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Kraftwerk gig breaks Tate website | Kraftwerk gig breaks Tate website |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Kraftwerk fans brought the Tate Modern's website to a standstill after a rush to buy tickets for a retrospective of their albums in February. | |
The German electro pioneers are due to play eight shows in the Turbine Hall, playing an album in full each night. | The German electro pioneers are due to play eight shows in the Turbine Hall, playing an album in full each night. |
But Tate's website crashed under the demand when booking began on Wednesday. | |
Lines were jammed after the gallery advised fans to try booking via its telephone ticketing line. | |
By 08:50 GMT, the ticket page on Tate's website said: "Kraftwerk at Tate Modern has just gone on sale and we are experiencing a phenomenal demand for tickets which is affecting our web server. | By 08:50 GMT, the ticket page on Tate's website said: "Kraftwerk at Tate Modern has just gone on sale and we are experiencing a phenomenal demand for tickets which is affecting our web server. |
It added: "We have extra staff on hand today but demand is extremely high." | It added: "We have extra staff on hand today but demand is extremely high." |
At 17:15 GMT a Tate spokesperson told the BBC that "all tickets to Kraftwerk - The Catalogue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 have now sold out". | |
"We appreciate that many people experienced difficulties in purchasing tickets today," the press officer continued. | |
"This was due to the unprecedented levels of demand for such a unique series of performances." | |
'Server problems' | |
Despite fans complaining about a five-hour struggle to purchase tickets, Tate director Nicholas Serota defended the sales process. | Despite fans complaining about a five-hour struggle to purchase tickets, Tate director Nicholas Serota defended the sales process. |
"This isn't the first website to crash through over-demand," he told the BBC. "The Olympic site did something similar." | "This isn't the first website to crash through over-demand," he told the BBC. "The Olympic site did something similar." |
He added: "There are a limited number of tickets, there is a huge demand and I hope we can satisfy a good many of them." | He added: "There are a limited number of tickets, there is a huge demand and I hope we can satisfy a good many of them." |
The gallery also posted messages apologising for the problem on its Twitter page. But furious fans responded their own messages. | The gallery also posted messages apologising for the problem on its Twitter page. But furious fans responded their own messages. |
Pete Gleadall tweeted: "No it's not working neither is the website. If you can't cope with demand get some professional ticket sellers who can." | Pete Gleadall tweeted: "No it's not working neither is the website. If you can't cope with demand get some professional ticket sellers who can." |
While Steve Philips wrote: "'Please try to buy tickets online again later' - when? What's stopping you selling them online now?" | While Steve Philips wrote: "'Please try to buy tickets online again later' - when? What's stopping you selling them online now?" |
Lynne Dellar posted on Tate's Facebook page: "I've been on the phone for 2 hours now. The redial button is almost worn out. It would be nice to know if I'm wasting my time so I can go and get some breakfast," | Lynne Dellar posted on Tate's Facebook page: "I've been on the phone for 2 hours now. The redial button is almost worn out. It would be nice to know if I'm wasting my time so I can go and get some breakfast," |
Some fans have also said they had gone to Tate Modern in person, to try and buy tickets. | Some fans have also said they had gone to Tate Modern in person, to try and buy tickets. |
Earlier on Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Tate said: "Tate's IT and ticketing services teams worked closely together and had procedures in place to ensure that its IT systems and website had the capacity to manage a high volume of demand. | |
"Unfortunately we are experiencing problems with our server which is why we are directing people to the phone lines." | "Unfortunately we are experiencing problems with our server which is why we are directing people to the phone lines." |
She added: "Tate sells millions of tickets a year through its web systems and for this event there are a minimum of 900 tickets on sale for each night." | She added: "Tate sells millions of tickets a year through its web systems and for this event there are a minimum of 900 tickets on sale for each night." |
Kraftwerk were at the forefront of synthesiser pop and had a huge influence on hip-hop and dance music in the late 1970s and early 1980s. | Kraftwerk were at the forefront of synthesiser pop and had a huge influence on hip-hop and dance music in the late 1970s and early 1980s. |
Kraftwerk: The Catalogue is described as a "chronological exploration of the group's sonic and visual experiments" and promises "spectacular 3D effects". | Kraftwerk: The Catalogue is described as a "chronological exploration of the group's sonic and visual experiments" and promises "spectacular 3D effects". |
It was first performed at New York's Museum of Modern Art earlier this year. | It was first performed at New York's Museum of Modern Art earlier this year. |
Beginning with their fourth album, 1974's Autobahn, the quartet will also play Radio-Activity (1975), Trans Europe Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978), Computer World (1981), Techno Pop (1986), The Mix (1991) and Tour de France (2003), along with additional compositions from their back catalogue. | Beginning with their fourth album, 1974's Autobahn, the quartet will also play Radio-Activity (1975), Trans Europe Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978), Computer World (1981), Techno Pop (1986), The Mix (1991) and Tour de France (2003), along with additional compositions from their back catalogue. |
The shows will be the group's first in London since 2004. | The shows will be the group's first in London since 2004. |