Remember how some unnamed Live Nation and Ticketmaster officials were telling the WSJ that big big names like Don Henley, Jay-Z and U2 were going to be supporting the big big merger?

That graf dropped out of the paper’s story quickly (and mysterously!), and those three artists have been conspicuously silent—and in Henley’s case, unusually so. Who has Henley muzzled? 

Now comes some big news: Seal, Van Halen and Shakira are behind the merger, Reuters is reporting:

Live Nation Inc’s (LYV.N) planned acquisition of Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc (TKTM.O) has received support from rock stars including Van Halen, Seal and Shakira ahead of a U.S. antitrust hearing on Tuesday.

The companies said they have received supportive letters and emails from these artists, even as others including Bruce Springsteen and Senator Charles Schumer have opposed a combination of the world’s biggest concert promoter and largest ticketing company.

The story includes this tidbit:

Rapino said fans are frustrated with the lack of transparency in ticket sales that lead to scalpers and resellers charging exorbitant prices for the best seats.

But does not include what you think would be the logical next sentence, which I’ll supply:

But critics of the merger say that the heart of the new company’s plan is to have Rapino and Co. collect those exorbitant prices themselves.