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Ageing British rock stars to take centre stage in 2012 celebrations
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent21.10.09
Free concerts in Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace by stars such as the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Led Zeppelin could form part of the cultural celebrations for the 2012 Olympics.
While their combined ages might run into several hundred years, shadow arts minister Ed Vaizey said the established acts should be part of the celebrations for the Cultural Olympiad programme for the London Games alongside a new generation of artists.
He added: ''I would like to see free concerts in Hyde Park, or Buckingham Palace - let's remember 2012 will be the Queen's Diamond jubilee - as well as up and down the country with iconic musicians as well as our exciting younger artists."
Mr Vaizey said it was important the cultural programme should not just involve the subsidised arts, such as theatre and opera, but also the popular and commercial sector. "For a successful Cultural Olympiad which engages with as many people as possible, we feel the full participation of the popular and commercial sector is vital," he said.
Speaking in London on the arts policy of a future Conservative government, Mr Vaizey admitted there would be "short-term pain" while they worked to get government finances back on track. "I hope that we can protect the front-line arts as much as possible," he said. Mr Vaizey pledged to maintain free admission to national museums and galleries.
Reader views (6)
And the zimmer gold medal goes to ...........
- Ted, London
Cringeworthy to top all cringemaking is and was, Brian May's naffest of the naff performances on the Buckingham Palace roof.
- Andy, London
They clearly have not learnt from Jimmy Page's cringeworthy number at the 2008 handover.
- David, N10
Will the stages be equipped with railings and ramps for this lot?
- Democracy Please, Northolt, London
Ageing rock stars and bands are huge embarrassments at anything other than retro gigs.
The old American R&B and Blues stars, were terrific. Slouching onstage with fedoras and in shabby suits. They made no attempt whatsoever to look younger than they were. Hard living made them often look older. Our poor British rock and pop guys are so pathetically keen to be seen as decades younger. Dyed (what's left) hair), peacock clothes and styles that shriek desperation in trying to knock off the years .
The old jazz and bluesmen embraced experience and letting it show. Our rock & pop lot are terrified of anything outside a Peter Pan existence. (And please, no rock at the Palace. The Queen looked younger than the last lot of old rockers that were there).
- Jools, London
I find this Cultural Olympiad a tad patronising. Why do I need the Olympics to persuade me to support the arts, heritage, theatre and museums - I've done that most of my life. Cannot see how you are going to attract new people into the Arts.
Olympic Officials pay lip service to our "heritage" when you consider the decision to host the equestrian events at Greenwich Park, in disregard to residents' wishes and disrepecting the Park's World Heritage Site status. I seem to recall that of the £700m + that was diverted from funds in the Lottery, the largest chunk came from the Arts & Heritage.
- Cally G, Essex, UK
