No Point To U2 Stories

U2’s European promoter John Giddings said he is fed up with reading stories about non-existent shows and can’t understand why people buy tickets from rogue Internet sites.

He was speaking after the Irish rock act, which has a reputation for taking on touts and fraudsters, told fans not to buy any of the tickets being offered because the band hasn’t confirmed any shows.

The group said reports claiming they are performing soon were "mistaken."

"It’s the first I’ve heard it," was Giddings’ response to U.S. newspaper stories that the act would play the opening of the Dublin O2, previously known as The Point Theatre.

"Even if I only think about planning a tour for U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Celine Dion, Genesis, David Bowie or any of the similar-sized acts I represent, somebody will start advertising shows on the Internet," Giddings explained.

"I’ve chased these people but a new site opens every time you shut one down," he said. "They’re springing up all the time and trying to do something about it is like trying to catch water in a sieve."

Giddings said rogue Web sites have received so much media attention from newspapers and consumer programmes like BBC’s "Watchdog" that he’s baffled as to why people continue to buy tickets outside of the authorised outlets.