New Zealand Herald, January 25, 1999

Bibliography   72 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 UK & Ireland weeklies UK & Ireland magazines UK & Ireland newspapers US newspapers US rock magazines US music magazines US magazines US alternative weeklies European magazines European newspapers Canada  •  Mexico  •  Asia Australia  •  New Zealand South America  •  Africa Blogs  •  Fanzines  •  Books Online publications New Zealand Herald   1998 October 24 1998 December 19 1999 January 25 2002 May 11 2002 December 26 2003 October 25 2004 October 31 2006 February 12 2006 July 1 2008 June 12 2010 November 4 2012 October 24 2013 January 17 2013 January 20 2013 July 15 2013 September 19 2014 April 26 2014 April 28 2014 November 9 2018 July 6  2018 October 10 2022 January 12 New Zealand publications   Newspapers New Zealand Herald Otago Daily Times Wanganui Herald Wellington Evening Post Magazines New Zealand Listener Pop Score Rip It Up Online publications Elsewhere Off The Tracks — Cash woes sour Costello spot Russell Baillie It was touch and go whether British star Elvis Costello would take the stage at Sweetwaters last night after organisers' failed to pay him — but at the final hour he did not disappoint his fans. The singer-songwriter told organisers earlier in the day that he would not perform his headlining slot because his full fee was still outstanding. He then went public on what he said was appalling treatment, telling the New Zealand Herald his experience could deter other big names from touring New Zealand. Other acts had also not been paid, he claimed. Daniel Keighley, organiser of the laid-back weekend festival, admitted last night that the stand-off had come about because of money problems, partly due to the crowd of around 25,000 being below expectations. He promised Costello would get paid whether he performed or not and to the relief of the crowd he star took the stage shortly before midnight announcing his first song would be the Beatles' "You Never Give Me Your Money." Instead he launched into his own hit "Accidents Will Happen." Mr Keighley put the dispute down to a mix of cash flow problems, partly caused by his having to pay for last-minute work at the Manukau site, including laying gravel on muddy roads, and communication difficulties between himself, Costello — who has been holidaying in New Zealand for several weeks — and his booking agent. He said he would probably lose "a big block of money" he had poured into the festival, which he ran mostly at a profit in the early 1980s. "I know I will be hurt to the tune of everything that I have." Only two or three artist payments remained outstanding as of last night, he said. "I don't think there will be a problem with the money tomorrow." "I don't mind if Elvis Costello thinks I'm an [expletive] and we spend the next few weeks sorting out the finances. I'm completely happy for that to be the case." Organisers signed Costello last May and used his name to pull other big acts for the three-day festival. Another headlining act that cancelled at the last minute, Run DMC, is believed to have dropped out because of illness. Costello, who made his name in the late 1970s and early 1980s with hits like "Watching The Detectives," said his treatment by the festival organisers had been the worst of his 21-year career. "It's just become increasingly obvious that they don't have any money," Costello said. New Zealand Herald, January 26, 1999 Another letter from Sweetwaters Russell Baillie Extract: Dear folks, Firstly thanks for sending the soap, sunblock and fresh socks. The cheque's in the mail. Promise. Well, once I clear up my tab at the vegeburger stand and get to the bank. You know how it is... The second half of my stay in Sweetwaters country certainly has had its moments. There has been drama, there has been economic crises, there has been sunburn. Weather-wise what was mud on Friday is now dust, undoubtedly disappointing many a late-coming participant for the traditional last day rockfest bog-dancing. On the karma-readjustment side there was a minute of silence for Planet Earth Peace Day early on Sunday evening which was a very handy way of finding out who was playing on the other stages — just like the trans-generational line-up, the clocks don't exactly sync up around here. Too bad. All part of the appealing lack of urgency of the place. Well, yes, there was some panic as you might have heard. Though Cyclone Costello just sort of blew on by, unless you were among the fraught types backstage. More on him later.  •   •   •  Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis is in the building. Striding on post-midnight he announced: "We're gonna do a Beatles song called You Never Give Me Your Money." But instead he ploughed into his own "Accidents Will Happen." From there it was a case of songbook wanderlust with a guitar-playing Costello and onetime Attraction, fleet-fingered pianist Steve Nieve, mixing the old and the old-sounding new pieces from Painted from Memory, his Burt Bacharach collaboration. Yes, he did have a go at local accounting practices, though he probably overstepped the mark by saying nobody at the festival had been paid. However, his rancour added a certain zing to his set. That's whether it was swinging from the early likes of "Radio Sweetheart" (adding a bit of Dexy's Midnight Runners' "Jackie Wilson Said" for good measure) and "Chelsea" to the Burt-boosted balladry. In this stripped-back context, together they made for an exquisite mix. And to help make his point he was here for the punters, he just kept on coming back for encores. There were three in total finishing on "What's So Funny About Peace and Love and Understanding?" — still a fine sentiment, especially here. Yes, he was worth every delayed cent. Tags: Sweetwaters Music Festival  •  Auckland  •  Steve Nieve  •  The Beatles  •  Accidents Will Happen  •  Painted From Memory  •  Burt Bacharach  •  Radio Sweetheart  •  Jackie Wilson Said  •  (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?  •  (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea New Zealand Herald, January 25, 1999 Russell Baillie and staff reporters on the Sweetwaters Festival, Sunday, January 24, 1999, Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand Herald, January 25, 1999  (updated June 30, 2000) Outrage grows over festival Staff reporters Small bands have been left penniless and stranded in the wake of the Sweetwaters festival, while international stars left the country in disgust. British drawcard Elvis Costello last night angrily accused the organisers of denying their financial woes. Costello, who took the stage early yesterday despite threats that he would not perform, said he would pursue his full payment in court. The organiser, Daniel Keighley, had failed to offer any credible excuses for payment delays, he said. Costello told Holmes from Australia that he was making a stand for the many smaller bands and backstage crew who had been "stiffed" by the event managers. "He [Mr Keighley] has got in too deep and not been professional." The owner of central Auckland's Gravity Bar, Dave Fenton-Wells, said he would offer his venue to New Zealand bands to raise money. Many were stranded in Auckland because they had not been paid, he said, and needed to play gigs tonight and tomorrow. Up to eight bands had shown interest in a fundraiser. Mr Keighley could not be reached yesterday, but had earlier defended his reputation in the face of the money troubles. He told the New Zealand Herald he wanted to continue the event. "I don't want to turn to you and say to you `I'm pristine' because I've been around for a long time and I've done things when managing bands that everybody does when managing that might be considered quite slimy ... "But I've not done anything that's not been honourable in the sense that I have told people what's not going on." He said he would be the big loser in the wake of the under-attended but well-received event Ian James is packing up more than his hot, stuffed potatoes site today. The English entrepreneur is heading home after seven years in New Zealand and a $10,500 loss at the three-day festival. He said he had hoped to make enough money to set his business on track. But unfulfilled contract terms and poor organisation had left him thousands of dollars down. Sixteen stallholders met yesterday. Most reported losses but said they would return. Some said power and water were not connected until late Friday — or not at all. Vilagrad wine cafe owners Peter and Nelda Nooyen said stallholders were disappointed by the numbers but were happy with the organisation and wanted a repeat. A festival observer said many private security workers walked off the site in the morning but some came back. Builders and plumbers were also said to have left.

External links

• NZHerald.co.nz
• Wikipedia: New Zealand Herald