Smoking ban? What smoking ban?
Posted by Scott Wilkinson on 27 August 2008 - 10:16am.
Here's a clip from a recent Paul Weller concert I attended (and wrangled my way backstage as noted elsewhere on the blog).
This is a fine performance of 'Wildwood' despite the camerawork but what is that in his hand?
I'll tell you what it is, it's a bloody ciggy.
I'm not complaining about passive smoking here, I'm complaining that I couldn't get some first hand poison in me.
The venue is a non-smoking establishment as is every other building on planet earth these days.
I don't begrudge Weller his fag break but I do begrudge the fact that if I did same I would be hauled out of my seat and into the road.
Is there a smoking ban or not?
Who does the ban actually apply too?
What gives?
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You're not seriously suggesting...
that there is one law for rock stars and another for us mere mortals?
The very thought of it!
Yours,
Outraged of Wolvercote
Paul Benson Weller
Like the odd puff myself now and again, but couldn't Weller have waited until after the gig? People don't pay well earned cash to watch performers smoking. I would never dream of lighting up on stage and us mere mortals can't anyway or will be thrown in Scarborough prison.
I've paid good money to watch performers smoke...
particularly Sir 'Honest' of Wood and the Right Honourable Keef.
I realise the 'famous' live different lives but
isn't the smoking ban a fundamental law that a lot of people take very seriously?
Being a smoker myself I will tell you they do.
I'm sure rockstars do whatever they want backstage but in full view on stage?
By the way backstage wasn't an orgy of women and drugs there was a bit of chatting and a really dodgy looking bloke looking uncomfortable looking to make an exit.
Smoking is Cool
Fact. Especially when rock stars do it - I really miss the fact the guitarist can't put a ciggy at the end of the guitar neck anymore.
If I may
Smoking isn't cool. It's pretty stupid. Not, however, as stupid as thinking it's cool. Watch someone die slowly from lung cancer and get back to me.
Sorry. I know that's really un-rock 'n' roll of me but it's something close to my heart.
The Felice Brothers
When I went to their show at the 100 Club I was chuffed to see two of them standing on Oxford Street having a puff as I approached the venue. I can't imagine Paul 'school fees' Weller ever slumming it outside with the punters.
They were outside the Dublin venue too..
... here's a pic of my mate Jim with James Felice having a smoke before the show:
Happy Mondays
I think there was talk of Happy Mondays receiving a fine after smoking on stage in Manchester a year or so back.
Justice...
...for playing Elland Road on a Sunday when no alcohol licence would be granted. Imagine a concert starring Happy Mondays/The Farm/The La's/Stereo MCs outdoors in the summer with no booze!? And Shaun Ryder swigging from a can o'Stella onstage to rub it in.
Ha ha
"Sorry there's no beer for everyone but it's the puritans........they think you're all hooligans....and you can't drink"
Manic Street Preachers
James Dean Bradfield pointedly smoked onstage at the Wembley leg of the risible "Lifeblood" tour. Then remarking that if the venue threw him out, there'd be no show. Which would have saved 10,000 people listening to another grating version of "I Live to Fall Asleep".
A tad on the arrogant side from the usually good value JDB and possibly failing to acknowlegde the full t's and c's of the venue hire.
Je Suis Un Rock Star
As someone who used to work for a promoters a few years ago I remember having to negotiate a fee at each of the venues Bill Wyman played at on one of his UK tours so he could smoke on stage. He simply refused to play anywhere that wouldn't let him - it was usually a couple of hundred quid and he paid it himself.
When Velvet Revolver played here...
...and Slash smoked on-stage, he was apparently fined!
Que ?
Typing this from a bar in Ibiza, it feels like a time warp.
Smoking inside, smoking outside, smoking everwhere.
At first I was quite shocked, but after a few days it seems to just fit into this laissez faire lifestyle.
Shame everything else is so bloody expensive here !
V Festival
Mac from the Bunnymen had a gasper at the Chelsmford leg, and he was playing in a (pretty small) tent too. Still, iconoclastic geniuses unappreciated by the serried ranks of faux-cockernee cheesy quavers do deserve a wee bit of latitude.
One of the, excellent, Drive-By Truckers lit up too. But, caveat alert, grizzled rockers must be allowed leeway. You wouldn;t expect a band of that name to merely enjoy a noggin of sherry, and a quick blast on the (legal) Meerschaum afore they went on, would you?
'Despite the Camerawork'
So Scottie,
So it was a "fine performance of 'Wildwood' despite the camerawork"???
Mate, i was at the gig with my digital camera, not a professional video recorder.
Maybe you should bring your own recording equipment next time instead of bagging me for trying to share a great gig with the wider public!!
Blimey....what are the chances?
You're right, it was uncalled for and I apologise.
It was just an off the cuff remark.
Please don't take it personally and thanks for posting the Enmore clips.
It was a great concert wasn't it?
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