I just got off the phone with Brian Harriman, a vice president for Molson/Coors’ Atlantic division, and he tells me definitively that Molson is not putting on a Metallica show—or any other show for that matter—in Halifax. “Of course we’d like to sell beer there,” he says, “but we’re not a presenter.”
This contradicts The Coast’s earlier report that Molson had hired Harold MacKay to put on a Metallica show.
But wait, there’s more. Harriman says that Molson has asked Dave MacKay, Harold MacKay’s son, to clarify the issue.
“Apparently they’re going to put a press release out on Monday,” says Harriman. “We went back to them and said, ‘Why does this keep surfacing? We’re not presenting Metallica.’ We were thinking it was coming directly from them.”
That seems to suggest that, yes, the MacKays are somehow involved with a Metallica show, but that Molson isn’t. And a Monday press release from the MacKays aligns with a report from Atlantic Canada Rocks that “the Metallica show scheduled for July 14th on Citadel Hill will be announced Monday.”
You tell me: How is it possible that any potential vendor in Halifax would deal with Harold MacKay?
For The Coast’s complete coverage of the Common concert financing scandal, click here.
This article appears in May 5-11, 2011.
This is already turning into Scandallica.
WTF – Why is this paper ALWAYS NEGATIVE. I am done reading the Coast. Let me know when Tim is not working for the paper. Total idiot.
Why cast a negative shadow on this concert before it is even announced? Who cares who is presenting it really. All is speculation at this point. If it has nothing to do with the Commons concerts from last year so why are you trying to link them. If you are so set on breaking the big story, why don’t you work on a story of real importance and stop trying to fabricate one? Conspiracy theorist.
Holy crap. That’s not a negative article it’s a correction piece mostly. Mr Anonymous behind a stupid name needs a time out. If you are tired of The Coast being against stupid things what does that make you? But they clearly aren’t against this. Not yet anyway. It would be cool to have a popular concert in the city where the taxpayers aren’t hosed and local suppliers aren’t stiffed. Metallica on the Garrison Grounds might be that concert. But if the same people are behind it….
While I agree that Mackay’s name is tarnished, I really don’t give a fuck as long as they deliver. Metallica will sell tickets as long at they are reasonably priced without needing a taxpayer handout (that would be a bonus). People will travel here to see them, much closer than going to QC or further, so I can’t see this not doing well.
I think this Metallica concert should not be tagged with the past concert failings, if you want Metallica to cancel then keep going down this negative route people. Remember Celine a few years back (not that I would have went to see her performance)?
I agree. Why is Halifax’s weekly “entertainment” paper hell-bent on making everything political? Just announce the concert details and be done with it. I’ll make up my own mind about it thanks.
jytymy, you’re joking right?
It was the politicians who made these concerts “political” when they started fronting millions of tax dollars to a bungling promoter who has since gone bankrupt.
It’s a concert people…not some sort of propaganda. No wonder people out west laugh at us. It’s so small-minded and yet there is still this insane sense of entitlement. No wonder no one wants to come here. And when a good opportunity comes along, the wagons are circled, the chests start pounding and the morons unite.
So, according to Atlantic Canada Rocks, http://www.rockthehill.ca launched today. WHOIS doesn’t give registrant info, but domain was registered in March. According to the NS Registry of Joint Stocks, Rock The Hill is in the outdoor entertainment business and is registered to MacKay Entertainment Inc.
Could it be?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/…
I agree w/ GALT. The Coast has been so negative and biased and wrong (erroneous) lately, that it’s lost a hell of lot of credibility with me. The paper is so yellow it’s dripping with pee.
These a-holes who don’t care about who pays for these concerts don’t own properties so they don’t pay property taxes. Enjoy the show leachers.
Harold on CTV now but will Steve drill him like he drills other. Harold no shame.
Steve Murphy is a f’n dink. Poor, smug little man trying to be a hard-hitting reporter. What a complete tool.