A FAT WHAT??

Bryan Adams Concert Canceled in Perth Over Sewer ‘Fatberg’ Crisis

Officials worried sewage could back up at the venue’s toilets.

Thousands of fans waited hours outside a sold-out Bryan Adams arena show in Perth, Australia, only to be sent home over a sewage blockage called a “fatberg.” The calcified build-up of fat, grease, and rags was causing wastewater overflows in the area, and officials worried it would also back up the toilets at RAC Arena, where Adams was scheduled to perform at about 9 p.m. local time on Sunday. At 7:15 p.m., concertgoers received a message saying the performance had been delayed, and then 20 minutes later a follow-up message said the venue’s doors had to remain closed. At 9 p.m., event organizers confirmed the concert was delayed because of an external water supply issue. The fatberg was finally cleared at 11:30 p.m., but on Monday the concert promotion company behind the show, Frontier Touring, said the show could not be rescheduled and announced that attendees would receive an automatic full refund. It called the cancellation “bitterly disappointing.” Fans, however, blasted organizers for only communicating the cancellation after the fact, when they’d already lined up outside the 16,000-person capacity arena. Adams, 65, issued a statement saying he was “really sorry we couldn’t make this happen.” The Canadian rocker was “so looking forward to seeing you all,” he said.