Despite worldwide COVID-19 deaths surpassing 814,000 (and cases surging over 23 million), Van Morrison has posted a message online shrugging off socially-distant concerts as “pseudo-science” and arguing that musicians “need to be playing to full capacity audiences going forward.”
“I call on my fellow singers, musicians, writers, producers, promoters and others in the industry to fight with me on this,” he adds. “…It’s not economically viable to do socially distanced gigs. Come forward now, the future is now.”
Ironically, Morrison himself will play three socially-distanced concerts later this month in the UK.
Read his full statement below:
As you know, we are doing socially distanced gigs at Newcastle Upon Tyne’s Gosforth Park, Electric Ballroom and The London Palladium. This is not a sign of compliance or acceptance of the current state of affairs, this is to get my band up and running and out of the doldrums. This is also not the answer going forward. We need to be playing to full capacity audiences going forward.
I call on my fellow singers, musicians, writers, producers, promoters and others in the industry to fight with me on this.
Come forward, stand up, fight the pseudo-science and speak up.
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and myself appear to be the only people in the music business trying to get it back up and running again. Come forward.
It’s not economically viable to do socially distanced gigs. Come forward now, the future is now.
We would like to publish a list of names of all those who are supporting the industry. If you would like your name included contact us at [email protected]
64 Comments comments associated with this post
Jimkg
August 31, 2020 at 1:15 pmIm sorry… I’m in the NO camp on this one Van…best wishes to you and long life… But seriously, there are wys to continue making money as a musician without taking the ‘Chance’ of doing more harm to your fans and the people who operate the venues, equipment and vendors….do some pay per view if you need the $$ that badly…
Ron Kishel
August 26, 2020 at 10:40 pmblah, blah,blah, blah, blah, blah…nothing but blah…social media is so fucking stupid anymore…all u people do is sit there and comment, bash each other, and waste half your life commenting on every post from every social media site out there. Nothing but criticism, misinformation, and stupidity. This world would be so much better off without it. Everybody thinks there experts these days…far from it, from what I see.
Falling Down
August 27, 2020 at 1:14 pmI know, Ron. I tried to keep it light from the very first post with my “not economically viable” film reference to Falling Down…. and nothing…nobody even liked or commented on it…..single teardrop. 🙁
nobody likes me or my sense of taste …. jk obviously…but I stand by my comment…great flick…great scene peace, folks and “D-Fens”
me
August 27, 2020 at 3:41 pmHey Falling… stepping off my soap box for a moment… I LOVED THAT MOVIE even if it was dark as hell!! I almost did reply to you at the beginning but, like it or not, ignorance upsets me, especially when it directly impacts innocent people who try to do the right thing, so I ranted… isn’t that kinda what Michael Douglas was saying in that movie 🙂
VanByTheRiver
August 26, 2020 at 9:56 pmHoly shite! Van reads these posts!!!
Van Morrison
August 26, 2020 at 6:00 pmListen up you FECKING idiots! I have been touring my whole fecking life you arse hats. ITS Pseudo science you little whiny bitches. you’ll go fecking protest some social injustice with ZERO regard for anyone but making yourself look like a “warrior” you fecking pussy. but you will get up on here anonymously and spew this fecking bullsheoit? Go slap yer gawd damn mether for not aborting you! and yes I have more money than god him fecking self so what? I worked my arse off for this money and you’ll DEFINITELY listen to my music and you’ll dance yer arse off too. Now go back to yer little fecking playroom and stick a stick up yer arse and post it to Tik Tok you little millennial beiotches. Yer exactly wats wrong with dis werld.
People please
August 26, 2020 at 4:37 pmCome on comment section. I’m a bit surprised to find this level of nastiness here. Isn’t anyone just a little ashamed of themselves? Tone it down. No one is doing anything but getting further entrenched in their own position. Look outward just a bit. You’re talking/ typing to another human being or at least an entire audience that reads. All this vitriol is antithetical to what we are after in live music. We all know what political direction the scene tends towards…but it has always maintained a certain level of openness. the comments here are not a good look for the scene.
KJ
August 26, 2020 at 4:33 pmVan Morrison gets more than $100,000 per show. If he agreed to, for example, $50K, the performance would be economically viable. Or, maybe, we double ticket prices? Again: viable.
JP
August 26, 2020 at 4:21 pmDoesn’t Van remember how social distancing flattened the curve back in 1918? He was a wee little one then but it was only a century ago.
Sean
August 26, 2020 at 4:19 pmTime for the bartender to cut Van off.
And for all of the anti vaxers in this thread, don’t come crying when you catch COVID listening to this dude sing his Jesus loving tunes. I for one am all for COVID thinning the herd- hope Van sells out his shows, and that everyone in attendance votes Republican.
HLEV
August 26, 2020 at 4:04 pmSo wrong. The risk takers are just not those who go to the show (free to choose). Those risk takers, however, potentially expose many others (that’s how this type of disease transmission works). Unless you plan to go to a show, then stay quarantined from others until a sufficient time passes to assure that you are not contagious, you put others at risk. Personally, as much as I love Jerry, I don’t want to hear him playing in another world yet.
Time to grow up and be responsible (including Van)
HumboldtRick
August 26, 2020 at 4:03 pmFucking brain-dead idiot is willing to risk his fan’s lives to line his pockets. Hey Van, better hope you don’t get the virus and die. You won’t make ANY money when you’re dead. You’re a dangerous moron.
randy
August 26, 2020 at 4:02 pmBut you see someone taking the risk is just not taking the risk themselves. If they become infected, they risk infecting other people without knowing it. They risk spreading the disease. If the risk was JUST to themselves, point taken. But the risk is definitely NOT restricted to those who get infected.
Thank you Van!!
August 26, 2020 at 3:37 pmThe only lives Van would be ‘risking’ at his show would be those of people who have made the decision to take that risk. Those of you who fear the phantom are not required to attend. Stay home. Virtual concerts are even less economically viable than socially distant ones. There are more people in the music industry than just the artists. Not to mention the fact that while Van Morrisson might make a pretty penny from any appearance, the same is not the case for smaller acts. The smaller the crowd, the smaller the revenue.
If you’re scared for yourself, your family, or any other human on planet earth, lock your doors and have your food delivered from Amazon. The rest of us will be out here dancing in the sun.
It is SOOOOO REFRESHING to finally hear from an artist that is taking this stand. I thought the entire music community had fallen into the trap of the mainstream narrative of fear and control and then being so very GRATEFUL that we are now being ‘allowed’ to enjoy live music again, albeit while suffocating and staying away from each other. “Thank you for letting me stay out past curfew Daddy, I promise I won’t scratch the car.” Fuck that bullshit. Stand up music lovers. Stop eating the shit we’re being fed. We don’t need to be afraid of each other!
Fuck yeah Van. You’re the man (at least in this respect, I don’t know you personally). I hope other artists will grow a set now and stop pandering to the nonsense.
SJ Robert
August 26, 2020 at 4:08 pm“The only lives Van would be ‘risking’ at his show would be those of people who have made the decision to take that risk.” Idiotic nonsense. Those people who chose to take that risk then bring their risk back home with them and risk everyone else who they’re in contact with later. Do you not understand basic viral epidemiology and transmission?
Glenn Spitz
August 26, 2020 at 6:32 pmThe path a virus takes is completely lost on you, isn’t it?
If the risk were only to the attendees, that would be fine and maybe even encouraged – we could raise the average IQ tremendously by letting all those dense non-thinkers voluntarily walk into the gas chamber.
Patrick J Logan
August 26, 2020 at 9:08 pmStupid comments. If you really don’t know any better you are hopeless.
HLEV
August 26, 2020 at 3:20 pmDr. Morrison needs to restrict his advice to music, where he is an expert in his craft. Leave medicine to those who are experts in that craft.
Van’s has been crotchety for years. (Remember when he did 90 minute sets, with a clock counting down on stage, and walked off during the middle of the song when the clock hit zero).
OK to love his music, and not like other things about him. Talking out of his butt needs to be ignored,
Kenny Wick
August 26, 2020 at 3:16 pmJudge him all you like
These SD concerts are NOT economically viable – – For the short term…
However, they are an investment in the future when we can get back to hugging one another at a festival. Bands are keeping their performance chops up, and who are also in the (albeit dimmer) limelight now will be the ones with wheels, and remembered for the future. You like what you hear and see in SD, you’ll be there in person as soon as it’s a viable option
Van The Man obvious rich mo fo don’t need need to invest. Others do.
And we the audience need to keep in the groove of music made in the moment as well…..
david
August 26, 2020 at 3:13 pmselfish asshole,,,,,as is Music Man. ONCE think about other people in the world besides your self. Hey Van, play for free ( me thinks you have made and CONTINUE to make enough coin) and just pay all those folks and “the industry “ you are so worried about
WANKER!!
VanTheMan?
August 26, 2020 at 11:27 amThis is a sad, self-centered message he is touting. This pandemic sucks for everyone, not just him. He could easily host a ticketed virtual concert if he needs more revenue. That model has worked for other celebrities. For him to call safety measures “fake-science” is disgusting.
dan
August 26, 2020 at 3:17 pmyep , he’s pretty much washed up .
I saw him a few years ago and he sucked . Time would have been better spent listening to his recordings.
Willay
August 26, 2020 at 10:09 amThis industry and all others that promote large or enclosed gatherings (pro sports and air travel) should be permanently banned. There is no place for these in our future. We all need to accept this and move on.
Hold on now.....
August 26, 2020 at 7:26 amVan is the Man. His music is timeless to many, but not all. He does tour regularly. He wants to pay his band, but may be a little greedy like many artists of his generation that are aging. Truth is most artists agree with him on the lack of long-term socially distanced shows, but are doing what they can to feed their families. No need for all the name calling and “privileged” “garbage” you are spitting. Hope you all have listen to “Bright Side of The Road” today and eat some tide pods.
Fidel Castro
August 26, 2020 at 4:16 pm“No need for all the name calling…”
Then you suggest eating Tide Pods?
What a dick!
Dinahmoehumm
August 26, 2020 at 4:25 amNice try Me, but no dice. Criticizing Van for using the phrase “pseudo science” does not offer a counterpoint against his original contention regarding the show not being economically viable. You’re injecting emotion into the argument by name calling, and that means your losing. Try again, and this time offer reasons why Van putting on a concert IS economically viable. Clearly you must have experience in this area, right?
me
August 26, 2020 at 11:38 amLook, Dina… first, you are correct, there is emotion in my response… the US is closing in on 200k of our citizens DEAD thanks to a virus that our President has essentially ignored. We can argue all day about what else might have played a role in some of those deaths, and we can argue all day about what actions Trump coulda/shoulda taken and the results that “could have been” but the fact is that the world is in a shitty spot and the sooner morons like Van realize it and do their part to help until a vaccine is ready, the fewer mothers, fathers, grandparents, children, etc. will die. Now, about “economically viable”, as much as Van can argue that it isn’t, I can argue that it is. Unfortunately, this is nothing more than a dog chasing it’s tail until there are specifics, not just conjecture. Yes, I DO have experience in this area. It’s nothing more than balancing a budget. When someone says I want 5 million dollars to perform (just a random number) but there is only 4 million available, one could call that “not economically viable” while another could call bullshit because all it takes is a few adjustments and it would be “economically viable”. If you disagree, then tell your boss that you want your salary doubled (example, not specific) or else you quit because without that raise, working there is not “economically viable”. At least in this particular case with Van, the only reason it’s not economically viable is because he’s being greedy. Short of further specifics of how it’s “not economically viable” from Van (IE. show us the numbers), then I call bullshit and, furthermore, I call him an asshole for causing more harm than good.
GS
August 26, 2020 at 6:22 pmI’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. Who’s been saying arguing that it’s economically viable? If it isn’t, there’s only one solution – DON’T DO IT. His argument – and very obviously yours – is to go ahead and do a full capacity show and accept however many deaths result from it (and given Van’s demographic, there will inevitably be several).
And what exactly is your argument about the science? That it is “pseudo-science?” If so, you’re revealing your pseudo-intellect to everyone.
Komer
October 14, 2020 at 1:46 amPart of the problem with you guys is that you’re forgetting that people who would attend a Van show should be allowed to make THEIR OWN CHOICE about how at risk they are of catching Covid-19 at a concert. The other thing is this: Doesn’t Van have a right to speak his mind like many other celebrities and musicians do? You call him names and act stupid because you disagree, it shows your character.
spikenyc
August 25, 2020 at 11:04 pmSo we can go watch Van play with his back to the audience for 90% of the show?
Falling Down
August 25, 2020 at 10:03 pmI was too busy deflecting to a cool move I saw 1992.
Dinahmoehumm
August 25, 2020 at 9:45 pmI haven’t seen a single comment on here that disproves his statement. Will everyone involved in the show work for free? Will the promoter not mind not being paid? What about the venue owners? The comments all boil down to Van being called a rich, drunk cheapskate. What about his original statement that socially distant shows are not economically viable? Or is everyone too busy preening, virtue signalling and throwing mud?
me
August 26, 2020 at 12:24 amOkay, here you go… “… pseudo-science…” was it really that hard? Only an ignorant moron would refer to the guidelines of curbing a WORLD EPIDEMIC psuedo-science. That’s his justification and he’s a fucking moron feeding the conspiracy trolls. All those you mention who would get paid would still get paid if the little drunk troll played a show to a socially distanced crowd. Imagine if he did it at a 50% contract… he’d still make nice dime AND he’d help those who could really use the help. He either steps up and acts like a man who cares or he can go fuck himself…
me
August 26, 2020 at 12:25 am*WORLD PANDEMIC
Music Man
August 26, 2020 at 9:21 amYou’re a fucking moron. Not even a million people have died from this so-called pandemic worldwide.
CJ
August 26, 2020 at 9:43 amNo even a million….so the nearly 200 thousand dead in America is ok for you? This isn’t just a flu – we have a vaccine for the flu and still it can kill almost 50 thousand people a year. This epidemic has killed more than 3 times that in 6 months and there’s no vaccine in sight. And that’s just in the US.
There’s 24 million cases around the world with closing in on a MILLION dead. Yet it’s just the flu.
Moron
me
August 26, 2020 at 11:25 am@music man… so, we now all see you know big bad words, congrats. We also see you function at a extremely low level. Would you do the gene pool a favor and break your family’s practice of fucking your siblings? If you inbreed much more photos of your 3 eyed daughter will end up in the National Inquirer as the next alien baby. Oh, and leave the thinking for the people who don’t suffer from your disease, mkay sprout?
GS
August 26, 2020 at 6:12 pmJust give it until the end of the year. A million is a guarantee at this point.
It’s so ironic that you call others retarded and moronic. You’ve shown – very efficiently, I might add – that you’re one of the people whose stupidity is causing America so much embarrassment right now – and will further that embarrassment by voting for the moron-in-chief a second time.
D of KC
August 28, 2020 at 9:41 amWill we ever, go Don go! Sick of the hate and violence by Dems. Own it man! Dems and their violence are ruining this country FAST!
me
August 28, 2020 at 2:56 pmD of KC… this country is Trump’s at the moment, as is the hate. Grow up and realize that when old white men (of which I am one) feel that since they have it good, there is no problem and you should just “shut up and dribble”, then those that they have chosen to ignore are going to be upset. I have it good, I am an older white guy but THANK GOD my parents instilled both compassion and the ability for me to view things from perspectives other than the one I’m lucky enough to typically view from. When you look around and you see millions of people screaming for social justice, including watching all major sports take a stand in supporting the cause for social justice, then people like you, if you have any compassion, should reassess not only how lucky you are but that just because you have it so lucky (even if you worked hard for it), others did not have the same starting position as you. If you choose not to, then you can never truly understand the true causes for that which you talk shit about… that, my friend, is the definition of ignorance and your comments to this point have been full of it.
MarZaPhiGar
August 25, 2020 at 9:32 pmLol drunk VM…my bud is a trader on Wall St & his firm PAID vm to do private gig. 1st set: GREAT. Then he had a few, came back out & drunkenly called out the capitalists in the room. Bite that hand, Van.
Pete Ave
August 25, 2020 at 6:14 pmSelfish privileged white dude
Person with taste
August 25, 2020 at 5:53 pmI’ve managed to be socially distant from his garbage one note music for years. Don’t see a need to change that now
DJT
August 25, 2020 at 3:54 pmRight on, Van. Still the Man… Fuck these soy boys
John Penney
August 25, 2020 at 3:37 pmGarbage. I would imagine he will be socially distanced from others on the stage though, certainly from people he doesn’t know. This is really a pathetic and dangerous statement.
Music Man
August 26, 2020 at 9:16 amYou people are retarded and did not read the article. He is not concerned for himself but the well-being of the industry as a whole, it’s only a bad flu.
Jason
August 26, 2020 at 4:10 pm“it’s only a bad flu,” but we’re “retarded”? You, sir, are a moron of the highest caliber.
SJ Robert
August 26, 2020 at 4:15 pmIt’s NOT “only a bad flu.” STOP SPREADING MISINFORMATION. Flu’s may in some case be even deadlier per infection. But the problem with COVID-19 is the extremely high infection rate – much higher than typical flu viruses. So even though COVID-19 may be less deadly per infection, the high transmission rate MORE than makes up for the low mortality rate making it OVERALL more deadly – MUCH more deadly. This is why thousands are dying daily in the U.S. Asking for in-person concerts is literally asking to further explode the transmission beyond the concert and therefore also further exploding the death rate. This is not pseudo-science, this is real science.
Tony Clifton
August 26, 2020 at 4:43 pmGo boof some hydroxy
GS
August 26, 2020 at 6:02 pmIt’s interesting that from just two short sentences, unrelated to politics, you can tell for whom a person voted.
D of KC
August 28, 2020 at 9:38 amAnd you sir are showing us again why so many do not trust liberals and their endless spew, violence and hate!
me
August 25, 2020 at 3:21 pmVan Morrison has more money than the majority of people in his industry, much less the world. Yet, the drunk asshole is so greedy, he’d choose to be able to make more money and risk lives of not only his fans but everyone, rather than deal with the current situation for a bit longer. I totally understand those who are suffering, broke and or have lost their jobs wanting to rush things (though I’m still against it) but to have a wealthy man like this be so greedy is disgusting… go drown your sorrows in a bottle you grumpy old drunk…
Pete Ave
August 25, 2020 at 6:15 pmAmen
Jeffrey Schreiber
August 27, 2020 at 12:59 amYour anger shows your character even though I’ve never met you (not would I want to). Your complaint about Van is so lame. The man is arguably the greatest pop musician of our age and loves to play. And his many fans love to see him. You are quite unaware that this Plandemic (do some actual research instead of letting the media make up your opinions). In Van’s homeland there is a swelling movement of people who are joining him in a heartfelt call to stop this stupid madness. You probably think it’s crazy but people thought Galileo was also when he said the earth is round. Vans songs while being widely diverse have a common theme throughout- the human heart and soul which we are ignoring as we bicker while millions become homeless jobless and poverty stricken. During much of this period his music was all I could listen to. I am so thrilled to see he’s one of the few musicians speaking out. And if you’re saying filling halls is dangerous, remember how much you are being lied to. Cases are not sick people and it’s never even been proven that asymptotic people can pass this on to others. Just another bit of misinformation to control you and keep this ridiculous scam alive for hateful ignorant people to revel upon
me
August 27, 2020 at 3:27 pmWell, Jeffrey… first, don’t be so afraid… meet me some day! Based on your comments, I think we would have a great discussion even if we still disagreed. My anger is rooted in the amount of misinformation, distrust, conspiracy theories and general stupidity of those who continue to raise a middle finger to science, common sense and giving what amounts to so little in the grand scheme of things in order to help each other out. I am not lead about by the media, my views are grounded in science. I trust science and the proofing methods that go with it. Do they get it wrong? Of course they do! However, I will always fault on the side of results from all known facts rather than listed to conjecture and other types of nonsense. If you would like to PROVE science wrong, then please point me in the direction where I can see your sources. Until then, Van is an ASSHOLE for what he’s saying… and so is anyone else who spits in the face of science and giving a little to help many. What he has done for the world of music is undeniable but that has NOTHING to do with his short-sightedness when suggesting facts are “pseudo-science” or whining about economical viability. As I said at the start, feel free to disagree… outside of my anger over this topic (as well as the treatment of minorities), I am a VERY happy, positive person. It’s okay to get angry and doing so doesn’t necessarily define one’s self.
Richard Gary
October 7, 2020 at 10:16 amHey jerk
if you dont want to go see him, then shut up and crawl under the rock !!
Steve
August 25, 2020 at 1:47 pmLame. This coming from some dude who basically doesn’t tour and hasn’t toured regularly since the 70’s.
Edward
August 25, 2020 at 2:02 pmYou nailed it man. Perfect summation.
Ivan
August 26, 2020 at 4:36 pmLook, just want to set the record straight about “touring.” Van is as much a touring musician as anyone who graces the pages of this publication, now or ever.
Van has toured constantly since the 60’s, never plays the same set twice, never plays the same song the same way. There is a guy in Denmark who has amassed a “Vanbase.” It rivals Deadbase – you should check it out.
Always has the best musicians, has an amazing love for his craft, and still puts on phenomenal shows. Yeah there was a short time when he had the 90 min clock – which pissed people off – but 90 mins of Van is well equal and more than 2 1/2-3 hrs of other artists.
Disclaimer: longtime Deadhead here (first show 5/7/77) hundreds of tapes. Still get off on the Dead but in the late 80’s I discovered Live Van Morrison and haven’t looked back – he still my all-time favorite. It is simply a higher plane of music (IMHO).
All that said, pseudo-science is a poor choice of words and he probably should have kept his argument to himself this time. It’s an unpopular argument (I can see his side) but let’s forgive him and hope things get back to normal soon.
Michael
August 26, 2020 at 7:46 pmWhere can one find this live VM database?
Ivan
August 27, 2020 at 8:24 amGoogle Van Morrison database, look for the site from Denmark. 3700 shows listed, 2100 with setlists, lots of stats.
Bonnie
August 26, 2020 at 5:17 pmHe is also old A, so he is at risk. Oh, that’s right, he is not in the closely packed crowd. Carry on.
Falling Down
August 25, 2020 at 1:00 pmAnyone remember the one-man “not economically viable” protest scene in ‘Falling Down’ (M. Douglas/R. Duvall)?
Cosmickyle
August 27, 2020 at 9:50 pmYes! Good one!