© Provided by The TelegraphLady Gaga
Brexit means the end of the road for the British roadie, with new customs controls threatening to wipe out the specialised transport sector that is centred in the UK.
British-based haulage firms that transport bands around Europe, often for months at a time, say they will be unable to operate under new rules limiting their movements.
The UK's position as a global centre for music means a supporting ecosystem has grown, providing specialised staff, transport and equipment hire for tours.
This has led to global artists touring Europe using the UK as a base, hiring equipment such as sound and lighting that is then moved between concert venues - often overnight - by British hauliers.
But under the terms of the Brexit deal, hauliers are limited to two moves of equipment within Europe and then must return home within seven days. Also complicating matters is export paperwork now required to move hired equipment into the EU, even though it will return to Britain.
© Provided by The TelegraphTransam trucking
These restrictions render big European tours recording stars depend on for income because of the collapse of record sales impractical for UK hauliers.
The music industry contributed £5.8bn to the UK economy last year, with live music responsible for about 10pc of the total.
Natasha Highcroft, director of Norfolk-based Transam Trucking that has worked with acts including U2 and Iron Maiden, said her business "cannot function" under the new regime.
She added: "The UK is a market leader in this industry and punches well above its weight. We're an integral part of the touring crew, and bands trust us to get them between shows using specialised vehicles.
"That means double, sometimes triple drivers for overnight moves, and the experienced staff to get bands set up."
She said that when Covid travel limitations lift and touring restarts, the 130-vehicle family-owned firm has been advised to set up a European operation to be able to operate under the new controls, potentially taking the Transam's 150 staff with it.
© Provided by The TelegraphFlybyNite has organised tours for artists including Little Stephen
Also under threat is FlybyNite, a Redditch-based operation with 180 vehicles and 250 staff.
Richard Brown, its transport manager, said: "About 85pc of touring in Europe is done by British companies, and the industry has grown here as artists need to tour as record sales fall.
"We've been left high and dry by Brexit, and our only option is to move half the fleet to the EU, which means job losses here and loss of revenue for the UK government."
FlybyNite has supported tours by stars including Lady Gaga and Queen, but Mr Brown fears this work will now be lost to European operators.
The Road Haulage Association described the limit on the number of movements as a "fundamental issue" for UK-based touring hauliers, and is appealing for the Government to try to negotiate an special easement with the EU, replicating a "cultural exception" agreement that predates the EU itself.
The Department for Transport said it "pushed for an ambitious arrangement that would have allowed performers and their support staff to work across Europe".
A government spokesman added: "The EU rejected these proposals and did not make an offer that would have enabled touring or covered the support staff that tours rely on."
Separately, the Culture Secretary has launched a working group looking at overcoming obstacles faced by British performers wanting to tour in Europe now visa-free travel has ended.
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