Rocknacht’s Revolver Cocked

Ernst-Ludwig Hartz reckons ticket sales for his 22nd Rocknacht (Germany) will start to fire now that Velvet Revolver has started its European tour.

"I think people were waiting to see if they were really coming after they canceled some dates earlier in the year, but the act is here in Europe now and has done fantastic shows in Ireland and the U.K.," he explained.

Hartz believes the March 29 lineup for the 3,500-capacity Cologne Palladium is the strongest he’s had for years, with the U.S. rockers heading a bill that includes The Hives, Good Charlotte, The Futureheads and Jolly Goods.

The show will be recorded for broadcast on German TV’s "Rockpalast" show, the former main sponsor for the ill-fated Bizarre Festival that Hartz promoted with Peter Rieger. It will air on Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) station May 2 and 4.

The acts to benefit from getting TV coverage from playing Rocknacht in the past include The Smashing Pumpkins, Faithless, Garbage, Calexico, Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, The Offspring, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Turbonegro and Manic Street Preachers.