Jess Hardiman
Viral footage shows just how staggered Kurt Cobain once was after finding out how much popstars like Madonna were charging for tickets – and that was back in the early 90s.
Going to gigs these days isn’t exactly a cheap night out, with hidden fees and bizarre charges mounting up to land you with a pretty hefty bill. Why do we need a service, admin and processing fee? All that on top of delivery for what these days just usually lands in our email inbox... Make it make sense!
But if you thought ticket prices were steep these days, you’ll be shocked – or perhaps reassured? - to realise that it’s not just a 21st-century problem.
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Back in 1993, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain appeared on MTV to discuss how much fans are charged for tickets.
“What do you think of artists who charge anywhere between $50-$75 for tickets?” he was asked.
Looking completely disgusted, Cobain said: “There are people who charge that much? Who does that?”
A voice off-camera can be heard telling him ‘Madonna’.
“Madonna does?” he replied, almost sadly.
Someone else points out that Madonna’s live sets are more like a ’burlesque show’ and a ‘big production’, suggesting that the steep price was perhaps warranted due to what she offered.
After letting it sink in, Cobain said incredulously: “Madonna charges $50?”
The clip resurfaced on TikTok this week, where many fans shared Cobain's confusion.
“I saw Nirvana for $6 in Seattle in 1991,” one wrote.
Someone else joked: “$50 is a steal. That’s just the fees now.”
A third said: “Good ol’ days when you could afford to pay for a concert ticket... Kurt would be spinning in his grave if he knew how scandalous it has become.”
A fourth added: “If only Kurt saw how much it is today.”
Others noted how shocked he would be to try and bag a Taylor Swift ticket...
Last month, The Cure's Robert Smith forced Ticketmaster to refund fans for 'sickening' extra fees.
After tickets for the band's US tour went on sale, one customer ended up buying four $20 tickets for the event but paid more than $172 after service fees, a facility charge, and an order processing fee were added.
After similar reports from others surfaced, Smith tweeted that he was 'as sickened as you all are by today’s Ticketmaster "Fees’ debacle'.
He continued: "To be very clear, the artist has no way to limit them. I have been asking how they are justified. If I get anything coherent by way of an answer, I will let you all know."
He later provided a positive update to fans that Ticketmaster would be providing a partial refund to fans after talks with the band.