WINNIPEG - More and more Randy Bachman supporters are speaking up, but Juno organizers just aren't interested in hearing it -- or talking about it.
In less than 36 hours, nearly 500 music fans from Manitoba, the rest of Canada, the United States and other countries e-mailed The Winnipeg Sun, to register outrage over the fact The Guess Who guitarist and Canadian music legend hasn't yet been publicly invited to perform at the Juno Awards show in Winnipeg.
"It should not take his fans to determine him being a performer -- he should have been at the top of your list," one ticked-off correspondent wrote, voicing the sentiments of many.
"Bachman and (Burton) Cummings are to Winnipeg what Elvis is to Memphis," wrote another supporter.
But those sentiments seem to be falling on deaf ears over at the offices of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, home of the Juno organizers.
CARAS president Melanie Berry wouldn't even speak to The Sun about this issue yesterday. During an interview a day earlier, Berry said the final lineup was still being worked out so Bachman could still be on the show.
"Basically we'll announce when we're ready and when it fits with the entire process. It's a strategy."
Yesterday, her spokeswoman continued to repeat the message CARAS has stuck to for days -- that the show is still being planned, and nothing is finalized.
"The show's not put together, so with that in mind there's a meeting next week with the TV talent committee, it's not something that's a fait accompli at all."
But once again, she refused to answer what has become the burning question at the heart of this issue: Is Bachman invited to perform or isn't he?
The furor started after the guitarist told The Sun he might not attend the awards because he hadn't been invited to play -- even though he was instrumental in helping Winnipeg land the Junos and in getting Neil Young to agree to attend.
Bachman backtracked when the story broke nationally, issuing a statement saying he had been under the mistaken impression the performers had all been chosen.
"I've worked really hard at helping get the Junos to happen in Winnipeg and I hope to continue working with the organizers to make this a great event," he said.
The controversy has got people wondering whether Young would show if his friend wasn't playing. So far, Young is still in, according to his management company in L.A.
Typically, Young wouldn't comment on the Bachman incident. CARAS has contacted his management office to stress to him that details of the Juno broadcast haven't been finalized.
Performers and presenters are selected by a 20-member committee made up of CARAS members, music industry officials and broadcaster CTV.
They are scheduled to announce the final lineup on March 15.
In the meantime, we'll find out today if the controversy has any impact on ticket sales.
Yesterday, 500 Early Bird Juno ValuPaks sold out in two minutes. The $119.95 packages included seats at the Juno Cup hockey game, the Songwriters' Circle and the awards broadcast.
Tickets for the Juno Awards broadcast at MTS Centre go on sale today at 10 a.m. for $40 to $116 at Ticketmaster. Winnipeg is now the main Ticketmaster call centre: I goofed yesterday when I said you could also call offices in Quebec, Toronto or Vancouver -- that option no longer exists.
The fastest way to get tickets is online at www.ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 780-3333. People who want to pay cash at the box office should call ahead to make sure the location will be open.
Some 7,500 tickets will be available today, with more going on sale the day before the awards show, after the stage is set up. A total of 10,000 tickets will be sold, with the rest going to CARAS members, industry reps, nominees, presenters and sponsors.
