Don’t Come Around Here No More

A record is a concert without halls and a museum whose curator is the owner.
Glenn Gould, (1932-1982), Canadian pianist

Concert ticket prices like everything else are out of control, but there is one person not completely motivated by greed – Tom Petty.

"I would feel embarrassed charging 200 bucks," the 51-year-old rocker told Rolling Stone magazine recently. "Even as far back as 1980, I was in fear of the tickets getting priced out of the ordinary person's pocketbook."

Petty is not out promoting a new album, he is on tour because he likes playing rock and roll to an audience.

Here is a sampling of local Los Angeles ticket prices:

• The Eagles at Staples Center (worst sound of any concert venue I have been to) and the Arrowhead Pond, and Ticketmaster's prices are $25 to $175.
• U2 at Staples Center in November, tickets are going for $51 to $171.
• Paul McCartney asking price ranges from $49.50 to $250.
• The world’s greatest nostalgic act the Rolling Stones arrive in November, seats for performances at the Hollywood Bowl and Anaheim Stadium are running from $60 to $454.50.

I would suspect that scalpers for the Stones’ concert for the Hollywood Bowl will be asking $1,200 for one ticket. It would be nice to say, I saw the Stones at the Bowl, but alas it will not happen.