Bon Jovi fans give Brown rocky ride

By Sam Coates, Political Correspondent

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...455459,00.html

FANS of Jon Bon Jovi have been blamed for heckling Gordon Brown at a music ceremony, repeatedly forcing the Chancellor to restart a speech which paid tribute to Sir George Martin, the producer of the Beatles.
It was the latest attempt by the Chancellor to connect with the rock generation, after he was mocked this year for claiming that he listened to Arctic Monkeys to prepare for the day.

Supporters of the left- of-centre American rock star chanted anti-Iraq slogans and “Bring back Tony” when Mr Brown came on stage at the UK Music Hall of Fame in Alexandra Palace, London, on Monday night.

Several members of the audience yesterday pinpointed the noise as coming from the back of the public gallery where the Bon Jovi fans were seated. Grace Stevens, the project manager of the event, confirmed that they were responsible.

Jon Bon Jovi met Mr Brown afterwards. A source standing close to Bon Jovi, who watched the Chancellor’s speech on a plasma screen backstage, said that other members of his band were not sure who Mr Brown was. The rock star was apparently unaware of the disturbance caused by his supporters.

One member of the audience said: “Gordon Brown came on and there were a few antiwar chants, mainly saying, ‘Get out of Iraq’. He said a few things and a few heckles came his way. “But once he got going and talked about George Martin he was fine. He kept his smile and his composure.”

Mr Brown told the audience: “George Martin is the most amazing man and I’m proud to be able to present him this evening.”

He said: “I spoke to Sir Paul McCartney this afternoon and Paul McCartney said, ‘This great man George Martin is the great creative genius of our time’. Self-made, self-taught, he worked his way up, he is a great national icon. He is a great national institution.”

The manager of a music store, CD Music, in Kirkcaldy — the main town in the Chancellor’s constituency — said that Bon Jovi was a popular choice for his customers. “We sell quite a lot of Bon Jovi but I’ve never sold one to the Chancellor. I haven’t seen him for a long time,” he said.

This was posted somewhere else a few days back.

Its all a bit ridiculous though, sure blame the Bon Jovi fans!

That is the stupidest report I've ever read. First, saying it is Bon Jovi fans that are hecklers rather than "a group of people that don't support the war in Iraq", then assuming Jon Bon Jovi has somehow convinced his fans to be anti-war, as if we are his mind-controlled posse, then to slap on some lame comment from a record store owner regarding whether or not the Chancellor has ever purchased a Bon Jovi CD. The whole chain of logic is completely idiotic!

Not to mention that anyone shouting "Bring back Tony" is obviously not anti-war

pfffttt..... as Ireland said - poor logic. And very poorly written. A perfect example of making connections that are just not there.

Kathleen

So what? England is a free country with the freedom of speach. If they invite a politician who is known as not very much liked they have to expect reactions of the audience.

The day after the event someone explained me that this politician is one of the politicians who is responsible for supporting Bush with the Iraq war. I'm sure if Jon knows this he more than agrees with the booing.

It's not that the booing took away something from George Martin. The booing only was when this politician entered the stage and it stopped when he started to talk about George Martin, even if he had to re-start his speech after 2 words or something.

...IMO you could invite any politition to a music awards ceremony and they would get booed!

Clinton would not.

yeah but Clinton is a rockstar part time.

They should have shouted "Bring back Major"