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H I N D U STA N T I M E S , N E W D E L H I S AT U R DAY, O C TO B E R 2 9 , 2 0 1 1
F1@NCR RUSH HOUR
CAPITAL BUZZ
Here’s a look at the high-profile events slated for the weekend
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SATURDAY The F1 after-party will see a performance by Romanian musician Edward Maya.
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Lady Gaga
SUNDAY A performance by Lady Gaga. International performers like trapeze artists Fuel Girls and Theodari Theo Dari will also perform. ■ Those expected at the finale parties include Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Yuvraj Singh and Farhan Akhtar. ■
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Many pubs have organised a screening of the race.
RAJ K RAJ/HT
City gears up to A show of anger and disappointment paint own F1 picture
Vroom, vroom, zoom
FRIDAY The first ever Indian F1 Grand Prix kicked off in the Capital and will feature drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Adrian Sutil, Michael Schumacher and Mark Webber ■ Popstar Lady Gaga made her Indian debut with a press conference ■ F1 after-parties also kicked off, with the first bash at actor Arjun Rampal’s LAP Buddh Circuit Lounge on Friday ■ A comparative motor match, the India Expo Mart, kicked off on Friday in Noida and has performances by rock bands like Them Clones and Advaita lined up.
O C T
Mayhem reigns at Metallica’s no-show
ABRUPT END ‘Technical, security issues’ force event managers to cancel show ■
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HT Correspondent ■
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Angry fans were seen hurling chairs and stones after the show was cancelled.
Deevakar Anand ■
htreporters@hindustantimes.com
GURGAON: All hell broke loose at
the first India outing of thrash metal band Metallica when the show was abruptly called off just hours before their performance on Friday. The fans, who had gathered at the venue, Leisure Valley in Gurgaon, went berserk. The seeds for the chaos were sowed earlier during the day when fans started flocking to the venue in droves and were seen drinking in the open and on the roads near the venue. By the time the gates opened at 4pm, the crowd immediately rushed to the gates. In the ensuing rush, a barricade set up near the stage to keep the masses away broke. With the barricade broken, the crowd closed in on the stage. The private security guards and marshals deployed there could do little to control the crowd. Some reports say the chaos began after Indian band Guillo
Money back soon The organisers—DNA network—have said they will return the money to the people in one to two days. Rajesh Chandwani, GM Operations, DNA Networks said, “All the money earned from online bookings will be returned in one or two days. Those who show us their tickets will also get their money back.” tine, which was to perform before Metallica, left without performing. Angry at this, someone threw a stone and damaged a drum. At 6.30pm, it was announced that the show had been postponed to Saturday due to ‘technical and security difficulties’. For the next couple of hours, media representatives from the event management company
ZABEEH AFAQUE/HT PHOTO
DNA Events neither took calls nor responded to text messages. Meanwhile, the gathered fans broke open the barricades and barged into the venue with no one to control them. Their anger was visible with various objects like chairs, stones and even some musical instruments being thrown at the stage. The district administration has said they will not issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the event for Saturday. Reacting to this, Christine Gorham of F1 Rocks’ PR and Communication from UK told HT, “We want the show to happen. It’s for our India promoter the DNA Rvents to look into what best can be done.” Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner PC Meena said, the R1 crore bank security that was taken from the organisers would now be forfeited. Around 9pm, the stage and other fittings and other paraphernalia were being removed from the venue and being packed off into trucks.
htreporters@hindustantimes.com
GURGAON: Diehard fans who came from across the country and abroad to watch Metallica perform wore a dejected look after the show was postponed on Friday. Many of them lingered at the venue till late evening to hear an official word as to what would happen next. They vented their angst by kicking the chairs and barricades. They felt cheated and recalled how a Bryan Adams concert too did not happen this year. “We waited for hours in the queue to make our way inside. And we ended up not watching Metallica perform. That’s disheartening,” said Deepak Sachdeva, a software engineer, who had driven from Jaipur with his brother.
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Sajal from Florida, Arivind from Hyderabad and Dev from Ranchi (all friends) too had come together for the event. But on Friday, they were a dejected lot, not knowing exactly why the show couldn’t happen. Similarly, Paul Sutman from Netherland had cut short his tour in Nepal to come to Gurgaon to watch the band perform. After the chaos, he came out unwillingly from the venue and said, “ I am worried why they could not handle it well. I still don’t know what triggered the cancellation of the show.” There were some who stayed in the ground until late evening when the police asked them to leave. Neil, a doctor who came from Manipur, said, “I am heartbroken. I don’t care about the loss of money. But I still want to see Metallica perform.”
Though the show was cancelled, the post-event party for Metallica was organised as per schedule at Hotel Crowne Plaza on Friday night. RAJESH KASHYAP/HT PHOTO
Shaswati Das ■
shaswati.das@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: From lounge bars to
the dingiest corners of Palika Bazar — F1 fever has gripped everyone. “I’ve bought a Ferrari jacket specially for the event. And though it’s not cold yet, I’m going to wear it to extend support to Ferrari,” said Nishant Mullik, who has come from Kolkata to watch the race. But for those who have not been able to get tickets to the race, there is still hope. Many café bars and restaurants will be organising special screenings of the event. “We have set up a large screen and will also be offering discounts. We are expecting a packed house on all three days,” said Promod Joshi, General Manager, Blues Café and Bar, CP.
Meanwhile, Delhiites are sparing no efforts into making the F1 championship a huge picture event. Shop owners in the city have stocked up F1 merchandise to woo buyers. “We have T-shirts priced between R1,800 and R2,500. There are Ferrari jackets priced at R5,000. F1 merchandise is selling like hot cakes,” said Bijender Singh Rawat, manager at a sports goods store in Connaught Place. Yet others, who could not manage to get tickets, have come across simulated versions of the real race — a series of video games that are attracting a large buyer base in video parlours. “Many of my friends have bought the F1-2011 racing series. I too will buy the video game,” said Ishaan Bagga, a student of Delhi University.
voxpop
The organisers failed to deliver while people overreacted to the situation. JASON student
After this episode, we will have to think again before coming to India. DA N A N D AU I from Bangkok