BRITAIN: Belfast singer Van Morrison is being sued for more than £150,000 (€235,000) in damages after cancelling a gig in a country pub, solicitors said yesterday. The singer had been due to perform to 1,500 fans in the beer garden of the Crown Hotel in Everleigh, Wiltshire this summer after being signed up by landlord Mr Gary Marlow.
He and wife Sarah Jane took two years to persuade Morrison to do the one-off gig and agreed to put up £37,000 of their own money to pay for the event.
But Morrison pulled out, claiming breach of contract and lawyers for The Crown Hotel announced they were suing him for damages in the High Court.
A statement on behalf of the singer said: "Van Morrison will unfortunately not now be performing at The Crown Hotel, Everleigh, Wiltshire on August 3rd, 2002 due to an unacceptable and fundamental breach of contract." Solicitor Mr Timothy Hardacre, who is acting for the Crown Hotel, said the singer cancelled about three weeks ago.
He said: "High Court proceedings have been issued against Mr Van Morrison and Exile Productions Ltd seeking substantial damages arising out of the cancellation of the performance.
"Van Morrison was paid £23,000 in advance and he is being sued for in excess of £150,000.
"One thousand, five hundred people had booked tickets for the event to see Van Morrison.
"Some are from places as far away as Australia and they won't be happy when they turn up and find he is not performing.
"A lot of people bought tickets on the internet and we can't warn them that the concert has been cancelled." He said the case would be heard in the High Court by the end of the year.
- (PA)