Earthcore boss Spiro Boursine’s increasingly erratic behaviour in lead-up to death

EARTHCORE boss Spiro Boursine had been making expletive-laden phone calls to parties he is believed to have owed money to in the lead up to his shock death at a Melbourne bar on the weekend, according to those who knew him.

Boursine had been butting heads with other music industry figures prior to his death. Picture: Supplied

EARTHCORE boss Spiro Boursine had become increasingly erratic in the months leading up to his death at an Elsternwick bar on Saturday morning.

Boursine (also known as Spiro Boursinos) died in custody after police restrained and handcuffed the 45 year old Cheltenham man following an altercation at Antique Bar.

Boursine had been butting heads with other music industry figures. It’s believed he owed several parties tens of thousands of dollars.

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Boursine had been making expletive-laden phone calls to those parties and was accused of hounding former associates via phone calls, text messages, emails and Facebook.

Boursine died in an Elsternwick bar. Picture: Facebook

Boursine had also threatened legal action against media over stories detailing the failure of last year’s Earthcore touring festival and the subsequent move to wind up his Yellow Sunshine company to avoid paying debts.

Three of the four events were cancelled in NSW, WA and QLD. The Victorian event went ahead without 32 of its international acts.

“Your defamatory articles have cost me severe financial damage and psychological damage and we (sic) currently quantifying those costs” an email read.

“I hope you’re looking forward to your day in court,” another read.

Forensic police leaving Antique Bar on Saturday. Picture : Ian Currie

Last week, Ararat Shire Council unanimously rejected a site application for Earthcore 2018: 25th Anniversary which was to take place next month.

The Facebook event still does not have a site address, stating it will be held in “regional Victoria.”

The man who had pioneered the original peace and love electronic music festival “bush doof” in 1993 had become increasingly paranoid and was lashing out at anybody who questioned how he was operating.

Boursine had been “acting violently” in the bar prior to his death. Picture: Supplied

Pyalong farmer Brendan Kelly had “been left $40,000 out of pocket” after Earthcore 2016 was held on his property and festival organisers did not clean up the mess after the event, as per their contract.

One woman, Robyn Deans, died unexpectedly at Earthcore 2016. Kelly has been unsuccessfully pursuing Boursine for the money since the event.

Other dance music promoters are owed money for contracts never fulfilled. Sydney party promoter Scott Lamont is owed $5000.

Early Saturday morning, Boursine had been “verbally abusing” patrons at Antique Bar in Elsternwick and “acting violently” at which time he was pinned to the ground by a number of people until police arrived.

He suffered a massive heart attack when officers cuffed him.

The Earthcore 2018: 25th Anniversary Facebook event administrators posted yesterday: “The show must go on.”

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