Yesterday reporters mobbed Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler in Manila, where the venerable American rockers are scheduled to play their first-ever concert in Southeast Asia tomorrow.
“I can’t wait to play, I can’t believe you guys,” Tyler said.
Perhaps the hardest thing to believe are the ticket prices, which are setting back eager fans anywhere from 2,600 pesos (U.S. $64) for general admission to 20,000 pesos each (U.S. $489) for the most coveted spots in the VIP section – even topping prices for the Jennifer Lopez concert that took Manila by storm last November. The price tag prompted many Filipino fans to express their dissatisfaction on Twitter.
“Dear Aerosmith, do you know that the Philippines is a third world country? Your ticket prices are absurd!” tweeted Christine Lavina.
“Ticket prices for the Aerosmith concert: Crazy. Gen Ad is P2,600 already! Start selling your stuff! Glad I’m not that much of a fan,” added Mac Evangelista.
It was no easy task to bring Aerosmith to the Philippines. After starting their tour last month in New Zealand and Australia, the band canceled a show that was scheduled for May 11 in Jakarta, citing safety concerns. When news of the cancelation came, 85 percent of the tickets had already been sold. Last year Lady Gaga canceled a show in Indonesia following protests by religious groups, while Rihanna did so twice, in 2008 and 2009.
Aerosmith’s show in Manila, however, was spared the axe. For those fans who have come up with the coin, Aerosmith will take to the stage at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City tomorrow evening.
“It is an absolute honor to have the opportunity to bring in America's greatest rock and roll band,” said Vernon Go, president of Pulp World Live, the concert promoter who brought the band to Manila. "We know the Philippines is a singing nation and we know that Filipinos over so many generations from young and old love and sing so many of Aerosmith's songs… It is just incredible to bring this life experience to our country.”
Aerosmith is currently in the midst of the third leg of its Global Warming Tour, meant to promote its 15th album, Music from Another Dimension, released last November. Since forming in Boston in 1970, the band has churned out a steady stream of hits, including “Dream On,” “Walk this Way,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” and “Janie’s Got a Gun.”