EU, US, concert industry review venue security after Paris

In the wake of the weekend’s Paris shootings when armed gunmen could enter the Eagles of Death Metal show at the 1,500-capacity Bataclan concert hall, the European and US concert industry has begun reviewing security measures.

Live Nation has increased security at its venues saying, “The safety and security of our shows, fans and venues continues to be our highest priority.

“Due to the recent events in Paris and in an abundance of caution we have implemented heightened security procedures globally. However, because of the sensitive nature of these protocols, we cannot elaborate further on the specific details.”

Major concerts have introduced a greater police presence in addition to their own security teams. This was obvious at Justin Bieber’s show last Friday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Citing security for patrons and staff as paramount, the Center’s President Lee Zeidman, said in a statement, “We are in constant communication with local, state and Federal law.”

Many European clubs immediately began introducing checkpoints at their front doors, and asked for police presence at these.

Major acts cancelled, out of fear for their fans’ security, or respect for the dead.

One of them was U2, with Bono laying flowers at a vigil outside the Bataclan and going on Irish radio to call the shootings “the first direct hit on music that we’ve had in this so-called war on terror.”

Foo Fighters abandoned the final four shows of their European tour. “In light of this senseless violence, the closing of borders, and international mourning, we can’t continue right now,” they explained. “There is no other way to say it. This is crazy and it sucks.”

Melbourne’s Haitus Kaiyote were heading to Paris as part of their European tour when news came through of the shooting. Their shows tonight (Tuesday) and Thursday were cancelled.

“Paris…we are heartbroken,” they posted. “But due to safety concerns, our promoter has reluctantly canceled our performance tonight at La Gaite Lyrique. We had hoped to play for you to bring you some healing energy, but we will have to settle with sending you all of our love and a promise that we will be back soon to make it up to you all.”

The Deftones, Motorhead and Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna also cancelled shows in Europe.

Others like Madonna insisted on going ahead to show that perpetrators had not won. Onstage the night after in Stockholm, she told the crowd, to cheers, “They want to shut us up. They want to silence us. And we won’t let them.”

Coldplay played a short five-song acoustic concert show that night in Los Angeles, asking for a minute’s silence for the dead before they began and beginning their set with John Lennon’s peace anthem Imagine. But they postponed a larger TIDAL and KROQ live streamed US show “out of respect for the terrible events in Paris.”

Among Australian and New Zealand musicians caught up in Paris, were Jarryd James and Boo Seeka who played at Les Etoiles one km from the Bataclan on the night. Caught in the city’s lockdown were EDM acts Kučka and DXHeaven who were attending the Red Bull Music Academy, and New Zealand’s Charlie Ryder of Yumi Zouma who’s studying at university there. Lorde’s former manager, Scott Maclachlan, was also in Paris.

Most in the global concert biz acknowledge that the massacre could have happened anywhere in the world and small music venues are globally susceptible to attacks. They are, after all, regarded by some sectors as symbols of western culture or, even worse, western decadence.

Small venues have back and side entrances through which armed gunmen can slip through. Security is hard to control in small packed areas. The heavy security measures invested in by major sports stadiums cost money. Music venues, usually operating on tight returns, tend to make do with pat-downs and ID checks. Some might extend to metal detectors. Their idea of security is more to stop brawls and drunken behaviour.

In the US and Europe, there is no uniform security measures in place. These change from venue to venue, and often, from concert to concert depending on the promoter and/or the act.

But concert insiders say it’s too early to comment on how, or whether long term changes will be adopted. Gary Bongiovani, editor of live industry trade Pollstar said that while it was understandable that venues would bolster up security, “There is only so much anyone can do to stop a wave of suicidal attackers.”

Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus manager Larry Rudolph told a magazine that beefed up security “is likely the new reality” but points out that it is important that the entertainment industry continues to hold concerts “without fear.”

Others have suggested that music venues may adopt measures adopted by sporting venues, including allowing only transparent bags and body checks. That four men could get into the Bataclan and kill up to 150 people while another would-be suicide bomber was turned away from the 80,000-seat Stade de France after being detected, speaks volumes.