Chicago - 2nd show added

As per the Philadelphia show, the band will play a 2nd night at the United Center on October 3rd. Tickets are already on sale @ Ticketmaster here.

Philadephia - 2nd show added

For some reason at the moment, Ticketmaster.com is saying that tickets for the Philadelphia show on September 18th are not currently on sale. However, you can still purchase tickets for the show through the venue via ComcastTix here, or buy calling 1-800-298-4200.

Also, the Wachovia Center has made an announcement today that a 2nd show has been added for September 19th, due to popular demand citing that tickets for the 18th sold out immediately after going on sale to the public this morning. However you can still purchase tickets at all price levels - $57, $77, $127 & $227. Tickets for the new show will be going on sale next Saturday, March 17th @ 10am ET, also through ComcastTix. Presumably Ticketmaster are no longer the official vendor for these shows now.

Ticket sale dates

Here is a list of dates and times for tickets that will be going on sale to the 'general public' in the forthcoming days.

March 10th @ 10am ET
Montreal
Philadelphia

March 12th @ 10am ET
Boston
Hartford
East Rutherford
Chicago
Toronto

March 16th @ 10am ET
Columbus
Cleveland
Washington DC

March 18th @ 10am PT
San Jose

Ticketmaster

A warning from Ultrastar

From the staff @ Ultrastar.

So we've noticed a lot of discussion about the tickets that are for sale on various ticket broker sights [sites].  We have another name for ticket brokers: we call them scalpers.  These guys claim to be selling great seat locations for concerts, but in reality do not have the tickets they promise.  Try calling one or two, and don't be surprised when the 'awesome 3rd row ticket!' turns out to be the third row of section 604.

In America this practice is hardly regulated, and in many States is perfectly legal.  Unfortunately, when this misleading information begins to appear on various broker sites (read: tout) it can seem extremely unfair to the honest fans that just want a fair shot at good seats to see their favorite band.

Don't be fooled by these scalpers, who just want to parley not-so-awesome seats into a pocket full of cash.

"Welcome to New York"

Bill MacCormick, who was the Official Site Webmaster before Ultrastar took over the reins, posted this from Tony Smith on the messageboards.

I just spoke to Tony Smith in NY.  'We've been mugged, welcome to New York', were his words.

The virus that attacked Ultrastar's computers, triggered at 9.59 am ET yesterday, was a concerted attempt by a ticket scalper, frankly a crook, to hijack the pre-sale.  It took over 8 hours for Ultrastar's technicians to get the system back on line such was the severity of the attack.  They have never been attacked in this way before which is one of the reasons it took them so long to get back on-line.

Apparently Ticketmaster was the targets of similar attacks a few years ago but they've not seen anything like this since.  Ticketmaster are, however, helping Ultrastar so that they can ensure similar problems do not occur again.

Tony asked me to assure fan clubs members that tickets for their pre-sale have been ring-fenced for every concert and there should be more than enough to satisfy demand.

Exclusive Video

There is a new short clip now available on the Official Site. It's a video of the band in an interview either pre-conference or post-conference answering a couple of questions posted on the Official Messageboards.

You will need either Windows Media Player or RealPlayer plugins to view.

Site back up but presale to start again 03/09

Well after today's commotion with the presale tickets and the lack there of, it's time for reflection and start all over again tomorrow morning for most people.

I won't go into the sordid details. It's already been covered 'to death' elsewhere, but here is a link to all of the updates that the staff @ genesis-music.com did issue today.

Also, I won't be providing anymore updates that appear on the Official Site no more. I've added an RSS feed in the left column, and all new articles from the site will be listed there.

Daryl radio podcast

Further to this morning's interview and subsequent post, WKLH radio has now uploaded the interview onto their website in 2 parts.

Rubbin' Elbows - Listen | Download

Trumpeteer - Listen | Download

Official site problems

12.36pm (CST) Update
Managed to find this on a fan forum since the Official Site is down and so is the old forum where fans have been get asked to get updates for now.

Our site was hit with an automated ticket broker script that was programmed to start at 9:59amET. Our security rebuffed the attack, and the script just kept coming at us. Ultimately, we simply had to shut down the site. We know the extent of the damage as far as early codes going out, it’s approximately 40 codes across 5 venues. We see that some tickets are already up on eBay and other broker sites. Any tickets from those 40 codes that are up on any broker sites will be canceled. The damage is limited. Please note that brokers are also selling presale access codes. We will be shutting down all of that, and canceling memberships of anyone who is selling either tickets, or presale codes.

At the moment, we are working to make sure the site is stable enough to bring back online. We need to make sure that we give everyone a fair chance at getting presale codes, so we are going to try to hold the presales later today, at approximately 3pm.

We are very aware that so many of you have made special arrangements to be near a computer, some of you even paying for internet time at the local cyber cafe.

We are looking at every possible other solution, and I’ll keep you posted here

For those of you attempting to take advantage of the presales and are unable to access the site, don't worry.

we are experiencing very heavy traffic at the moment, please check back. The presale is on hold and no codes are currently being distributed.

Stuermer on his local radio station again

Daryl seems to a regular guest on Milwaukee radio station, WKLH 96.5 as he appeared on the Dave and Carole Show this morning. And yours truly had some questions asked on air!!

Obviously the main topic of conversation was yesterday's Press Conference of the NA leg. I'll summarize the relevant points:

• Obviously the issue of only 13 dates was mentioned and Daryl didn't know any new ones, but thought they could have the option to add extra shows in Chicago and Philadelphia. But also, they could add extra dates in October.
• Production will be 2 stage setups with 2 crews during this tour as he mentioned this will the "Biggest Stage Ever" that Genesis has used. Also said something about "90ft screens".
• Switzerland will be the location for the rehearsals which are due to start on April 22nd lasting for 2 and a half weeks. Production rehearsals will follow lasting the same length of time. The band will also spend 4 days of rehearsals in Toronto prior to the first show on September 7th.
• Daryl and Mike have had some e-mail exchange recently and Mike told him about a couple of other surprise songs that weren't originally rehearsed in October of last year. 22 songs still remain on "the list".
• VH1 Rock Honors: Daryl said he has been contacted by Genesis Management and asked if he was free on May 12th. He believes the show "is a go" and will happen. And they have been asked to perform 3 songs.
• Also confirmed that fellow band mate, Chester Thompson indeed was on TV last night with his wife, on the US Fox show, “American Idol”, supporting contestant, Melinda Doolittle.

Some other key quotes from Daryl during the interview;

"Could be the last tour", "Biggest tour of the summer".

Daryl's 9th album, "Go" is being released on April 23th, on InsideOut Music, his new German label.