No-show Prince 'gave no reason' for cancelling concert

Rock superstar Prince will not be appearing as a witness in a High Court case arising out of a dispute over the cancellation of a concert the musician was due to perform in Dublin in June 2008.

Today, in a case before Mr Justice Peter Kelly in the Commercial Court, music promoter Denis Desmond said that he has never been given a reason why Prince's proposed concert at Croke Park gig in summer 2008 was cancelled.

Mr Desmond's MCD Productions has brought the action seeking some €1.7m damages over the cancellation of the concert set for June 16, 2008.

The action is against Price Rogers Nelson and William Morris Endeavour Entertainment LLC, Beverly Hills, California which was joined by MCD to the case after the superstar alleged it had no authority to bind him to the Croke Park concert, but they have rejected those claims.

The artist, and his personal assistant Ms Ruth Arzate were named as one of the defence witnesses. However, today Mr Paul Sreenan for Prince said that neither party would be giving evidence to the court, but had supplied witness statements.

William Morris, which is one of the worlds' largest entertainment managements companies has said its servants or agents engaged in negotiations with MCD regarding a concert to be performed by Prince in Dublin and acted at all times as agents for Prince under an agreement of August 2005 with express authority to negotiate on Prince's behalf for the purpose of securing bookings.

On February 26, 2008, William Morris claims it entered into a contract with MCD for Prince to perform at Croke Park on June 16, 2008, for "an artists' guaranteed fee of US$3m". MCD transferred US$1.5m, half of the agreed fee, to an account of William Morris, it is pleaded.

William Morris also admits, about June 6, 2008, MCD was notified by it that Prince wished to cancel the concert. William Morris alleges Prince refused to travel to Dublin and gave "no reason of substance" to it for the cancellation.

William Morris says the decision to cancel was outside its control and it returned US$1.5m to MCD. They deny negligence, breach or duty or misrepresentation.

The case, which is expected to last for four days continues.