Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied
A FESTIVAL feud has turned ugly after revelations a promoter planning to present Van Halen and Billy Joel in Sydney has been to jail for drug offences.
Promoter Richard Cartwright will present the veteran US rockers and Piano Man at the Stone Music Festival on April 20 and 21.
But rival promoters have been talking loudly behind the scenes about Cartwright's rap sheet.
In 1991, Cartwright, a then record company executive, pleaded guilty to cocaine charges.
He was sentenced to nine years jail and found a career as an author behind bars.
Cartwright said in a 2000 interview: "I was standing in the library at Long Bay when this inmate said: 'Hey mate, you're one of those guys who speaks really good. You'll probably write a book when you get out.'''
Indeed, Cartwright penned a fictional work, Platinum.
But yesterday, Cartwright was a closed book.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for the event said: “Richard Cartwright’s role in the event is solely as the management of the brand rights between Stone the movie and Stone the music festival. Richard has no direct involvement in the operations and management of the music event or with the artists.”
She said Mark Spillane, of Ardline Media, and Stephen Duval, of SEQ, were responsible for securing the international and local talent.
The statement added: “We will be making no further comment on this matter at this time.”
But a Stone Music Festival statement, sent earlier this week, had a different tone.
It said: "Although having over 30 years experience in the music industry at the highest level, an event of this magnitude is the largest that Richard Cartwright has been personally involved with.''
It added Cartwright is a "component of a broader group ... involved in sport, music and entertainment transactions globally ... staging the festival.''
Promoter Andrew McManus, who is touring Kiss, Motley Crue and Guns N Roses in March, criticised the Stone Music Festival on social media.
He posted on Facebook: "Be very careful punters".
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