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Promoters sue rockers Aerosmith over cancelled western Canada concerts

CALGARY — Aerosmith is being sued over its decision to snub western Canada on its 2010 summer tour of North America.

CALGARY — Aerosmith is being sued over its decision to snub western Canada on its 2010 summer tour of North America.

Keystone Entertainment Group Ltd. is seeking damages over the band’s cancelled tour of the prairies and Vancouver last August, and its refusal to schedule new dates.

Aerosmith released its summer schedule June 1, which includes a 19-date North American tour with only one Canadian stop — Toronto on Aug. 17.

They were set to play five shows across western Canada last August.

But the Boston rockers cancelled after lead singer Steve Tyler fell from the stage during a performance in Sturgis, S.D., on Aug. 5, and sustained a shoulder injury.

Keystone-promoted shows in Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg were also shelved.

Keystone contends in its suit the cancellations constitute a breach of Aerosmith’s contract with them.

“Following the breach, Keystone approached Aerosmith in September 2009, for purposes of negotiating alternate dates for the tour,” the court document says.

It says Keystone has made repeated attempts to negotiate replacement dates without success.

“To date, Keystone had received no response or acceptance from Aerosmith,” the claim states.

The lawsuit says Keystone is out expenses incurred for financing charges, debt servicing, short-term capital costs, promotional, marketing and media expenditures, venue and security deposits and equipment rental deposits.

The company is claiming damages for lost ticket sales and lost profit.

The statement of claim was filed the same day Aerosmith’s 2010 tour was announced.

The lawsuit names the band, its corporate umbrella, Vindaloo Music Inc., their managers and the five members among the defendants, including lead singer Steve Tyler under his birth name, Steven Victor Tallarico.

Aerosmith’s “Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock” tour kicks off Thursday with an 11-city European leg starting in Solvesborg, Sweden.

Statements of defence have not yet been filed.