Dodgy Promoter Who Booked A Fake Mark Ronson Gig To Face Trial For Fraud

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Published

January 25, 2016

Let this be a lesson to you, friends. Trying to put on a show featuring an artist that has no idea they’ve been booked is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea.

And definitely don’t do it if that artist just so happens to be one of the most popular in the world.

You may recall back in July that a suspicious-looking show in Perth claimed to have Mark Ronson on board to lay down a DJ set. The promo was release, and tickets were being sold hand-over-fist for the “Winter Funk Fest.” The only problem with it was that Mark Ronson did not know about it. And, in fact, on the night in question Ronson was on the other side of the country performing at Splendour in the Grass.

Ronson just about had an apopleptic meltdown on Twitter after learning of the fake gig via confused fans.

Perth, 1 of my fave cities in the world! A promoter falsely advertised I’m djing a club 2nite. COMPLETE BS. Truly sorry if any 1 bought tix

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) July 25, 2015

FOR THIS FAKE GIG IN PERTH LAST NIGHT, U SHOULD ALL DEFINITELY GET UR MONEY BACK. HATE 2 C MY PEOPLE GET RIPPED OFF x pic.twitter.com/NLgkEnk8nM

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) July 25, 2015

HEY @CIROC! SHADY PROMOTERS USING YOUR BRAND TO ADVERTISE FAKE GIGS. don’t make me tell @iamdiddy pic.twitter.com/I4IBH02Hjn

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) July 25, 2015

ANYONE IN PERTH WHO SHOWS A TICKET FROM THAT FAKE GIG TONIGHT CAN COME TO MY NEXT SHOW IN PERTH FOR FREE x

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) July 25, 2015

BUT DEFINITELY STILL GET YOUR $$$ BACK FROM THOSE PROMOTERS. NOT COOL.

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) July 25, 2015

FAKE GIG SH** MAKES ME ANGRY. THIS BEAUTIFUL WIZ KID/SKEPTA/DRAKE JAM’S THE 1 THING THAT CAN CALM ME DOWN RIGHT NOW https://t.co/kNMXxFd68b

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) July 25, 2015

DONT KNO WHO’S @ FAULT, PROMOTER/CLUB/BOTH? BUT THERE’LL B ABSOLUTELY NO RESCHEDULE 4 THAT VENUE/PROMOTER. NOT COOL http://t.co/ewwwoUyl2o

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) July 26, 2015

Fortunately for Ronson he had a feisty ally on his side of the argument named “the actual fucking law,” who considers this kind of thing to be a fairly blatant example of fraud.

Peter Ling Zu Lessnau, the 34-year-old “promoter” who booked the show, was charged with three counts of fraud back in September.

At a hearing today in Perth, Lessnau entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, meaning he will now stand trial.

Police have alleged that Lessnau sold the event to the Matisse Beach Club in Scarborough with the promise that Ronson would be in attendance, despite Lessnau having absolutely no association with Ronson or the DJ’s management team whatsoever.

At the time, the Club stated that Ronson had encountered “unforeseen logistical issues” in getting from NSW to WA for the fake show. The club later retracted that statement and issued a full apology to punters after the extent of the deceit became clear.

Lessnau’s bail was extended until he faces trial, which is scheduled for May.

Photo: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images.

Source: ABC News.