DJ apologises for agent who threatened to “bite” promoter in rider row

A DJ has apologised for the behaviour of his agent after he threatened to “bite” a club promoter who failed to deliver on his diva demands.

The agent for French DJ Jeremy Underground claimed a four star hotel was not good enough and insisted on five star accommodation in Edinburgh.

Lionel Marciano demanded the five star Sheraton Grand – where rooms start at £375 and suites cost at least £594 – because it offered a sauna and gym for his “stressed-out dude” client.

But Marciano’s rider brinkmanship backfired when promoters Abstrakt cancelled Underground’s appearance, railing against the “bullying” and “ridiculous demands” of some DJs/Artists.

At this point, Marciano appeared to lose the plot and sent a series of text and email messages in which he threatened: “I am going to bite you. I swear I am going to put all my energy on you.”

Another read: “I am going to bite you and believe me you are going to lose some blood.”

Yet another threatened: “You are going to f*** with us? I am on your case. Make the payment Asap. I’m going to f*** you man.”

Underground had been due to perform at the launch party for Abstrakt hosted at La Belle Angele in Edinburgh this Friday.

Writing about the hissy fit on their Facebook page, Abstrakt said: “It is with regret that we have decided to cancel the performance of Jeremy Underground.

“We have done so as a point of principle, against certain DJs/artists bullying small promoters and holding them to ransom over ridiculous demands.

“After booking the artist a night in an expensive 4 star hotel, we were told that he did not approve and (despite the contract simply asking for 1 room in a ‘4 star or 5 star standard hotel’) that the artist required a “5 star hotel with a sauna and gym”.

“Reluctantly, we agreed to swallow the money already lost on booking the first hotel and found a room at the Apex Grassmarket (with a sauna and gym in order to appease the agent/artist). At the agent/artist’s further request, we agreed to book this hotel for 3 nights rather than 1 – at a total cost of £788.

“Tonight, we received an email stating that the artist did not approve of this hotel and would ONLY stay in the Sheraton Grand. The agent did say that the artist would reimburse us for 2 of the 3 nights at this hotel, but given that the Sheraton Grand’s cheapest room was £614 per night, we stood to lose £614 + £788 + £149 = £1,551 on the artist’s hotel room alone.

“After pleading with the agent that we already stood to lose thousands of pounds on this event (aside from the £1,551 on wasted hotel rooms) and were promoting it for a love of music, the scene and admiration for the artist, we were again told that the artist really needed to stay in the Sheraton Grand as ‘this will in turn provide the best possible performance’.

Underground said in a statement: “My agent got a bit angry. And yes things got out of control. I know he already apologised to the promoters. I apologise on behalf of him as well. I understand the anger and I’m the first one in this whole situation to feel f*****.”

But Underground refused to apologise for the request itself.

He wrote: “Nope I won’t apologise for requesting the Sheraton, considering that afterwards after I realised it was too expensive I just wanted to pay for it myself.

“Btw not so long ago I was backpacking in Kyrgyzstan, Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh, place that your embassies would recommend you not to go to. So did I become a diva? Nope I don’t think so. I just want my comfort. I’m a stressed-out dude, I want my sauna the day after the gig.”

He added: “In seven years I’ve had a few issues with my rider. I once cancelled a gig in the US because they didn’t have the mixer I requested. I regret that one now for some reasons but that’s an old story.

“Overall in seven years I don’t think many promoters can complain about me. Yes my rider is tight. Yes I won’t accept a bad hotel. A good hotel doesn’t need to be expensive btw.

“Yes I can be moody sometimes But if the party’s right, I’m always trying to give the best of myself.”

Reacting on Abstrakt’s Facebook page, music fans were not impressed with Underground and his agent.

Heather Piper said: “Absolutely disgusting behaviour. Heard about this lot before, they are making a name for themselves as bullies.

“Haha, what a walloper, who even sends messages like that.”

Daniel Howell wrote: “Hahahaha. Jeremy sounds like right t***. I hope nobody books him in future. Good for you guys, well done for not backing down.”

James Croucher said: “I thought my dj rider of 20 Russian hookers, 27 bottles of champagne, 12 grams of the finest Peruvian flake that had to be refined by pygmies and a bottle of Fanta to be excessive.”

Jamie Cronk said: “I’m sick of these little prissy b*****s that freak out because they don’t have 18 bottles of Voss water and three pairs of unused panties size small waiting at the airport. #youarenotgodyouareadj Suck it up, buttercup.”