| |
‘Peace’ concert for a
sure quick buck
April 17, 2003
The invasion of Iraq has quickly become a money-minting scheme for many music
organizers, especially in Karachi, with concerts organized in the name of peace
and charity but with little clue where the proceeds will go.
The latest lot of wannabe concert arrangers held a press briefing on Wednesday
where though they claimed that the show would be dedicated to peace. They
conceded, nevertheless, that it would be a commercial venture.
Junoon, Haroon, Fuzon, Noori, Mizraab and Anaida have all been lined up to hold
such a concert on Saturday. Also included are a couple of odd numbers from the
UK.
During the post-briefing Q&A, Ali Azmat of Junoon “requested” members of the
media, both print and electronic, to write for the benefit of those who were
working for such a grand event.
“Through this show we will once again try to voice our grievances against war
and tyranny. I ask all the people to help us in our cause by coming to the show.
Through such events we want to present a brighter side of Pakistan and show the
world that we do not believe in terrorism and are, as we have always been,
against fighting. We are doing all of this in good faith.”
It was ironic that Ali said all of this was “in good faith.” Asked if the
concert was commercial, he and his pals said, “It is.”
“Commercial or not, it is still an attempt to promote peace.” Asked the
difference between this concert and the ones that have performed in, minus the
peace, there was no reply.
Earlier, in separate statements, Shalym of Fuzon, Ali Azmat and Brian O’Connell
of Junoon, Haroon, Mizraab and Aniada said that they condemn war and hoped that
their voice will be one which will change the world.
Brian said music and love had no boundaries. “Peace has no boundaries and our
message is of peace. We want to build bridges, not walls. We want that the
people of Karachi show their support for this concert.”
Haroon said that the concert was being held to condemn the number of lives that
“have been destroyed by this senseless war.”
However, all peace was destroyed in the room when Anaida, who is half Greek and
half Iranian, but has an Indian passport, walked in, dressed in a silken T-shirt
and trousers. Cameramen romped around her trying to get the best shot. That
done, it was the people from the press who grilled her later on.
Later, replying to a question, Ali said that the press was under the
misconception that the organizers earned a lot of money by hosting such events.
“It’s not like that. These people make, like, hundreds of thousands. They earn a
miniscule amount part of which is spent on the expenses.”
A colleague at the briefing said Ali was wrong. “Only last week Junoon performed
along with Fuzon, Entity Paradigm (EP) and Noori. The ticket only for that
function was worth Rs 500. Five thousand people attended the show. Do the math
and the person in charge there earned less than Rs 2,500,000? Then, there were
the sponsors and the stalls which also paid to be part of the show. At most the
organizer ends up spending Rs 500,000 for all the expenses, including paying his
staff and the rent for the venue. There is no way they bathe in hundreds and
thousands after a hit show like that one.”
Another reason why the concert was being held was because, according to the
Junoon management, April 19th is the day Ali Azmat was born.
Khurrum Anis
Daily Times
|
|
