rude fans in australia

[silver_boxster]

Having seen all the shows in australia so far, I would like to comment on the lame behavior of many people in the stands as well as the peculiar security. In Brisbane, people in the stands wanted to sit down for the most part. Security there enforced that for about half the show. People at the Sydney shows were much cooler, except for the 5000 who tried to constantly get out of the stands and jump into GA, wrecking the view of everyone behind them. Finally in Adelaide, the people in the town itself are very nice. At the concert, they are the saddest bunch. They boo if you stand, even though half the people in stands are standing. Isnt that the most pathetic thing. My fiancee was assaulted by some old drunk guy who came down. The police had to get involved. 3 other people stood in front of me on seats. People were also constandly blocking my view as I had aisle seats near the field. They were trying to talk to the guard to get into GA. Half got in. This didnt happen at the 35 US shows I went to. As much as Americans are criticized for being rude, the Australians at a concert are much ruder. I mean who gets assaulted at a U2 concert for standing? If you want to sit and watch it, get a DVD and stay home.

 

[PietroChocko]

You've gotta ask this: How often does Australia as a whole get shows like U2 coming down? We're not as refined in concert etiquette as Americans, duh.

 

[Axver]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Australian crowds are terrible if there are seats involved.

I've had only good experiences in GA at my three U2 shows thus far, but I've seen other bands with seated tickets and had solely negative experiences with the crowd in those cases.

 

[bono_man]

Yeah dont put a seat behind an Australian arse at a concert.

The GA seemed good at all the shows I went to (Bris, Syd 1-3) and from what I saw, the Syd crowd was on its feet for most (maybe all?) of the show. I wasnt looking all the time but that seemed to be to go.

South Australians are a strange breed too...they dont even show up and force a sell-out in AFL finals matches. Rather watch it at home I guess.

 

[PietroChocko]

^ That's coz everyone has bloody Foxtel, and they stay at home. Stupid idiots, and I agree wholeheartedly.

 

[neilm]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Australian crowds are terrible if there are seats involved.

Damn right. Who goes to a rock show to sit down the entire time, unless, of course, you're unable to stand for medical reasons.

Honestly, every show I've been to in Oz that has a seating section, everyone sat down. There are two exceptions. Pearl Jam in Brisbane last Friday was one. The other was Oasis last November and that was probably because 3/4 of the crowd were English!

To get assaulted because you dare stand up and dance to the music you paid good money to go and listen to is disgusting. Although I don't condone violence in any way, if it had been my wife he assaulted, I'd of made damn sure he didn't get a chance to do it again.

I know there is 'etiquette' and consideration of others when standing up in the seating section, but the question still remains as to why you would want to pay all that money to enjoy a rock show and just sit down all the way through it.

As someone previously said, if you're going to do that, save some bucks, wait for the tour dvd to come out and then watch it in the comfort of your own home.

 

[OzAurora]

I hate to say this, but I agree. I got A reserve seats for my Brisbane show (only cause I knew with work I wouldnt have time to line up for GA and all that) and I gotta say that we had a 'seat nazi' behind us. I wanted to stand up and he just glared at me to sit down and told me "ive paid good money for these seats, you just sit down" in the end he lost out- seriously how can you sit down at a gig like that???

 

[adambk]

I live in Adelaide, this was the first time I got to see my favourite band live. I was 6 when they were here last (13 years ago to the exact date). I apologize for the way you were treated. Me any my sister stood up during Beautiful Day and tried to encourage people in the bays close to us but only about 50 people stood up. Majority just sited there. Then we stood up for Pride, Where the Streets have no name and One. Then everyone in the bottom A-reserved bays near us stood up, I guess to cheer them for the first encore and they stayed this way. So the last 6 songs everyone around us stood up. We stood for a total of 10 songs of the 22 that were played. Unfortunately I think its just Adelaide being a smaller city, conservative and just not used to such concerts. At least the people in front of the stage in the inner circle seemed like to jumping around. I sang, waved my hand all day, clapped. I originally had GA seats but unfortunately when the concert was reschelduled it happened to fall on the day where I had a University exam in the morning for 3 hours, then a 2 hour break, then another exam in the afternoon for 3 hours so I figured by the time I would get to the stadium with traffic and all that I would end up at the back of the long Aussie Rules field. Also an exam in the following morning at 9am and I live like 30km from the exam venue. Though it seemed like there was room on the right side of the grass which was a bit closer anyway from our A-reserved seats on the right side near the stage. It was still an awesome concert and with the use of the binoculars I had no problems seeing Bono, Larry, Edge and Adam.

 

[wang_chung]

I agree with the opinions in this thread. It pisses me off when people sit down at a concert and force others to do so, although it says on the ticket you can dance etc
I was at Sydney 2 with seats and some people were giving it to me, you just have to stand up and not care - you payed good money, enjoy yourself.

Australians just think they are perfect, and like to give shit to other nations, especially America.

 

[Dulce de Leche]

You know, this is an interesting topic. I am not seeing U2 in Australia but I did see Coldplay and Snow Patrol in Sydney both a few months back. Yes, as an American I was quite surprised to go to a shows where nearly everyone in a seat was sitting near the entire time. I had never seen anything like it in the US.

For Coldplay I had GA but I continued to stand for Snow Patrol despite any wankers behind me who were pissed off.

 

[adambk]

PietroChocko: I am a Crows fan and I went to both finals and as many of the home and away games as I could. But yeh no way I would miss out a finals game unless it was just impossible (ie family, medical reasons etc).

wang_chung: Not all Australian's are bad . I turned around and tryed and waved like a lunatic trying to get people to stand up, only managed to get about 50 people up. Thousands just sat there.

 

[adambk]

You know, this is an interesting topic. I am not seeing U2 in Australia but I did see Coldplay and Snow Patrol in Sydney both a few months back. Yes, as an American I was quite surprised to go to a shows where nearly everyone in a seat was sitting near the entire time. I had never seen anything like it in the US.

For Coldplay I had GA but I continued to stand for Snow Patrol despite any wankers behind me who were pissed off.

Hello,

I saw Coldplay in Adelaide back in July. Luckily no exams but I was probably about 1-2m away from Chris in the GA. Had a awesome time. But I couldn't remember what the people were doing in the seats. But I was in the seats last night like I have already said so it wasn't really until last night that I noticed this.

 

[Dulce de Leche]

I know what you mean about not noticing what's going on in the stands when you're in GA.

I remember though that the guy I was with kept looking around and then I started looking around too and we both kept commenting that we couldn't believe everyone was sitting down!

 

[adambk]

I know what you mean about not noticing what's going on in the stands when you're in GA.

I remember though that the guy I was with kept looking around and then I started looking around too and we both kept commenting that we couldn't believe everyone was sitting down!

I was praying that Bono would just scream out "Oi you F#$*#$#$8 in the stands stand up". Unfortunately didn't happen. You reckon that would get the message across.

 

[Dulce de Leche]

Probably, but it's probably best not to piss off the audience that has paid good money to come see you.

 

[JCOSTER]

Not standing at a U2 show ....unheard of.

 

[adrball]

My three lasting impressions of Adelaide:

1. The beautiful girl who I met on the train coming over from Sydney. She told me how 4 of her best mates were going but she wasn't able to get hold of one. She knew all the songs and was gutted not be going. The LOOK on her face when I gave her my spare ticket - PRICELESS.

2. The city is a dream. I've fallen in love with it.

3. Oh yeah, the crowd sitting down

 

[adambk]

Your a star ardball When I was listening to the radio this morning there was a girl who was looking forward to u2 but unfortunately her brother lost 5 tickets to u2. But because she was on the radio a week ago or so some nice man gave her a call and dropped of two tickets at her work and refused to receive any money. Its really good to hear, that there are some really nice people in this world.

 

[redhotswami]

I don't understand the no standing concert goers either. If someone were to say "I've paid good money for these seats" I'd say "So did I, so shut up so I can listen to the concert!" It is a concert, not a movie.

I went to a Guster show once, and the band actually said to the audience "If you wanna stand up during the show, DO IT! If people around you are making faces or complaining, FUCK EM!" It was awesome to see the band support you on such a touchy issue.

 

[epoh]

Yes...the sitting business, especially at a rock concert, pisses me off too. But, I don't think it's something absolutely peculiar to Adelaide. Depends where you are in the stadium I guess. Myself and my youngest daughter were in Bay 130 [Eastern side of stands] and as far as the eye could see around us on that side, NO-ONE was sitting...from the minute we spotted the band coming down from the stand area behind the stage til they finally left, not on person put a butt anywhere near a seat. People yelled at us when we went to see Springsteen in Brisbane almost 4 years ago....my attitude is unless the damn ticket says "You must remain seated at all times", me and the seat are parting company the minute the artist hits the stage. Don't recall reserved ever implying that.
Forget the seat Nazis guys, and keep standing...maybe sooner than later, they will get the damn message and either get their sorry asses off the seats OR not go to gigs anymore - which in turn means more seats available for people who want to enjoy themselves and STAND.

As for the crowd being quiet [noted in other threads]...not sure where people thinking that/saying it are getting that info from....thousands of voices [including me] singing at full force. My eldest daughter, her best friend and 2 of my nieces were in the front area of GA and said there were times when the singing of the crowd there was drowning out hearing Bono.

I know people elsewhere, and some who live here too, like to slag Adelaide off, but it's a great city...just ask Bono...he thinks so too [tonights news - Channel 9] We might be 'small' by comparison to Sydney, Melbourne...but we are what we are...happy and not trying to be something we're not. Given the population of SA is about 1.2 million, 60,000+ at AAMI last night is pretty damn impressive.

My first U2 show...after waiting over 13 years, and one night I'll never forget. Effing BRILLIANT!!!!

S.

 

[ChargedVT]

In regards to rude fans, I didn't see any where i was (Inner Zone near Edge's b-stage). Everyone was quite friendly.
There was, however, a bit of frustration in the GA line, especially when it got really bunched up and you found an elbow pressed against your side or someone nearly close enough to breathe down your neck... but that was just because everyone was so excited to get in there!!!
In regards to reports of the crowd being a bit tame, I'm not sure how things were in the stands, but I can tell you how they were in the Inner Zone. There were a few people standing around not even singing at all BUT most of us were belting out the songs.
I have to thank the people standing behind me. I am 6ft 4in tall and i was jumping as high as I could in a lot of the songs, yet no one tapped me on the shoulder and said "cut it out".
We were all having a good time, but some people are more extroverted in their ways.
Having said that, the noise in the Inner Zone at the end of most of the songs was amazingly LOUD.

 

[4U2Play]

This is not just an Australian thing, believe me.

I bitched about the lameass fans in San Jose right here on these boards a year and a half ago... these were fans inside the damn Ellipse, second row, 15 feet from Bono, who stood there like trees flapping in the wind. They were more concerned about securing their little space on the floor than enjoying the greatest rock band in history playing right in front of them.

Same thing happened inside the Portland Ellipse.

I kept thinking what would happen to those idiots if this were a European or South American U2 show... they'd get squashed.

Then, at the only non-GA Vertigo show I saw, the awesome Las Vegas 2 concert last November, we got yelled at to sit down by some lazy fuckers behind us who wanted to park their fat asses in their freebie corporate seats for the entire gig.

We obliged for Miracle Drug and SYCMIOYO, only because they're slow numbers, but the rest of the show we stood and danced and jumped and yelled and sang every word to every song and ignored the pathetic wankers behind us. These were killer seats, 8th row from the floor near Adam's side of the stage, filled with these bankers and other tossers who got comped by the MGM Grand casino.

I have American friends who attended multiple shows in Oz over the past few days, and they all say the crowds were really loud and enthusiastic, especially at the Sydney 2 show (which is quickly gaining legendary status).

These "sit down and shutup" assholes are everywhere now, a lot of them are just old and tired and want to just sit there like blobs for two hours and be entertained, get their minds off their miserable lives for awhile.

 

[socceroo]

I'm an oldie 44yrs... I sit down. Any prob. with that?

 

[4U2Play]

No problem.

Do you have a problem with other people in front of you standing?

 

[neilm]

I was praying that Bono would just scream out "Oi you F#$*#$#$8 in the stands stand up". Unfortunately didn't happen. You reckon that would get the message across.

Bono has done it before. He did it on live TV in the UK on the Jonathan Ross Show during I Will Follow. "Get up you boring bastard," he said to some old scrote who was sat there with a face like thunder in his seat whilst everyone around him was stood up!

Tommy Lee did it at the Brisbane Motley Crue show....went something along the lines of..."Are you people in the seats actually sitting down at a rock show? That sucks ass. You suck ass you boring assholes!"

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters also mentioned how lame it was people actually sat down in their seats on their Australian Tour during the shows too, but being the nice guy he is, his comments were made off stage unfortunately.

 

[fly so high!]

This thread is an absolute crock of shit!

I went to Sydney l & Sydney ll and they were the loudest friendliest crowds , there were a couple of a-holes but hey they are everywhere.....sayin' that Australian crowds are rude........Oh mate! What happenend to your fiance......thats bad....and i hope the assailant felt the full force of our law! But don't put all Aussies in that basket!
Who gives a shit people are sitting down......you do what you want!

 

[redhotswami]

There's nothing wrong with sitting down. But if someone is going to get fiesty because others aren't doing the same, then there's a problem. That's certainly not letting everyone "do what you want." If people wanna sit down, whatever. I mean, I don't understand it, but I don't care either. However if some of the sitting people want to ruin other people's experience by yelling at them to sit down, well then, that's not somethign I take lightly.

 

[Arcadion]

Australians just think they are perfect, and like to give shit to other nations, especially America.

haha, so true!

 

[U2SJ]

SOmeone please tell me it wont be like this in Hawaii in section MM ?
Cuz there is no way in hell Im sitting down.

 

[JCOSTER]

SOmeone please tell me it wont be like this in Hawaii in section MM ?
Cuz there is no way in hell Im sitting down.

You stand Baby.....Stand all the way!!!