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Money dispute silenced Blackfoot

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published April 6, 2005

PINELLAS PARK - Rib lovers who attended last weekend's barbecue fest saw one contest but were generally unaware of the behind-the-scenes controversy that had one band staying at home.

What's clear is that Blackfoot did not appear Sunday as advertised. An announcement that night blamed the band's absence on a member's illness.

But the real reason was money.

Steve Green, owner of Artists International Management, who handles the band, said the festival's organizer wanted to cut the amount the band would be paid.

"They're not sick. ... None of that's the case. We haven't been paid," Green said Friday, the first day of the three-day event. "We want to just get paid and do our shows."

Frank Giglio, organizer of BBQfest 2005, says the money was paid. The problem, he said, was that Green wanted to up the price at the last minute.

"The weekend went fantastic, other than ... Steve Green's antics," Giglio said Tuesday. "This is something he does on a regular basis."

Problems began early last week, Pinellas Park spokesman Tim Caddell said. Green began calling the city, which co-sponsored the event. Co-sponsorship meant the festival was allowed to use the England Brothers Bandshell and the park surrounding it while the festival put the city logo on all its advertising, he said.

Green "called us and told us we had to cancel the event," Caddell said. "He also told Budweiser (and) Pepsi and told them not to bring their product out. He was really trying to torpedo the whole event."

Caddell said he spoke with Giglio, who said Green was simply trying to get more money. The two are former friends.

At the same time, Green was reminding people of what Caddell called Giglio's "colored past."

Giglio, 45, has an arrest record that includes accusations of bouncing checks, grand theft, forgery and credit card fraud. He served 15 months for cashing checks totaling $15,865 that were stolen from his employer and then forged.

In fact, Green said Friday, when the two first met, Giglio was still reporting to a probation officer.

Giglio said Tuesday he had never been in trouble for the special events he stages. He did concede that some winners of last year's BBQfest, held in Brandon, went unpaid. Those debts have been paid, he said, and this year's winners and charities have gotten the money due them.

"We paid them. We retired the debt from last year's event. This year's event went off without a hitch," Giglio said.

Caddell said he has known of Giglio's past since last year, when the promoter put on a series of concerts at the bandshell. Caddell said he received calls then about Giglio.

Caddell called the city attorney, who said Pinellas Park could not refuse to deal with Giglio for something in the past for which he had served his time. So Caddell let the concerts go on.

"On those three concerts, he performed as he said he would," Caddell said. "We didn't have any reason to not deal with him" when Giglio suggested the BBQfest.

"Based on that, I let him go ahead and plan the other event," Caddell said.

For the most part, the city was pleased. About 12,000 people showed up over the three days. That was a good showing for a first-time event, especially considering all the other activities in the area last weekend.

But there was the downside of the backstage battle.

"The thing was a lot of aggravation just from all the calls," Caddell said. "We have not made a determination that we would do another event with him. We're waiting to see what happens with everyone else involved."

Times staff writer Jeff Testerman contributed to this report.

[Last modified April 6, 2005, 01:07:18]