Fans Demand Refunds Following 'Disaster' ZZ Top Guitarist's Aussie Gigs

10 January 2018 | 12:26 pm | Staff Writer

The venue was forced to respond to the comments.

Pic via The Brewer Brothers Facebook

Pic via The Brewer Brothers Facebook

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Fans have slammed ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons' shows in New South Wales this past weekend as a "rip-off" and a "disaster" and are demanding refunds from the promoter. 

As Fairfax reports, punters who headed along to the concerts at Anita's Theatre in Thirroul were left fuming, following claims the 68-year-old performed just three songs on the Friday night and four on the Saturday night (it's reported that Gibbons played La Grange twice that evening).

The tour has been sold as an Up Close & Personal run, which also featured special guest Jimmy Shine, promoted to include Gibbons sharing intimate life stories and perform some of the iconic US band's biggest tracks. 

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Fans took to Facebook to express their disappointment, with one punter writing, "… This was no gig. It was a fundraiser, and thus should have been advertised as one".

Others labelled it a "bizarre and shambolic experience", "shocking" and "a total waste of time and money".

Some were also upset at meet-and-greets with the musician, with one fan claiming "it looked like he didn't want to be there", while many more questioned where money made from an auction selling off memorabilia during the show went towards. 

See more of the comments below.

Anita's Theatre issued a statement yesterday following the overwhelming negative response. 

"… We will be passing the comments onto the promoter and the artist, in the hope for a more entertaining performance for the people attending the upcoming shows in Newcastle and Brisbane," the post reads.

"We would like to inform our patrons that Anita’s plays no part in the artistic presentation that takes place on the stage.

"The venue’s part is to provide a world class space for the promoter and artist to present their show. What takes place on the stage is out of our control. When booking acts, we are sold on an idea or a concept and can not control if that idea is not fulfilled to its greatest potential."

See the full statement below.

The Music has contacted promoters for comment.

The tour is scheduled to wrap up in Brisbane on Friday night.