New Year's Eve Gigs I Wish I Had (Or Were At Least Invited To)

Not all bands will be partying tonight.  Some will be working--and well-paid for doing so.

Coldplay in Abu Dhabi:  They're playing an area I visited in 2010.  Destination Village is a temporary construction along the breakwater of the Corniche, a grand avenue leading along the Red Sea.  In addition to the New Year's Eve party, this gig will serve as the opening for the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race, a yacht race around the world.  

I'm pretty sure that the band is staying at the Emirate Palace Hotel, which stretches two kilometres from end-to-end.  And instead of an ATM that dispenses cash, they have one that dispenses gold bars.  I did NOT make that up.

And did I mention that Coldplay is being paid about $1.5 million for the show?

Red Hot Chili Peppers in St. Bart's:  They're playing a private party thrown by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich at his massive estate above Gouveneur beach.  No word on how much they're being paid, but it'll be a lot.  

Here are some pictures of Anthony Kiedis and his son playing on the beach in down from the estate.  I sat in front of that exact same sign earlier in December. I'll be everyone was in front of some 102-inch TV watching the Chelsea-Aston Villa game today.  (Roman's Chelsea lost, 3-1.  That can't be sitting well.)

Jay-Z and Kanye West in Dubai:  Okay, so this isn't a New Year's Eve gig.  It was a private Sweet 16 party two weeks before Christmas.  They were paid SIX MILLION DOLLARS for the show.  By the way, Daddy is owner of Manchester City FC, so he can afford it.