Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Brit Music Scene

Brit Music Scene

Oasis Banned From China Due To Past ‘Free Tibet’ Links

Posted: 02 Mar 2009 09:31 AM PST

Barely a month ago, Oasis announced they would be playing China for the first ever. The Beijing and Shanghai shows were to form a far east trio of gigs on their current world tour along with one in Hong Kong.

Now, the gigs have been forcibly canceled due to the Chinese government revoking the band’s licenses to play. Oasis were deemed “unsuitable” to visit the country thanks to supposed links with the ‘Free Tibet’ movement.

Part of the statement Oasis issued regarding the cancellations reads:

“According to the show’s promoters, officials within the Chinese Ministry of Culture only recently discovered that Noel Gallagher appeared at a Free Tibet Benefit Concert on Randall’s Island in New York in 1997, and have now deemed that the band are consequently unsuitable to perform to their fans in the Chinese Republic on 3rd and 5th of April, during its 60th anniversary year.”

This seems utterly ludicrous. Noel Gallagher appeared at one gig in 1997 that asked for Tibet to be given independence from China. Big deal. This seems like a complete overreaction on the part of the Chinese authorities.

Then again, Oasis isn’t the first artist to have trouble with plans to play mainland China. Jay-Z was refused entry due to his use of bad language, and Britney Spears had to promise to leave her revealing costumes at home before she could get permission.

I thought China was opening up and becoming more free? It seems not, at least when it comes to music. I’m not sure how many Oasis fans there are in China, but the ones there are will have to wait a little longer to see the band, and may never get the chance.

[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Share This

at 5:03 AM