LN Spain Fined Over AC/DC Refunds

Spanish authorities have fined Live Nation Spain euro 15,000 ($16,197) for failing to refund AC/DC fans in Seville who were disappointed that frontman Brian Johnson was replaced by Axl Rose.  

AP Photo / Armando Franca – Axl Rose and Angus Young of AC/DC
Passeio Maritimo De Alges, Lisbon, Portugal

When it was announced that Rose would be replacing Johnson last year, many fans who had already purchased tickets to the May 10, 2016, concert at Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla wanted their money back.

According to Spanish consumer rights agency Facua, Live Nation first agreed to refund fans, but stopped doing so after a few days, which is why the agency complained to authorities.

This led to Seville’s Economy and Commerce Department imposing the fine. Facua not only complained to the authorities in Andalusia, of which Seville is the capital, but also Catalonia, its capital Barcelona being home to Live Nation Spain’s offices.

The consumer group voiced its disappointment that authorities in Catalonia didn’t take action as well.

According to Facua, refunds become valid if concert conditions are substantially changed. The agency points out that the replacement of AC/DC’s lead vocalist wasn’t the only alteration meeting those criteria, but also the fact that Rose had to perform sitting down, with his broken foot in a cast.