Dover is not only the memory of a difficult moment in the Second World War!
It can also turn into a trap for British artists touring outside the UK.
The reason ?
The red tape following Brexit denounced by Elton John, very angry since 2021 against the Conservative government which has campaigned to leave Europe.
Among the points of contention, the problems of obtaining visas and the increase in the cost of transporting the instruments.
A surplus accentuated by the fact that it is not possible to use British trucks for the musicians in Europe.
And Elton John is not worried about artists who fill stadiums like him, but about all the smaller bands with fewer audiences.
They did nothing
For the Rocketman, the fault lies entirely with Boris Johnson and his government, which did nothing to anticipate.
“The government had a golden opportunity to fix the problem while COVID prevented any touring.
If some progress has been made, they have let this opportunity down, ”said Elton John in a press release relayed by Sky News.
While the Tories are currently choosing a new leader to replace the former mayor of London, the response of 10 Downing Street to these complaints has been pithy and partial.
They said they were "supporting brilliant musicians in the UK to adapt to the new arrangements and see their tours made easier".
And to add that “24 EU member states, including the biggest touring markets such as Spain, France, Germany and the Netherlands, have confirmed that they offer visa-free and permit-free itineraries. of work to British artists and other creative professionals”.
Nevertheless, an artist without an instrument is, to say the least, deprived.
The proof with the misadventure that happened to the group White Lies last April, forced to cancel their Parisian concert at the last minute, all their equipment having remained blocked in Dover.
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