FATBOY SLIM, alias Norman Cook, has had a pop at Oasis ticket prices – branding them “sick”.
The DJ reckons the controversial dynamic pricing method, which sees the cost of tickets rise if demand is there, is a rip-off for fans.
When asked about Liam and Noel Gallagher’s reunion gigs, he said: “The only problem I have got is with scalping the fans.
“That dynamic pricing, that is ripping off the fans. It is like auct-ioning tickets because you know they are doing well.
“It is bad enough with the touts doing it, but the actual promoter and band doing it, it is sick.
“As far as I know, it has never happened on my watch. I get a say on making tickets, on the whole, cheap. I always say, ‘Let’s have a fair price’.
“Ticket prices are so exorbitant. It is just profit for people who are very, very rich already — and that is for the bands and the promoters.
“I can’t see how you can justify making it even more expensive, just because you know you have got a gig that everybody wants to go to.”
But he added of the Oasis reunion: “When you are in a band, and it is your first band, you go through something which is like losing your virginity — or your first love affair.
“I am sure there is a moment when you think, ‘Let’s bury the hatchet and get some of that old magic back’. Financially, for a lot of people, if they run out of money, I can see why they would do that.”
Norman, whose own UK tour starts on Friday, also praised Coldplay, despite claiming he hates them. He said: “I really f*g hate Coldplay.
At least, I did until they announced their new arena tour and they announced they are giving ten per cent of the whole ticket prices for the whole tour, which will help keep smaller venues going.
“That is the dynamic pricing you should be having. They are not making lots of money, they just want to survive. They just love to see rock n’n’ roll.
“New bands have to have somewhere to come.”
I CAN reveal fans will be able to see Liam and Noel and the band in Japan and several dates across Asia, as they’re set to announce new dates imminently.
They first toured Japan in 1994, are huge there. A source said: “The venues are booked and promo material is being prepped. Oasis have a massive Japanese fanbase.”
An Oasis spokesman declined to comment. But my source added: “It’s also a great prospect for fans who have failed to get tickets in the UK, to travel to Japan.”
I’d defo be keen.
Chloe’s Family Affair to end
CHLOE MADELEY and James Haskell’s ITV reality show A Family Affair has been shelved after the couple split.
The first series, which aired last autumn, got rave reviews, but telly insiders tell me that both Chloe and production bosses decided not to pursue a second season.
Chloe and James, who share daughter Bodhi, two, are successfully co-parenting but are also hectic with work.
An insider tells me: “They discussed more filming, but Chloe is really busy with her personal training business and James is busy DJing, so, logistically it would prove difficult.
“They’ve remained amicable, so they’re just navigating moving forward peacefully and throwing cameras into the mix to try to capture drama didn’t seem the most obvious option.
“Chloe loves her fitness career and isn’t that focused on telly right now.”
ITV declined to comment.
Adele be me done, everyone
ADELE has dashed any hopes of a London homecoming gig, insisting she is “retiring” from all performances after finishing her Las Vegas residency next weekend.
Speaking on stage, she said: “In two weeks, I am retiring. This is the end. It’s the 100th and final show the weekend before Thanksgiving. And that’s the last one.
“I don’t have any plans to be on stage indefinitely, really. But I’m looking forward to having loads of spare time to love on my kid, to love on my man, to love on another kid. I will miss you terribly.”
Adele touched on how she loves being a “soccer mom” to son Angelo, even though she has no idea about the rules of flag football. She said: “I have no f***ing idea what that is.”
But she added: “I go to every game. I would never, ever miss a game. I made it to the end of the season. Obviously, I know what’s going on with football, like soccer.”
Legend.
MICHAEL OWEN has revealed he is pleased that his Love Island daughter Gemma is finally moving out of the £4million family home.
But she’s not flying far from the nest in North Wales – just to a cottage in the garden.
England football legend Michael said: “Gemma and I get on great, we’re very similar. But we’re not too compatible around the house, let’s put it that way.
“I know what will end up happening – she’ll end up walking down for dinner and we’ll never get rid of her.”
Speaking at Peacocks’ party season launch in London, brand ambassador Michael added that he feels protective over Gemma’s dating life.
He said: “I thought when I was 20, ‘Oh when I have a kid, I’ll be a cool dad,’ but you get older, you get wiser.”
Kimberley in it to spin it
SHE made her name as a singer with Pussycat Dolls but Kimberley Wyatt is now ramping up the DJing.
Speaking to Laura Hamilton on the Mile High Club podcast, she revealed: “I’ve been DJing for ten years.
“While I was stuck in New York waiting for a visa, I took myself to Run DMC’s Scratch Academy and went to DJ school. Ever since, I’ve been practising, DJing and doing clubs.
But now it’s really sort of stepping up to the next level.
“I’ve been doing all these lovely festivals and gigs, then the dream was always to also have a DJ dance show.”
Mixing DJing and dancing? Now that’s a great idea.