Sheppard On Why They Turned Down Comm Games Gig: 'They Were Ripping Off Artists'

Brisbane outfit Sheppard have taken aim at organisers of last week's Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, saying they turned down an offer to perform because they felt the gig was "ripping off artists". 

As news.com.au reports, the ceremony, which received mixed reviews amidst speculation that Christine Anu and Ricki-Lee Coulter's performances were lip-synced, cost $17 million to put together. 

Sheppard's George Sheppard has claimed the group were offered an "honorarium fee" to perform and that it would give the band "exposure".

"We all felt like they were ripping off artists, so we declined," Sheppard said.

"It would have been great to play, but at the end of the day this is our job and we would have lost money. I’m sure the organisers were paid properly, so why not the featured artists?"

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Sheppard were reportedly offered $6,000 to play at the ceremony, which included rehearsals, prerecording the song and the performance itself, not including crew fees. 

Band manager Andrew Stone said, "We hoped it could’ve at least covered the cost of the band doing the three parts [involved]".

"We were under the impression when we were offered the show that that’s what they were offering all performers."

Australian icon John Farnharm also reportedly turned down an offer to perform.

When contacted by The Music, a GOLDOC spokesperson responded, "It’s not appropriate for us to discuss commercial in-confidence arrangements with any of our artists involved in Commonwealth Games ceremonies".

Sheppard's comments come after they reportedly slammed the Games' musical director Katie Noonan, saying the singer was "nasty" and "mean".

Noonan's manager, Jesse Flavell, yesterday issued a response on her Facebook saying there is a "misunderstanding" about her role. 

"To suggest that the MD has unilateral control and the final say on any creative decisions for events of this magnitude is incorrect," the statement reads.

"To suggest that the MD is involved in setting the commercial terms offered to any performers is incorrect. To suggest that the MD controls the camera work and editing choices of the broadcast partner is incorrect.

"Katie was contracted to do a job as an MD and a performer, which she nailed."

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