DARRINGTON (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Things didn't go quite as planned at the Darrington Rock Festival. When it was time for Cheap Trick to take the stage for their 10PM Friday night set, they were ready but when they learned that they wouldn't be payed in full for their performance, they refused to go on, The Seattle Times reported. And it wasn't just Cheap Trick, all the other nationals, such as Mark Farner, Savoy Brown and Randy Bachman walked away too.
"We were sitting there ready to go, with all our equipment," Farner told the Post. "We really wanted to play this gig, but when it came down to it, my agent said, 'Mark, if you do this, you're setting a precedent. He obligated himself to the contract.' I was so disappointed."
"They agreed to go on for $10,000 less, but the promoter left the grounds. There was no more money, and they weren't going to be paid anything, other than the deposit," said Tom Anderson, the booking agent for the festival.
The fans were generally supportive, said festival organizers, some even digging into their pockets for money and there were only a few boos when the cancellations were announced. Promotor Brian Burkel said that he did not intend to provide refunds. "The event went through to completion," he told the Post "The Web site was very clear; all bands are subject to cancellation."
Local bands such as Problem Child, a local AC/DC tribute band took up the slack. – CelebrityAccess staff writers.
