Depeche Mode sagen Pinkpop Auftritt ab – Oasis und The Chemical Brothers als Alternative Headliner im Gespräch

In der Haut von Pinkpop-Macher Jan Smeets will im Moment sicher niemand stecken. Mit dem herausragenden Headlinerduo Bruce Springsteen und Depeche Mode wollte man knapp hinter der deutschen Grenze gediegen den 40.Geburtstag des traditionsreichen Pinkpop-Festivals feiern.

Eine hartnäckige Erkrankung von Depeche Mode Sänger Dave Gahan macht einen dicken Strich durch diese Rechnung und den Auftritt der englischen Synthie-Band zunichte.

Bis zuletzt hatte man gehofft, dass der Zustand des sich seit 12.Mai in ärztlicher Behandlung befindlichen Gahan sich massiv verbessern und eine Anreise nach Landgraaf erlauben würde. Das Fehlen eines Statements der Band oder deren Management lies viel Raum für Spekulationen. Für 26.Mai angekündigt, verstrich auch der 27. bis heute morgen endlich Fakten geschaffen wurden.  Bis dahin sickerte durch, Dave Gahan habe sich letzter Woche in New York einer Operation unterziehen hatte müssen. Die Pressemitteilung spricht nun von schwach malignem Gewebe, das erfolgreich aus der Blase entfernt worden ist.

Jan Smeets scheint davon bereits seit längerem unterrichtet gewesen zu sein. Schon vorgestern im niederländischen TV äusserte er sich relativ pessimistisch, sprach damals schon über potentielle Alternativen.
Oasis und The Chemical Brothers sind die ersten Ansprechpartner auf den vakanten Headlinerslote, so Smeets vorgestern. Auch The Prodigy wurden genannt. Die spielen zu dieser Zeit allerdings in Seattle, Amerika und auch Oasis haben eigentlich keine Zeit, da sie sich sich auf ihre 3 Megakonzerte ab 4.Juni in Manchester vorbereiten. Laut der Tageszeitung limburger.nl sollen auch die einheimischen Elektrorocker Kane (Myspace) in den Überlegungen eine Smeets Rolle spielen. In dem Fall liefe wohl alles auf eine interne Lösung hinaus. Die bereits im Lineup befindlichen Placebo würden in diesem Szenario wohl zum Headliner zu befördert.
Drücken wir Jan Smeets und allen, die am Wochenende über die Grenze fahren, die Daumen dass es eine für alle akzeptable Lösung geben wird…
Vielleicht ja auch über eine Teilerstattung des Kartenpreises.

Die Pressemitteilung im Wortlaut:

Depeche Mode to restart Tour Of The Universe in Germany

First concert June 8th in Leipzig

Depeche Mode are pleased to announce they will restart their interrupted Tour Of The Universe in Leipzig, Germany on June 8th. On May 12th, lead singer Dave Gahan suffered a severe bout of gastroenteritis, leading to his hospitalization and the cancellation of the Athens concert. While in hospital, further medical tests revealed a lowgrade malignant tumour in Dave’s bladder, which has since been successfully removed. At doctors’ orders Dave Gahan must take a break until June 8th, to ensure that he makes a full recovery. The Leipzig show on June 8th will be the first concert following Dave’s recovery.

Dave Gahan sincerely thanks his fans for their support, understanding and patience. Depeche Mode deeply regret any problems or inconveniences the cancellations and postponements may have caused.

AFFECTED UPCOMING SHOWS
May 30th London O2 is postponed and will be rescheduled to a new date, which will be announced shortly. Tickets purchased will remain valid.
May 31st Depeche Mode’s performance at the Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf is cancelled.
June 2nd The show at the HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg will now take place on July 1st. Tickets purchased remain valid.
June 4th & 5th The shows at Dusseldorf LTU Arena on June 4th and 5th will be rescheduled, however the exact dates cannot be determined until the 2nd Bundesliga releases its new schedule. Dates for the rescheduled shows are expected to be announced by early July. Ticket holders should retain their tickets for the rescheduled shows.
June 7th & 8th Regrettably, the June 7th show in Leipzig must be cancelled due to doctors’ orders, however the June 8th show will occur as planned. Tickets for the cancelled June 7th show may be exchanged for tickets to either the June 8th show in Leipzig or the June 10th show in Berlin (availability permitting) at the relevant box office. July 2nd Bergen, Koengen has been rescheduled to Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at the Vestlandhallen.

SHOWS TAKING PLACE AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED
The following European shows are not affected and will take place as originally planned.
June 8th LEIPZIG Zentralstadion
June 10th BERLIN Olympiastadion
June 12th FRANKFURT Commerzbank Arena
June 13th MUNICH Olympiastadion
June 16th ROME Stadio Olimpico
June 18th MILAN Stadio San Siro
June 20th WERCHTER TW Classic Festival
June 22nd BRATISLAVA Inter Stadium
June 23rd BUDAPEST Puskas Ferenc Stadium
June 25th PRAGUE Slavia Stadium
June 27th PARIS Stade de France
June 28th NANCY Zenith Amphitheatre
June 30th COPENHAGEN Parken Stadium
July 1st HAMBURG (rescheduled show)
July 3rd ARVIKA Arvika Festival
July 6th CARCASSONNE Esplanade Gambetta
July 8th VALLADOLID Jose Zorilla Stadium
July 9th BILBAO BBK Live Festival
July 11th PORTO Super Bock Super Rock Festival
July 12th SEVILLE Olimpic Stadium
Furthermore, all dates following Seville on the Tour of the Universe will proceed as originally planned.

CANCELLED SHOWS STILL TO BE DETERMINED
Ticket holders for the previously cancelled shows listed below are encouraged to hold on to their tickets pending a further
statement. Every effort continues to be made to reschedule these shows and more time is needed to resolve venue availability
and routing. A final decision is expected early next week, at which time a statement will be made with regards to either a
rescheduled date or final cancellation.
May 12th ATHENS Terra Vibe
May 14th ISTANBUL Santral Istanbul
May 16th BUCHAREST Parc Izvor
May 18th SOFIA Vasil Levski
May 20th BELGRADE USCE Park
May 21st ZAGREB Arena
May 23rd WARSAW Gwardia Stadium
May 25th RIGA Skonto Stadium
May 27th VILNIUS Zalgirio Stadionas