Web site axes Fling listing for Run DMC

A publicist said the band expects to play. SPEC denies there is any deal. The World Wide Web site http://www.pollstar.com has removed its concert listing for the rap trio Run DMC, previously listed as scheduled for April 16 at Hill Field, in the latest development related to the Spring Fling concert. Despite the listing's removal from Pollstar, a music insider familiar with the negotiations said, "chances are that [the concert] date's going to happen." And the band's publicist, Tracy Miller of the Rutherford, N.J.-based firm Tracy Miller & Associates, said she had spoken with the band's manager yesterday. "As far as I'm concerned, we're supposed to be playing that date," Miller said. "Run DMC expects to be doing the show [on April 16]." Social Planning and Events Committee Concerts Committee Co-Director Jonathan Herrmann, a Wharton junior, refused to comment on whether there was ever an agreement to have Run DMC perform at Fling. He said no offers had been extended to other bands. "We've been considering bands for two months now and will continue to consider bands until we have a confirmed show," Herrmann said. J. Smith, an editor with the on-line magazine pollstar.com, said the band's booking agent -- Famous Artist Agency of New York City -- had contacted Pollstar with a list of tour dates for several of its artists. Famous Artist Agency then asked Pollstar to remove the April 16 concert listing for Run DMC on Wednesday, but the agency did not cite a reason for the listing's removal. "Tour dates are an inexact science," Smith said. "[Cancelling concert dates] is very common." But SPEC has a different explanation for why the listing was removed. "It's not on [the Web site] because Pollstar is not allowed to publish unconfirmed information," Herrmann said. "There is no confirmed information regarding this concert." Regarding his conversation with Herrmann, Smith said, "That's not quite true -- I don't know if he misunderstood me when we spoke. The information is not on the Web site because the [booking] agent asked me to remove it." Smith said he received an inquiry from Herrmann on behalf of SPEC Concerts Wednesday. He added that he contacted the booking agency -- which gave Pollstar the Run DMC concert date -- because only the agency can authorize the date's removal. "Our position is all dates are tentative until the band actually starts playing," Smith said when asked if the date was confirmed. "When a booking agent sends us a tour itinerary, we assume that is confirmed because those are the official representatives of the booking process for that act. When the man making the deals gives me the date, I believe him."

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