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Green Bands Can't Stop Fans From Polluting

Rock armies have to reach the show somehow

By Michael Foreman, Newser User

Posted May 30, 2008 4:21 PM CDT

(Newser) – It's not easy being a green band. While touring musicians try to cut their carbon footprints with biodiesel buses and recycling, fans wreak environmental havoc, reports Rolling Stone. The venues arena rockers need sit miles outside of city centers, forcing concertgoers to gas up and hit the road. And the fuel in all those waving lighters can't help, either.

A study of Radiohead's 2003 North American tour revealed that rabid fans en route spewed some 10,000 tons of CO2 into the air. "The big eye-opener for me was Bonnaroo, which had about a seven-hour traffic tailback to get in," said Thom Yorke. "That's fucking nuts." Some venues have responded with carpool lanes and parking lots for large events.

Fans at a Radiohead concert in Barcelona, 1997. Motoring fans spewed 10,000 tons of CO2 into the air during the band's 2003 North American tour. (Magnum Photos)

Thom Yorke, lead singer of Radiohead, considered scrapping this year's North American tour because of the environmental impact. (AP Photo/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron, file)

Willie Nelson takes a biodiesel-powered bus on tour, but critics doubt the effectiveness of the alternative fuel. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, file)

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Green Bands Can't Stop Fans From Polluting

Rock armies have to reach the show somehow

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China's CO2 Output Passes US

Building two power stations a week

China Admits: It's Smog, not Fog

State-run media finally talking about health threats of pollution

How to Create 1.5M Jobs: Bump Up Recycling

Increasing recycling could boost economy and reduce pollution

Environmental Strategy of GOP: 'Too Dirty to Fail'

They protect polluters on the false pretext of saving jobs: EPA chief

London Ditches Carbon Offsets for 2012 Olympics

Plan was part of bid to host games

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Rock armies have to reach the show somehow

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

environment • pollution • rock bands • Radiohead • carbon emissions • concert tour

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

China's CO2 Output Passes US

Building two power stations a week

China Admits: It's Smog, not Fog

State-run media finally talking about health threats of pollution

How to Create 1.5M Jobs: Bump Up Recycling

Increasing recycling could boost economy and reduce pollution

Environmental Strategy of GOP: 'Too Dirty to Fail'

They protect polluters on the false pretext of saving jobs: EPA chief

London Ditches Carbon Offsets for 2012 Olympics

Plan was part of bid to host games

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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What is Newser?