Fine-tuned Springsteen was born to overrun
Sunday July 19 2009
Legendary American singer Bruce Springsteen was born to run ... and to overrun. Now he's facing fines of up to €50,000 for breaking his curfew at his Dublin shows in the RDS last weekend.
The singer, famed for such hits as 'Born in the USA' and 'The River', played for over three hours both nights at the RDS arena last weekend to the delight of 40,000 fans.
But Springsteen and the E Street Band broke their curfew by 15 minutes on the Saturday and by 19 minutes on the Sunday, and now face possibly losing the entire bond deposit placed by Aiken Promotions with Dublin City Council, which granted the licence for the concert to take place. But the veteran singer, whose lengthy sets are well renowned, appeared not to care about the curfew whilst on stage last weekend.
During the 20-minute encore the 59-year-old singer joked to the crowd: "We have to go, we have a curfew", to which lead guitarist (and Sopranos star) Steven Van Zandt replied "we don't care about the curfew, this is the curfew breaking Boss and E Street Band".
It is not the first time the singer has been fined for over running. At the world famous Glastonbury Festival, Springsteen played a two and a half hour set and overran by nine minutes leading to a fine of £3,000 (€5,000).
Last year, Springsteen was also the subject of a fine when he last played the RDS, due to the sound levels exceeding the permitted decibel limit.
Dublin City Council told the Sunday Independent that all acts, including Springsteen, had a strict curfew of 11pm each night. According to a statement from the council, public event licences issued for concerts at the RDS allow music to continue until 11pm.
"A condition on the licence provides for the payment of a bond as a surety for compliance with the conditions attached to the licence, including the requirements of the Environmental Health Officer. A portion of the bond may be held by the City Council for non-compliance," the statement said. Council sources have said that he might have been let off if it was confined to one night, but the fact that Springsteen played late on both nights means that a fine will be imposed. The council is also awaiting a report from our Environmental Health Section regarding noise levels and finishing times. No fines have been issued pending this information.
Aiken Promotions said that no contact had yet been received from Dublin City Council in relation to last week's gigs.
- DANIEL McCONNELL Chief Reporter
