New Kids knocked off the block by rockers

By staff writers and wires NEWS.com.au June 18, 2009 04:44pm

Tour cancelled ... New Kids on the Block pull out of Australian concerts, blaming the economy. But a top tour promoter says it's really because no one cares about old boy bands.

BOY bands don't age well but wrinkled rockers can rock on forever.

Pit New Kids on the Block against AC/DC – or even a 60s folk duo – and that’s the stark conclusion.

New Kids on the Block announced on their website yesterday they were cancelling their Australian tour, blaming the “recession's stranglehold on the world's economies”.

The news that the late 80s and early 90s pop phenomenon, which sold 80 million albums worldwide before splitting up in 1994, would not be coming Down Under left fans dejected.

“Yes, I’m a teenybopper down to my core,” said Neesha Crebbin, 28, who bought tickets for the Adelaide show.

"I was in love with all of them," Ms Crebbin said.

She thinks most girls of her generation were similarly besotted with the group's five young male heartthrobs.

"I had all albums, merchandise and videos," Ms Crebbin said.
“I was too young to see them when they toured Australia last time, so this was going to be my turn.”

Ms Creebin did admit, however, that the ticket price of $125 would have put many off, especially as the group was threatening to sing “new stuff”.

However the cancellation of the tour has not surprised Michael Chugg, whose touring company currently has concerts for musical giants such as AC/DC, Simon and Garfunkel and Keith Urban scheduled.

Chugg told news.com.au the industry always thought the New Kids on the Block tour would have difficulties.

“New Kids on the Block was very big years ago… no one really gives a sh*t about them now,” Chugg said.

He also said the price of tickets to the shows might not have matched the quality of the group.

“There’s a lot of tickets being bought for the right things – people are picking and choosing.”

He said handling a comeback tour for a pop group was always going to be a difficult prospect.

“We were offered the Backstreet Boys… but I thought it would be too tough.”

Rock bands, however, tended to have greater success during comeback tours, he said.

The record-setting sell-out of AC/DC concerts would seem to vindicate the assessment that rock nostalgia plays and pays well.

The ‘60s folk harmonies of Simon and Garfunkel also seem to have struck a nostalgic chord with Aussie audiences. An enthusiastic crowd attending the iconic duo’s opening show in Brisbane last night.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25655362-2,00.html



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