LIVE or let die

BUSH'S GAVIN ROSSDALE FEARS THE CLOSURE OF VENUES COULD SPELL DISASTER FOR ALTERNATIVE MUSIC. CASEY COOPER-FISKE FINDS OUT MORE

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WITH his band Bush, Gavin Rossdale managed to achieve what some of Britain’s biggest bands of the 1990s failed to do: break America, where they have had more success than in their home country of the UK.

But the London-born father-of-three learned his trade performing in the pubs and small venues of his home city, something he says will not be an option for his children - who want to form their own bands ~ due to rapid venue closures.

The 59-year-old singer, best known for Bush's 1996 US number one album Razorblade Suitcase and UK top 10 single Swallowed, says: “It’s tragic. It makes me sad to wonder why they've [bar owners] moved on to karaoke or something.

“I have kids who want to do music and all the doors keep closing, it’s a terrible state of affairs.”

Last year, the Music Venue Trust's annual report warned that in 2023 some 22.4% of venues closed due to “operational issues” while 42.1% of members reported “financial issues”.