![[hand]](/hs-pics/portraits/hands/gillan7.jpg)
![[face]](/hs-pics/portraits/faces/airey3.jpg)
VIP upgrades for the European tour
Band’s management is offering VIP upgrade packages for the European leg on the upcoming Deep Purple tour in May-July. There are two different packages available:
- $200 USD will buy you a meet’n’greet with the band members excluding Ian Gillan (don’t be offended — he just does not do backstage mingling any more), plus some swag;
- $100 will buy you early access to the venue to grab some merchandise and that front row place at the railing (the shows are general admission, at least for the floor).
Either package must be purchased on top of a regular ticket — they do not grant admission to the show by themselves. The $100 and $200 packages are also mutually exclusive — meet’n’greet will be held before the band hits the stage, one physically can not be backstage and holding their place in the front row at the same time.
The packages are sold exclusively via VIP Showtix.
Thanks to Kat for the info.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
Seems to me that the band’s management are determined to milk as much money from the loyal fans as they can. Very sad.
March 29th, 2017 at 16:42Ah. Two *different* packages, rather than two *identical* packages. Gotcha. 😆😆
March 29th, 2017 at 16:44No Gillan no greet
March 29th, 2017 at 18:13I’ve met them for free in the 80’s & 90’s. Drank a beer with big Ian in 1990 and chatted with Steve Morse in a pizzeria. I would never pay that money for a meet ‘n greet.
March 29th, 2017 at 18:16No offence to the band but I don’t do meet n greets either, so they won’t be able to meet me this time 😁 😁
March 29th, 2017 at 18:49Is Gillan pulling a Blackmore
March 29th, 2017 at 19:22Meet me in heaven guys.
March 29th, 2017 at 19:39For $200 i’d want to shit in the queen’s handbag. What a con. I hate all this vip package bullshit, and im shocked purple are in on it.
March 29th, 2017 at 21:21I have met them several times in the past as well but will still do the meet and greet. Why you ask? Simply because I know this will be the last time I’ll ever see them and I don’t care about the money. Don’t get me wrong I’m just an average guy with bills like anyone else but this is it. The end and I know I will regret it if I don’t do it. I’ll sacrifice elsewhere if necessary, after all it’s only paper.
March 29th, 2017 at 23:13I have often waited at the performers entrance/exit . Paicey, Steve, Don and Roger have always been great to come over for a quick chat and the odd photo – but true never IG. They never seem to do these offers in Scandinavia, but hey we are all lucky that they still turn up !!!
March 30th, 2017 at 08:10All this is probably because physical albums just don’t sell much anymore & as the end appears to be within sight, squeezing every last shekel from the live end of the machine has become imperative. Good luck to ’em says I. Pity I’m such a tight bastard!. Lol. Smiles…
March 30th, 2017 at 09:42Oh Dear
So only the wealthy can be VIPs. Havn’t they got enough money. Before they know they will be touring without the two founder members. When I thought Ian Gillan and The Yes Men could sink no lower, this disgusts me. A it does with any band.
Kenn
March 30th, 2017 at 14:08No Gillan,no party.
March 30th, 2017 at 16:25Meet & Greets Suck! Ian feels very uncomfortable with the whole thing. It depends on your perspective. Some people think it is ok to meet strangers and smile and have a photo. Some just hate it, like Ian Gillan. Promoters and mangers see money and a way to give back to the fans. They tell the band if people are willing to pay for it, then you should go and do it! And stop being idealistic… Everyone is in it for the $$$$$$
March 30th, 2017 at 19:33IMHO waste of time and space – Say hi, shake hands, quick pic. No autographs, no talking, no nothing!
$200 is a pretty reasonable price to meet four legends and get some merchandise.
March 30th, 2017 at 22:25Meet and greet at the paradise bar where the drinks are free and the hookers are cheap!!!!
March 31st, 2017 at 08:03Kenn @12
March 31st, 2017 at 09:22Couldn’t have said it any better.
This is not the first time and the guys always says it’s nothing to do with us it’s the management decision!!!!
They just wipe their hands off it.
@3. No Blackmore no greet. lol.
March 31st, 2017 at 22:01