Security plea for shows

Press, 2 March 1984, Page 4

Security plea for shows

NZPA Sydney Two members of the Brit-ish-based rock group, The Police, arrived in Sydney yesterday saying they knew little about the riot at their New Zealand concert on Wednesday evening. In spite of their lack of knowledge of what happened at the Auckland concert, the lead singer and bassist, Sting — real name Gordon Sumner — said that he thought there should be tighter security at the group’s shows. “It was too big an arena to be aware of anything,” he said, as he was shunted through the crowd of reporters, radio and television interviewers, and fans at Sydney Airport. The news media appeared to outnumber the fans. “I think the police (the uniformed variety) were on strike,” Sumner said. He described news media coverage of the concert at Western Springs as “alarmist and hysterical.” Both Sting and the promoter, Michael Chugg, who was at the airport with the group, said there had been no injuries. Sting and the lead guitarist, Andy Summers, briefly braved the throng of fans and news media personnel, signing autographs as they

went, before being whisked off to their Sydney hotel.

The group’s American drummer, Stewart Copeland, is expected to arrive in Australia today. Organisers for the band’s two Australian concerts this week-end do not expect a repeat of the New Zealand violence. Promoters say that the concerts, at the Sydney show grounds on Friday and the Melbourne show grounds on Sunday, are in betterbuilt stadiums and that there is no need for strengthened security.

Other reports, page 3