Clear Channel and Ticketbastard don't care much aobut Bruce because even though his shows are legendary and his fanbase loyal, he isn't "hot" anymore. he's an aging has-been (sorry, I love the guy and have seen him and his band, but that's the truth. His fanbase is aging, he;s not drawing in new fans like u2 are. (Which is a tragedy. He can still write fantastic stuff. "Land of Hope and Dreams" is one of the best things he's ever written...)
I have said it before, and I will say it again: These 2 agenecies control the music and concert biz in the US and U2 have to kowtow to whatever they want. And I have been saying all along that since the concert biz suffered so horribly this past year, it was one of the worst in memory--not only becasue the tix were so expensive across the board but for the first time ever, as has been widely covered by the media, people rebelled by staying away. They refused to shell out for shows, and how there were even a couple of high-profile tours that stopped for lack of ticket sales. Rahter than take the bull, people stayed home. This is the post 9/11 economy, and people don't have that kind of money.
I've been saying all along that the Bastards will want to recoup their losses and lick their wounds by charging whatever they damn well need to, from their POV, because U2 are now not only the surest thing in the concert biz, but even "hotter" than they were before. Only a second Irish Famine could keep a U2 tour from selling out, as the saying goes. I wonder if some revising was done in the Clear Channel fron toffices after last week's explsoive CD first week sales.
I have decided not to do the Propaganda presale. I am prepared to pay a little upwards of $200 for decent seats somehwre in the lower tier, for 2 shows. And that;s counting fees. A friend in NYC knows I have a money situation and has promised to cover for bith me and himself in a ticketline. He has done good so far, he says.
We shall see..but I have a grim satisfaction in kwowing I might be right.