AC/DC in stand against ticket resellers

The promoter of an AC/DC show in New Zealand has threatened to take legal action against resellers who are offering tickets for sale – even though they don’t exist yet.

Ian Magan, who’s behind the show in Auckland, says the Aussie giants are determined to play fair with fans.

And he believes that’s not happening on ticket site Viagogo, where tickets are on sale for up to $1300, even though the show’s date has yet to be announced.

Magan tells the New Zealand Herald: “I have issued them a cease and desist. We will take legal action if they don’t comply.

“AC/DC are very egalitarian. They want each fan to have an equal chance of attending the concert.”

A spokesperson for Viagogo said the tickets were on sale as a result of pre-allocation programmes, meaning some people already knew they had a ticket to sell even though they didn’t have it yet. She added it was “perfectly legal to resell tickets” and each transaction was protected by a guarantee.

In February Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and others backed the UK’s Put Fans First campaign in a bid to have ticket sales laws overhauled. Resellers later vowed to offer customers more transparency.

AC/DC – featuring Stevie Young in place of retired bandleader Malcolm Young, and Chris Slade in place of dismissed drummer Phil Rudd – return to the UK later this month:

Jun 28: Glasgow Hampden Park

Jul 01: Dublin Aviva Stadium

Jul 04: London Wembley Stadium

AC/DC: the story behind the comeback of 2014

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.