No beer, no show, says Cave

September 9, 2005

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/09/08/1125772641985.html

Australian singer Nick Cave scored a victory for rock and roll over health and safety laws after refusing to take the stage in London last week without his beer and smokes.

As Cave walked on stage at Alexandra Palace last week for a concert with his band the Bad Seeds, he was stopped by a security guard who told him his cans of beer and cigarettes were against the venue's rules.

According to British newspaper The Independent today, Cave told the guard he would not perform.

"Nick just said 'Fine, if I can't take a beer on with me, I'm going back to my dressing room. You can go out there and tell some jokes to entertain the crowd for three hours.'," a source on Cave's tour told the Independent.

"Then the band turned on their heels and marched back up to their dressing rooms."

The paper said that, after an awkward wait, venue authorities backed down and gave the band "special allowance' to take their beers and smokes on stage.

- AAP