Ta ta Tatu ("The Sun" - UK)Time of publication: 29.04.2003 |
THEY’RE the slickest thing in pop marketing for years – but it seems things are backfiring for TATU.
The fake lesbian double act are to AXE their British mini-tour after ticket sales collapsed because parents didn’t want their kiddies seeing the X-rated show. I’m told the Russian pop duo will not now fly into Britain this week and their management will claim JULIA VOLKOVA has lost her voice. The girls — whose claim to be lesbians is seen as a cynical ploy to make money — say they will instead be resting at home to prepare for their appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest in Latvia next month.
But don’t believe a word of it.The truth is ticket sales have been dreadful for their three UK dates and promoters are set to lose Ј300,000 in costs.
The duo have sold under 2,000 tickets in total for their two nights at the 12,000- capacity Wembley Arena and only 1,000 tickets for their gig at the 10,000-seat Manchester Evening News Arena.
And it’s all down to parent power.
While kids went out and bought the single, All The Things She Said, mums and dads across the country have
BANNED them from seeing the lesbian stage show. In fact, the few tickets they have sold have probably gone to old men in dirty Macs. While parents are happy for their kids to listen to the songs and watch the videos on TV, they don’t want them to see a full-on “lesbian” stage show. As a result, thousands of the Ј22 and Ј28 tickets remain unsold for the Taste Of Russia gigs this Friday, Sunday and next Tuesday.
Concerned parents have also been protesting outside the venues, appealing to others not to expose their children to the raunchy antics of Julia and LENA KATINA. Last night there were accusations that the tour had been botched by the multi-million-selling duo’s management. The UK branch of record label Polydor have been unable to speak to manager Ivan Shapovalov and nobody in Britain has been told what is going on.
The girls were originally supposed to fly in on Monday but cancelled. They also failed to show yesterday.A source told me: “The UK dates are just not happening, it has all gone wrong and been completely chaotic. “First there were a bunch of outrageous demands Wembley Arena would never be able to cater for. Their management wanted 300 girls in school uniforms on stage for the show but this was unacceptable to health and safety. “And they have been giving everyone — from the promoters to the record company — the run around. They have essentially said now that the girls won’t be coming over at all. “The ticket sales were far worse than they expected. Tatu would be playing to half-full venues. “And apparently winning Eurovision is far more important to Tatu’s management than the UK dates. The competition is held in high esteem in Russia. “The whole tour has been totally mismanaged and there will be a few kids who are going to be disappointed.”
Last night promoters were insisting there was still “a very small chance” that the tour could be salvaged. On their behalf, Aliona Muchinskaya said: “The sales have not been good at all. There have been protests in Manchester from people who think Tatu are perverted. “There is a very small chance the tour will go ahead but at the moment it seems highly unlikely.”
And a band spokesman claimed last night: “As far as we know, at this moment in time, the gigs are still on.” However the girls are still pressing ahead with the release of their new single, Not Gonna Get, which is due out next month.
But, for now, Tat’s all folks...
IF you are one of the few ticket holders for the Tatu tour, don’t panic. The venues are expected to make announcements shortly about refunds.
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