SOUTH AFRICA: Fans from all over country flock to concert by 'Wet Wet Wet'

Record ID: 457648

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Fans from all over country flock to concert by 'Wet Wet Wet'
  • Date: 25th August 1995
  • Summary: NEIL MITCHELL SAYING WE'RE MAKING A LOSS ON THIS LEG OF THE TOUR, THE THING IS THAT THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION IS TO HAVE THEM COME AND SEE US PLAY MARTI PELLOW SAYING OUR MUSIC ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SWITCH OFF AND NOT THINK OF THE TROUBLES THEY HAVE IN LIFE
  • Embargoed: 9th September 1995 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA AND VIDEO LOCATION
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA97F13U31ANTOBNPQWSEL2JA6L
  • Story Text: Wet Wet Wet arrived in South Africa for the first time to be welcomed by a sell-out tour and thousands of passionate, screaming fans.
    In the east coast city of Durban, their popularity among locals set a new record for the band - their opening concert proved to be the largest paying audience the band has ever played to which amounted to 22,000 fans at the local cricket ground.
    In Cape Town both of their performances were sold out, with the stadium packed to capacity on both nights. From teeny-boppers to thirty-somethings, their support-base stretched across the age barrier.
    Wet Wet Wet are currently on a world tour that will take them to Europe, South East Asia, Australia and the USA before winding up back in the UK.
    Their reception in South Africa has seen their "End of Part One" album go double platinum since it re-entered into the official South African Top Twenty Chart and is currently at number 19.
    The album has already sold over 100 000 units in the country and their latest album, "Picture This" is presently at number three, having sold over 25 000 copies so far.
    Joining a string of other international acts like Sting, Brian Adams and Elton John, Wet Wet Wet wrapped up the last three concerts of their South African tour at the Sun City Superbowl which had been sold out since two weeks after the announcement of the tour.
    It is only since international sanctions against South Africa have been lifted and the new democratic government ushered to power, that international acts have felt free to come to South Africa and to play at Sun City again.
    Sun City was previously targetted by artists against Apartheid, who conducted a much-publicised worldwide boycott of the venue, led by Sting.
    Now South African audiences, previously starved of live overseas acts, eagerly support their favourite artists who seem just as eager to visit the country.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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