Metallica, Chili Peppers Manager Urges Bands to Tour Europe Now

2011-12-08

Story by Anne Erickson

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica manager gives groups touring advice

Metallica are confirmed to play a major spot at next summer’s Download Festival in the U.K., plus a crop of other big European shows. As it turns out, the reasoning behind the new dates may be attributed to the band’s manager, who has reportedly strongly suggested that the band play as many European shows as possible now, because of the continuing difficulties with the Euro.

Cliff Burnstein, who manages both Metallica and alternative rock act the Red Hot Chili Peppers, explained to the Wall Street Journal that he wants to play it safe, economically, by having the guys play more shows in Europe as soon as possible. “I’m not an economist, but I have a degree, so it helps,” he said. “You have to ask yourself, ‘What’s the best time to be doing what, when and where?’ Over the next few years, the dollar will be stronger and the euro weaker, and if that’s the case, I want to take advantage of that by playing more of these European shows now, because they will be more profitable for us.” So, European metal fans should look out for plenty of Metallica shows to materialize in the near future.

Burnstein went on to make the analogy that Metallica were like Coco-Cola and simply looking for the best places to export their goods. “We’re a U.S. export the same way Coca-Cola is,” he said. “We look for the best markets to go to. Right now Indonesia is on my watch list.” As for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Burnstein explained that, as with Metallica, he also booked their European tour early to maximize profitability. In other Peppers news, the guys were just selected to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2012.

 




Anne Erickson
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