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British rock band Marillion is asking fans to underwrite £150,000 of costs associated with its upcoming UK tour because it can’t find insurance on the open market.
The 10-date tour, scheduled to start in Hull on 14 November, would be cancelled if any of the band’s five members had to isolate due to Covid. But the group would still have to honour payments for lighting, transportation and crew.
All major tours and entertainment productions are normally insured against cancellation because of illness or death, but the high level of risk associated with the pandemic has led insurance companies either to refuse to offer cover or to charge premiums that bands and promoters cannot afford.
Many UK festivals and other events did not go ahead over the summer because of the lack of Covid-related cancellation insurance. This was despite the government announcing the Live Events Reinsurance Scheme in August 2021, which is designed “to provide cover against the cancellation, postponement, relocation or abandonment of events due to the imposition of COVID-19 restrictions”.
The government said at the time the initiative was launched: “The scheme will support live events across the country — such as music festivals, conferences and business events — that are at risk of being halted or delayed due to an inability to obtain COVID-19 cancellation insurance. Cover will be available to purchase alongside standard commercial events insurance for an additional premium.”
Crucially, however, the rules of the scheme include a key proviso: “The scheme… does not cover self-isolation of staff or performers.” It is this caveat that has left organisers without essential insurance cover and obliged them to cancel or postpone their plans.
Chart success
Marillion enjoyed mainstream success in the 1980s with singles including Kayleigh and Lavender. Their latest album, An Hour Before It’s Dark, is due for release early in 2022.
Lucy Jordache, the band’s manager, said: “We’ve not played live since the pandemic began, and to lose such a huge amount of money would be absolutely devastating. We tried to get the tour insured, but it has proved impossible. No companies want to take the risk.”
The band’s fans are being asked to pledge money that will be held on secure deposit and returned to them if the tour goes ahead as planned. “But if we do have to cancel because of Covid, then their money will be used to pay unavoidable expenses,” said Ms Jordache.
Regardless of whether their money is eventually returned or not, every person who donates will receive merchandise or opportunities to interact with the band.
In 1997, Marillion used fan support to underwrite a US tour, which Ms Jordache says was the first major instance of online crowdfunding. The band has since used the same method to fund the recording of a number of albums.
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