Russian fashion stylist Vladislav Lisovets has revealed that he will not attend American rapper Kanye West's upcoming concerts in Saint Petersburg, citing a lifelong fear of large crowds and a lack of familiarity with the musician's work.
Speaking to celebrity news outlet Super, Lisovets explained that mass gatherings of people have triggered feelings of panic for him since childhood. The condition has prompted him to avoid live music performances regardless of who is performing on stage.
Lisovets acknowledged West as a wonderful musician, but admitted that he does not know the rapper's songs well enough to attend his show. He added that he dislikes concerts in general and questioned why he would attend a performance by the global star.
The stylist, known in Russia for his television appearances and work in fashion design, noted that his avoidance of live shows is a long-standing personal habit. In his childhood, Lisovets managed to obtain tickets for a concert by Alla Pugacheva, one of the most famous pop singers in Soviet and Russian history, but chose to give them to his mother instead.
He similarly passed on the chance to see his favorite singer, the acclaimed American artist Whitney Houston, preferring to skip her live performance when given the opportunity during her career.
Upcoming Saint Petersburg Concerts
Reports that West, the influential American hip-hop artist and record producer, will perform in Russia for the first time as part of a world tour surfaced in August. The musician is scheduled to hold two dates in Saint Petersburg on October 10 and October 11.
Both performances will take place at the Gazprom Arena, a 68,000-seat multi-purpose venue located on Krestovsky Island in Saint Petersburg. The stadium serves as the home ground for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg and regularly hosts major entertainment events. Saint Petersburg is Russia's second largest city and its historic cultural capital.
Demand for the upcoming concerts has remained exceptionally high among local fans. Concertgoers in Russia rapidly bought up all available VIP tickets for West's Saint Petersburg shows, which were offered at 160,000 rubles.
