What do you do to celebrate the opening of a hard rock quarry? Hire rock star Jimmy Barnes to hold a private hard rock concert, of course.
At least that is what Auckland firm Stevensons has decided is a fitting opening for its latest quarry.
The Aussie rocker will be in New Zealand for a four-concert tour starting this Saturday at the Queenstown Winter Festival, with shows in Nelson, Wellington and Napier over the following week.
But to the dismay of Barnes’ fans, his only Auckland concert will be the strictly private quarry gig.
He will belt out his tunes for 2000 of Stevenson’s staff and clients under tight security.
Managing director John Rae said the family-owned company had invested a lot of money on its new plant at the quarry and wanted to do something special for staff and clients. “We thought, we have a rock quarry, we should have a rock concert to celebrate it.
“We thought we needed a hard rocker and he [Barnes] was the most logical.”
Mr Rae was keeping quiet on the cost of the concert, which he said had taken months to organise.
“It’s a reasonably expensive undertaking. We have to pay for security and transport management and health and safety … The list goes on and on.
“Sound, power, lighting – it’s a bit of an undertaking, but Stevenson’s is a family company and it believes in doing the right thing for its staff and clients.”
The concert is free for the 650 Stevenson’s employees and for the company’s clients.
From NZ Herald reporter AINSLEY THOMSON 21.06.2004