Post by Alex on Nov 19, 2006 8:00:10 GMT
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.
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.
