Enter Shikari frontman Rou Reynolds has written an extensive op-ed piece over at Altpress.com in which he argues against the current trend of VIP tour packages. In particular, Reynolds takes issue with paid meet and greets, an excerpt of his thoughts on that include:
“If fans have bought tickets with their hard-earned cash, give them a little extra—if you care about them, that is. Don’t treat them like some inanimate object, like a commodity.
So, we’re agreed. In the simplest terms, currency is exchanged to facilitate one person being in another’s presence. Which is weird, eh? And yet, somehow, this has now become a complete normality throughout the “alternative” scene.
Perhaps suffering from lethargy, or maybe negligence, punk rock appears to be submissively allowing this infection to become an accepted part of its body.
If someone believes it is morally justifiable to charge you to meet them, you have to ask yourself the question, “Do they deserve to be met?” In fact, do they deserve to meet you?
Do they deserve your time? It sounds like their head is big enough already. Think of their poor shoulders having to lug around such a bulbous, bulging skull.”
The full piece can be found over at Altpress.com
