymous said...: SPENT $200 ON TICKETS,TOOK 2 DAYS OFF WORK, SPENT ANOTHER $200 ON A HOTEL, SHOWED UP AT DARK ARENA. SCREW TICKETMASTER, THE FORUM, KLOS RADIO FOR NOT ANNOUNCING THE CANCELLATION, AND ESPECIALLY THE GODDAM GREEDY PICKETERS! I HOPE YOU ALL GET FIRED AND EXPERIENCE THIS DEPRESSION FIRSTHAND.
At 11/02/2008 12:42:00 AM, Anonymous said...: You deserve your unhappy life, scab.
At 11/02/2008 03:36:00 PM, Anonymous said...: How about someone proves the ticket sales were strong? They were doing 2 for 1 General Admission tickets, the ticket give aways via the radio stations were higher than usual. That says to me the sales were low, though at the CRAZY prices they were charging maybe they sill made money with the amount of seats. Over 250 bucks? Please, that's nuts. This show was canceled because of ticket sales and they blamed it on the strike. Everyone has known the strike has been going on for nearly 3 years at least. There's no way he should have canceled this show, very very unprofessional.
At 11/03/2008 12:03:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I'm sure it was ticket sales just like the other shows that were cancelled. I don't think one show here in the states has truly sold out and many shows have had poor attendance.

Neil's still the greatest though...
At 11/07/2008 05:02:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Hey hey, My my - President-elect Obama! Man, Neil - YOU made it happen! After all those 'decades'! - thank you - once I saw you live in France many moons (decades) ago - you are still 'rockin' after all those years' - really do appreciate it.

YES - we Can! -- YES - we Will!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Neil Young fan originally from Western Germany - since I was 17 years old in the bad old times of the 1980's)
At 11/12/2008 07:42:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Bob Lefsetz had a post about this show today:

http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/