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B.B. King Heckled At Performance.

#101
I'm sure part of it is people cashing in, but it is also probably him just not wanting to give it up - it is his life.

I would hate to be the person who speaks to him to tell him. I am sure just many touring musicians would be thrilled to have him join in at concerts (mentioned this previously).
 
#102
buldog5151bass said:
I'm sure part of it is people cashing in, but it is also probably him just not wanting to give it up - it is his life.

I would hate to be the person who speaks to him to tell him. I am sure just many touring musicians would be thrilled to have him join in at concerts (mentioned this previously).
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yeah,but it's that top dollar price that has me shaking my head...if you're already rich and you just want to play,the special guest,benefit,or even workshop/lecture route would fill the time and the fans would love it,rather than walk away feeling disappointed...
 
#103
sevdog said:
Exactly



Because you're not an ass.

I think if I was in the audience I would have a hard time containing myself from raging out on the losers in the audience....I have little patience for that kind of disrespect.
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I'm with you. I want people to seriously consider that if they are to do a thing like that, there might be a you or a me there to kick some serious ass.

Take it up with the promoter.

Figure out what it is you're paying to see.

But don't heckle a legend, in his declining years.

That's just disgusting.
 
#104
Jim Campbell said:
earned what exactly?.....it's nice that you feel that way....and you'
re more than welcome to pay the $ 200 bucks they're asking....but others might expect more for their money....and they should....it's becoming all too common for rich artists to tour well after their sell by date at top dollar...do we really need more reasons to lower our expectations?

maybe pro athletes should play into their sixties and seventies,or even eighties....they've earned their reputations too..one could argue that the punishment they took on the field or in the ring qualifies as "earned it" ..i wonder how many season tickets they would sell if joe namath were to quarterback the jets next season....
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If Joe Namath can convince somebody to hire him, or he gets out on the grid with a bunch of other "has beens" and people are willing to pay for it? Sure! Why not? I'm not going to pay for that, that's not my interest.

It's totally cool your not liking what BB's doing, milking it. I'm saying he's had his share of dues paid earlier in his life, so Yeah, IMO, he's finally getting some ROI – I think he's earned it. Totally cool if you don't buy that. Great thing about opinions is they're free and everybody's got 'em. Don't like BB's rambling chatter, don't go to the show.

mellowinman said:
Heckling BB King is akin to clubbing baby seals. You'd have to be one lowlife scum-sucker to do a thing like that.

If you went to the show, expecting vim and vigor, it's sad you know so little about how life works.
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Dahmn Mellowinman, succinctly and eloquently put.

Jim Campbell said:
that would make sense,except for someone greedily trying to cash in....i think a lot of these old guys would do well to consider the "special guest appearance" ....and do a song or two....i can't think of too many "legends" i'd pay 200 bucks to see fumble through an entire evening... maybe joplin or hendrix,but they ain't available on the nostalgia circuit....
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Ahhh so there is somebody, were they alive today, you'd pay to see...

Scott Joplin, Absolutely.
Jimi Hendrix, Bien Sur.
I concur, excellent choices, but these legends aren't around, and BB is. Les Paul is another Legend I'd add to the above wish-list. I never got to see him, but I'd've payed to just be in the same room as the guy who gave us the modern recording industry as we know it, not to mention some great humour, songs and playing.


I'm sure if BB gives it up completely, it will kill him, spiritually and literally. There's a history of people "retiring" and dying shortly thereafter.
 
#105
Milk said:
No I don't think you should heckle, but you definitely have the right to be very disappointed. Like some people mentioned, i'd blame the people in charge of the tour more than BB King. But this shouldn't be happening.
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Sure, be disappointed all you want. Walk out if you feel like it. Call or write the tour promoter. But heckle an 80-something year old? No, not acceptable.
 
#106
Feral Feline said:
I

Scott Joplin, Absolutely.
Jimi Hendrix, Bien Sur.
I concur, excellent choices, but these legends aren't around, and BB is. Les Paul is another Legend I'd add to the above wish-list. I never got to see him, but I'd've payed to just be in the same room as the guy who gave us the modern recording industry as we know it, not to mention some great humour, songs and playing.
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Pretty sure they meant Janet....
 
#107
Feral Feline said:
If Joe Namath can convince somebody to hire him, or he gets out on the grid with a bunch of other "has beens" and people are willing to pay for it? Sure! Why not? I'm not going to pay for that, that's not my interest.

It's totally cool your not liking what BB's doing, milking it. I'm saying he's had his share of dues paid earlier in his life, so Yeah, IMO, he's finally getting some ROI – I think he's earned it. Totally cool if you don't buy that. Great thing about opinions is they're free and everybody's got 'em. Don't like BB's rambling chatter, don't go to the show.and bb has had twenty five years or more of a successful career....
i've seen him enough times to know that behind the homespun humor there is a very calculating business man.....we should not let our suspension of disbelief allow us to forget the motivation......there are other ways for him to continue playing and entertaining his fans.....but this is more about the money......if he had spent the last few decades grinding it out in the clubs and bars and only recently "made it" i could see it....but he's already rich and there is no other reason for this kind of thing but money.......
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#108
I caught B.B. last summer at Red Rocks with Frampton and David Hidalgo. King doesn't even try anymore. The article is spot on: He flirts with the girls and rambles on. "You Are My Sunshine" is a joke, even from a blues legend. His band features some awesome players, including a guitarist who takes up nearly all the considerable slack B.B. leaves behind. King played guitar maybe three times, staying safely within his patented blues box pattern. He invited Frampton out during his set, and Peter did a nice job covering for the old man. King is a museum piece at this point, and seemingly by his own design. I'm glad I saw him, but I'm also certain he could have done more while he sat there on his laurels.

You sell a concert ticket, you should be prepared to put on a concert. It's what people expect. If you can't deliver, it's a bit of a bait-and-switch, I don't care how old you are or how famous. Disappointed paying customers have a right to voice their frustration.
 
#109
ShoeManiac said:
I understand where you're coming from. But from the perspective of B.B.'s management, they have more of a responsibility to the wishes of their client than they do to the audience. Oh, and they're also in it to make money for themselves. This is the music BUSINESS after all.

If the audiences start diminishing? If people start walking out? Then perhaps I could see B.B.'s manager having a heart to heart with him about his future.
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Yes, I understand it's a business, no need for caps there. I'm simply talking about ethics--a rare commodity in the music biz and one that is almost frowned upon by some TBers.:hmm:
 
#110
If a legend commits fraud it's still fraud.

If people call that legend out on it, I'd say it's possibly long overdue. If they're ruining the show for those seated near them who prefer to remain delusional, that's a different thing. Better to leave and get a refund, and if that's not forthcoming *then* start screaming.

That said, caveat emptor I suppose. Plenty of online reviews to read pre-purchase, and no reason to believe a 90 y/o can perform at a very high level.

At his age, he possibly hasn't all his mental faculties so it's tough to say who's really to blame and those who assert he's rich, unless you have a credible source you may be presuming far too much. Many legends in music, and sports/etc., are quite broke or close to it. These aren't financially-minded, or even very responsible, people by nature, and it's easy come easy go.

A few wives, a few palimony suits, a few crooked handlers/staff, a few tax bills unpaid, a drug habit or two, a few bad investments and you're deeeeep in the hole. At the peak of their popularity in the late 70's/early 80's KISS was effectively bankrupt. So too the Stones and Sabbath around the same time. And Billy Joel. Elvis died almost penniless. I'll spare you the very long, nearly infinite list.
 
#112
electracoyote said:
... I'm glad I saw him, but I'm also certain he could have done more while he sat there on his laurels.

You sell a concert ticket, you should be prepared to put on a concert. It's what people expect. If you can't deliver, it's a bit of a bait-and-switch, I don't care how old you are or how famous. Disappointed paying customers have a right to voice their frustration.
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I agree.

******
I also agree with Mr Campbell: It's about the money. When is it not? Is Mr King supposed to take a full band on the road and pay for it all out of his own supposedly-deep pocket? Touring costs haven't gone down folks.


This reminds me of the hecklers on youtube at shows for Rev Horton Heat, Kiss, GnR etc... If you're not satisfied with the show, or the price, then ask for a refund or partial refund. Wait 'til after the show to air your grievance with Mr King in private or write him a letter, email or whatever to criticise his business practices... Heckling him while he's on stage is a douchey manoeuvre, whether he deserved it or not.
 
#115
Feral Feline said:
If you're not satisfied with the show, or the price, then ask for a refund or partial refund. Wait 'til after the show to air your grievance with Mr King in private...
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This has been suggested several times, but really? I can't imagine this actually working. I can't imagine getting a chance to meet Mr. King or any celeb and voice my disappointment.

Also, I suppose I should read reviews before I go to concerts, but I come from an era when this was hardly necessary. The vast majority of concerts I've seen, the entertainer at least worked up an act and gave a good effort. So, no, I'm not in the habit of researching and checking to see if the artist is actually going to put on a show. I must do so in the future.

Finally, I don't think this has anything to do with his age. He sure was horny, frisky, and mentally alert enough to make lewd remarks to the girls in the audience (instead of playing music) for a big chunk of his set. And the few times he actually played and sang, he sounded pretty darn good to me. From what I saw, he simply chose not to. For the majority of his set.

Yeah, heckling is not fun or cool, for the heckle-ee and the heckler alike, because most audience members who are pushed to that depth would rather have had good entertainment instead of frustration and drama.
 
#117
Feral Feline said:
I agree.

******
I also agree with Mr Campbell: It's about the money. When is it not? Is Mr King supposed to take a full band on the road and pay for it all out of his own supposedly-deep pocket? Touring costs haven't gone down folks.


This reminds me of the hecklers on youtube at shows for Rev Horton Heat, Kiss, GnR etc... If you're not satisfied with the show, or the price, then ask for a refund or partial refund. Wait 'til after the show to air your grievance with Mr King in private or write him a letter, email or whatever to criticise his business practices... Heckling him while he's on stage is a douchey manoeuvre, whether he deserved it or not.
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i've seen him in the 70's 80's and 90's in top form but the most expensive ticket was way under 50 bucks,including tax and agency fees.....several multiples of that is a far cry and that's the rub......... concert goers usually only see touring acts every few years so the decline may not always be apparent....and the promoters generally are not telling......asking for a refund is one option,but i would argue that a customer usually has a reasonable expectation of quality.....especially at those prices...
 
#118
It has to be hard to "hang it up."
Athletes, great musicians, actors and other forms of entertainment all have people that don't realize it is time.

At least with B.B. King, he kept playing all year. Year after year.
Not some "come back" tour like a lot of real old groups do.
To me, those are doing it to make money again.

B.B. King never quit. I admire that but he should see it is time to quit touring.
I have had the honor of seeing him twice and the last time, about 10 years ago, he just sat in a chair.
 
#120
I dunno...I think when your performances begin to suck due to age/poor health, etc then it's time to hang it up. Or if you're just not into it anymore like George Harrison. At least he had the guts to tell his management and the music industry in general "Hey, I'll record when I feel like recording and if I don't, then too bad"
 

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