Marek Lieberberg demands full utilization of the clubs and halls

The Genesis concerts in Berlin, Hanover or three times in a row in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne convey that live operations in Germany have started again after two years of the pandemic. But a closer look shows that the audience capacity required by the Peter Rieger concert agency was only possible due to the respective exceptional regulations.

Dieter Semmelmann from the local Berlin organizer Semmel Concerts put it on record that they “fought like lions” for the long-awaited Genesis show to take place in the capital.

Even in the clubs of the republic, things are far from running smoothly. Especially with bands touring throughout Europe, there are still failures and cancellations. And the notorious “hygiene concept” that limits capacity in some places is implemented elsewhere. Sometimes 60 percent utilization, sometimes 75 percent. The announcements also differ in other respects. “The 2G+ rule applies. Please bring a vaccination certificate and a daily updated test certificate as well as your identity card with you, ”says the indie venue at Gleis 22 in Münster.

This fragile situation has now prompted Marek Lieberberg, managing director of the large agency Live Nation, to talk Tacheles again. In an interview with the German Press Agency (dpa), he called for the restrictions to be lifted quickly.

The nationwide venues should be able to be used to the maximum again. “Everything else would be patchwork,” says the doyen of the live industry. “Repeatedly requested reopening perspectives failed due to the fear and apathy of those responsible in politics, while in other countries the music has long been playing again”.

Lieberberg urges Germany to orient itself “without ifs and buts” to the USA, England and neighboring European countries “which have finally put an end to obsolete disabilities and restrictions”.

It is time to live with the pandemic, which, given the current infection numbers, will keep us busy for a while. “The fans are demanding their freedom, their right to their culture, which requires the restrictions to be lifted,” said Lieberberg, as usual combative.

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