The Joel Madden saga rages on
Sorry if you're getting sick of the whole Joel Madden vs. Angels Rock Bar drama at this point. Can't say I blame you.
If you're new to the episode, read this and this and this.
But this little issue just refuses to die. Local rockers Beretta Jane (pictured), who were scheduled to perform at Angels, are backing out of the gig. This press release will go out today:
"We love Baltimore and we love Baltimore's music scene. In the same token, we will vehemently refuse to support any entity that we feel is a negative influence on it. We also don't wish to involve ourselves in any further activities related to this incident. To do so would only put more money in the already padded pockets of an out-of-touch company that could seemingly care less about giving anything to our scene."
(Photo by Kristina DeSantis)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Did I mention already that a Power Plant VP Jake Miller screwed up when he decided to weigh in on this? Yeah. I did.
Learn to learn from mistakes.
Posted by: incunabulum | October 6, 2008 12:30 PM
Sam, will Baretta Jane play somewhere else now? The one guy looks like Motly Crue!!!!
Posted by: Sue Hopper | October 6, 2008 12:31 PM
While I totally agree with what Beretta Jane is doing and respect them for doing it I am kind of upset about it. A bunch of people (me included) had t shirts made that said "Friends dont let Friends Friends' wear slanderous shirts" and on the back it said "I'm a (curse word used to describe cats)" some said "my friends a (same curse word) and many more. It's a shame these shirts will go to waste now.
Posted by: the truth | October 6, 2008 1:12 PM
Haha, now what Angels Rock Bar?
Posted by: Anonymous | October 6, 2008 1:17 PM
If Beretta Jane is the start of a trend of solidariy behind Joel Madden, it could be really bad for the Angel's business, like patron's voting with where they'll go view their favored bands.
Depending on how much ego they have, this may make Cordish, Jake Miller & co. re-evalue how they handle future "disappointments" with the bands & personalities they hire.
Posted by: GDA | October 6, 2008 1:23 PM
Congrats to Beretta Jane! Angels Rock Bar is a HORRIBLE venue anyhow. Right move!
Posted by: Sonny Burnett | October 6, 2008 1:53 PM
Sue Hopper; I have a great idea....wear the shirts somewhere anyways! Geez...Beretta Jane is always playing somewhere anyways, and it's not small news out there, wearing the shirts will get attention
Posted by: Amanda | October 6, 2008 5:17 PM
Good move Beretta Jane. Real rock bands should probably stay far away from me! I'm about as "rock and roll" as Yanni's Greatest Hits anyway. The ... jocks won't even notice you've cancelled.
Posted by: Angel's Rock Bar | October 6, 2008 6:33 PM
In defense of Angels Rockbar, they booked joel months in advance of this event. Cordish and Angels produced thousands of flyers, spent money on the designs, made t-shirts promoting the events and got new furniture to help kick off the event.
One week before he's supposed to play, he cancels for whatever reason.
Joel is rad. I don't care the reason.
You'd be pissed too if you ran the venue and sank a lot of time and money into the event only to have the single biggest attraction fall flat on your ass.
Keep hypin' rockbar.
Posted by: sean davidson | October 6, 2008 6:48 PM
It's JUST a shirt.
Posted by: Wow | October 6, 2008 7:01 PM
i agree with beretta jane as far as not wanting to associate themselves with a company that slanders people from their own music scene. the t-shirt move was childish and distasteful.
however, refusing to play last minute, the week of the show is not cool. way to [expletive] promoters. two wrongs don't make a right.
there's people that bash good charlotte on 98 rock all the time and i don't see anyone bashing 98 rock.
two sides to every story. i think at the end of it all, cordish/rock bar/whoever, should have never made those shirts. just asking for it.
Posted by: Chris | October 6, 2008 7:08 PM
So... I was wondering. Sean Davidson (or better known as rockbar DJ Sean of the Dead) you need to pick a side. I read this comment from you on Beretta Jane's web site that was posted earlier today.
"LET IT BE KNOWN, people such as myself do not support the actions of the Cordish company. I just show up to dj and get paid to be drunk." SEAN D.
You really need to figure out what who you are and what story you want to tell. We all know the truth about Joel and he canceled within the proper time period of the contract and NOBODY had seen Any advertising for the event.
Remember the difference of who your "friends" are and who pays you... your choice. Oh yeah... I remember seeing you dancing around Sonar when Good Charlotte played... hmmm
Posted by: The Truth | October 6, 2008 8:57 PM
sean davidson,
According to Jake Miller's response, Madden cancelled 14 days and three hours before the event, which was permittable in the terms of their agreement. Which may leave the Angel in a lurch and pissed but they have deal with it and two weeks to deal with it professionally.
Worst case scenario, what would they do if he had died?
Still print up tee shirts and bad mouth him and the band instead of problem solving?
Shouldn't they have a plan B to fall back on if this was truly such a big deal event?
Their response and retaliation is worst than Madden cancelling and I don‘t think you‘ll convince most people otherwise.
Posted by: GDA | October 6, 2008 9:33 PM
they should have put more money into their sound system, than promoting the event
Posted by: Stove | October 6, 2008 11:28 PM
The shirts were made to garner free publicity for Rock Bar. And that's exactly what happened. Even bad publicity is publicity, nonetheless.
Posted by: Greg | October 7, 2008 11:32 AM