Manilow hits 'right' note

2006-06-05 10:56

Sydney - A local Sydney council has decided on a new weapon in its bid to remove groups of youths from gathering in carparks and disrupting residents - the music of 1970s crooner Barry Manilow.

Officials said that the youths were not causing property damage but were annoying residents by revving their engines and doing wheelies up and down the carpark.

To combat that, the Rockdale Council in Sydney's southwest, will pipe the calming tones of Manilow and other music disliked by "rev-heads" in an attempt to prevent them from gathering.

Deputy mayor Bill Saravinovski said the council would trial the Manilow music for six months from July at a carpark in the seaside suburb of Brighton-le-Sands.

"They are just hanging out and causing a nuisance to the general public," he said on Monday. "They are just intimidating."

Saravinovski said the music will be loud enough to disperse the youths but not too loud to annoy residents.

He said along with Manilow, other types of music will be used including that of "Bing Crosby and music from the '30s and '40s".

"It will be all types of classical music and music that doesn't appeal to these people," he said.

- AFP