Demand to lift ban on live bands

The Karnataka Live Band Restaurant Association has appealed to the Bangalore police to allow live bands to resume business by relaxing the Licensing and Controlling of Places of Public Entertainment (Bangalore City) Order "" 2005, a directive that brought nightlife in the city to a halt.

According to industry information, there were 60 livebands in the city before the clampdown, around two years ago. The order hit the livelihoods of nearly 50,000 families including musicians and artistes who were rendered jobless.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Association president Sanjay Kochar urged the police to legalise the entertainment business of liveband bars and discotheques.

"The police order is stringent on liveband business, and it is difficult for us to survive. Though the high court recently directed the police to reconsider applications for obtaining licences to run live bands, nothing has emerged so far,'' he added.

However, the police refused to budge as they feel that live bands, if allowed to re-start, will eventually turn into dance-bars and thereby contribute to rise in criminal activities in the city.