Anoraks in the UK! Punk gig rained off
THEY are as popular for their punk spirit as for their music.
But it appears even rockers have their limits – and that appears to be some wet weather.
American band Green Day cancelled a Scots gig yesterday amid fears of heavy rain hours before they were due on stage.
The set at Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park was called off by organisers to the fury of disappointed fans.
Almost 35,000 people had tickets to see the trio – famous for hits such as American Idiot, Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Basket Case – play in the city for the first time in seven years.
Ian Craig, 22, from Aberdeen, said: ‘I’m hearing bad weather was to blame. I’m standing here in my t-shirt. So much for punk rock.’
John Hay, 31, said: ‘What happened to the show must go on? I’m gutted.’
One angry fan let rip on social media, posting: ‘Scotland has s ***** weather like this 24/7. We put up with this all day every day. Sad to break it to you.’
Another wrote: ‘Green Day cancelling a gig because of rain. What did they expect when they booked an outdoor concert in Scotland?’
The band – vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool – said: ‘The local safety council, production crew and concert organisers have deemed the stage unsafe for the fans and everyone involved. We are very distraught about this as we are in Glasgow now and were very much looking forward to this show as one of the highlights of our tour.
‘We have been playing in extreme weather conditions throughout this European tour and the last thing we want to do is see a show cancelled.’
The band – who were due to be joined by Rancid and Dunfermline band The Skids – insisted they were happy to play through rain but said the safety of their fans and crew was a ‘top priority’.
Glasgow City Council said promoters and band management made the decision to cancel.
Concert organisers PCL Presents said all tickets will be refunded and that ‘due to adverse weather conditions it is no longer safe for bands to perform on stage’.
Punk duo Slaves, another Green Day support act, scheduled an impromptu gig at Glasgow’s 02 ABC2 to compensate.