THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 23, 1997 TAG: 9701230031
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 66 lines
WARNING! WARNING! Warning! Do not be late for Garth's show.
It might be well to call in sick and leave after breakfast to avoid the snail's pace and, more often, the no-pace traffic going into Hampton Coliseum.
Get settled in time for the opening of Garth Brooks' concerts because, according to the tour's production manager, John McBride, ``it's unbelievable. By itself it would be worth the price of admission.''
Which, according to the show-biz bible Variety, ``is just $18, well below the industry average.''
Kiss, the Eagles and Rod Stewart made more money in 1996 because their prices were astronomical. Some Stewart and Eagles tix went for - gulp - $100.
``Garth could charge $100,'' McBride said, ``but he's always taken the approach to keep prices as reasonable as possible.''
It is reasonable to expect a host of surprises at the three local shows from Brooks, who does not stint on production.
``We have a new set, a new stage, new lighting and sound systems,'' McBride said.
``As usual, it will be high energy. The place will rock, you'll have a good time,'' said Karen Byrd, a publicist for GB Management. ``Garth wants you to leave feeling exhausted. That's always his goal.
``He won't be flying across the stadium as he did in his TV special. That was a one-time thing,'' she said. ``He wants to concentrate on the music.''
Said music is known worldwide. Brooks albums seem to go platinum a few minutes after release.
``No Fences,'' released in 1990, went sextuple platinum in Canada; ``In Pieces,'' a '93 release, went quadruple platinum in Ireland, where, a year later, 130,000 fans lined the streets to buy tickets to a Brooks concert (only 34,000 tickets were available).
For a May 18 concert this year in Ireland, more than 40,000 tickets were sold in less than four hours.
``The demand for Garth tickets continues to amaze us,'' said Jim Aiken, the Dublin concert promoter. ``It indicates that approximately one in every 20 residents of Ireland want to see him.''
Almost 2 million fans from everywhere saw Brooks in concert last year.
McBride thinks he may know the secret to Brooks' success:
``When Garth sings, I believe it. He has this incredible gift of being able to make you live a song, make you know what it feels like to have been there - been a part of the song.
``I haven't seen a better performer in my life. On stage, Garth has so much fun - you can't help but have fun, too.''
The most fun comes when he and the audience sing his trademark song about ``Friends in Low Places.''
On a more intimate level, the people's choice is probably ``The Dance.''
In Hampton, Brooks will dance around the stage, go nuts-o and, as usual, make a helluva impression.
He has also been known to smash a guitar or two. Will we be able to enjoy such destruction?
``It depends on how the crew makes him mad,'' was McBride's tongue-in-cheek answer.
Brooks has no personal assistants, no dressing room decorator and makes no demands for caviar or fancy foods.
``If I had Garth's success, I don't think I'd be as rational as he is,'' McBride said. ``He's well grounded, has a good head on his shoulders, and he's not pampered. He likes peanut butter and jelly - and Bud.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
[Garth Brooks]