For those bickering about "why" it took Pearl Jam "so long" to decide, this is NOT an any decision, and as Ed was quoted, they thought about continuing on with the show and donating all proceeds. But in the end, it was decided to just make the boldest statement possible and that was canceling the show and giving a firm stance of support for the LGBT community in that backwards state of NC. I'm lucky that I never had interest in the Raleigh show, I'm limited to Philly 2, but I do empathize with the good fans who support PJs decision, but are also missing out on possibly the only show they could have attended. But for those ridiculing Pearl Jam as well as slamming the LGBT community and supporting that evil law in NC... go fuck yourselves!
~*~Me and Hippiemom dranketh the red wine in Cleveland 2003~*~
First PJ Show: March 20, 1994 | Ann Arbor | Crisler Arena
If they cancelled sooner fans would not be as upset. Thats a fact. Was it something in the contract to the venue or just a way to make a bigger headline? Either way having a statement about that part would appease some of the very angry people here.
Thank you fellow 10 clubber for saving my ass....again!!!
I would think that if they cancelled when Bruce did, it would just share a headline. The Bruce thing dies down... then they come in with the hammer again.
And then in two weeks nobody remembers this outside of mostly 10c people anyway, lol. This isn't going to change a single thing.
Well if that's an argument then you could have saved yourself the trouble of typing that reply. That won't be remembered or change anything either. It's a rather nihilistic aproach.
It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.
And then in two weeks nobody remembers this outside of mostly 10c people anyway, lol. This isn't going to change a single thing.
Well if that's an argument then you could have saved yourself the trouble of typing that reply. That won't be remembered or change anything either. It's a rather nihilistic aproach.
I would think that if they cancelled when Bruce did, it would just share a headline. The Bruce thing dies down... then they come in with the hammer again.
Feels very cynical to play with your fans to do that.
Using your fans as fuel to get headlines doesn't sit well with me.
And morally, if they don't want to play that state no more that is great. But when telling people "buy tickets to our show" they did not know of this law and therefore they do not approve it by standing up to their commitment and playing.
But boycotting at the last minute for headlines or to have a bigger effect, I don't see the reasoning other than them feeling shitty towards Bruce or something if they did play.
Post edited by Spiritual_Chaos on
"Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
This law was already on the national radar. Imo, with or without pj and bruce, the law is going away, as is the line of thinking that lead to these laws. The score is like 40-7 in the 4th quarter.
That is great that Pearl Jam will refund my tickets, but I have lost $125 for my hotel room that I can't get refunded because I went through priceline.
I GOT ALL MONEY BACK FROM PRICELINE< < < U HAVE TO CALL HOTEL FIRST AND THEY HAVE TO AGREE TO GIVE MONEY BACK< MINE DID AT THE WYNDHAM <<EVEN THOUGH I USED PRICELINE WITH NO REFUND ATTACHED< iTS WORTH A COUPLE PHONE CALLS </p>
Thank you! I made the phone calls and got my hotel refunded. That does lessen the sting of this.
Thought a good night's sleep might lessen the disappointment but, sadly, no. Still really bummed I'm going to miss this show and still feeling for so many here who had their plans turned upside down.
I don't appreciate being used as a puppet for someone else's political aims, even when I agree with those aims. I love you Pearl Jam and I love that you're willing to stand up against injustice. I just hope you hear some of the feedback here and think twice before using your fans as pawns again.
Where are people who defend the action response to playing states and country's with horrible laws? They are forever hypocrites. Go ahead and love their music but see their "activism" for what it really is. They are out of touch. and thank you so much for helping bush defeat gore. Those were greaf years that you helped create by your support of Nader. Bravo.
#1 on my bucket list for the past 22 years was to stand and dance my a$$ off in the pit at a Pearl Jam concert...I finally got my wish for the 4/20 show in Raleigh. I was so excited that I won the lottery, I actually bawled at work! It was going to be my daughter's first Pearl Jam concert, she's heading off to the other side of the state in the fall for college so this was going to be a big night for both of us.
Unfortunately, this is the only concert I bought tickets for. But, they cancelled and I understand why. I have lived in NC all my life and this whole HB2 thing sucks royally. I'm also gay. So now I have to sit at work all day today and have this huge, heavy feeling of disappointment because of something I waited 22 years for but be proud of my favorite band for standing up for my community. It's not the best feeling in the world, but my heart weighs heavy for the financial burden my "family" on here is facing. So, I dont know what to say. NC never had a chance to vote for this stupid law, they passed it unanimously but only because the democrats walked out in protest and never voted (they were outnumbered, their votes never would have mattered). If you are so mad, sign the petition and call the Governor's phone number. It's a public listing.
I feel for the folk who are pissed about this, Id be gutted if it was my show in the firing line and even more so if this was the first chance in years to see the band. But they will put this right in due course, I do believe that.
Too many people however just suggest that people who have lost their show should just go to another, seem to lack the understanding that to a lot of folk that simply isn't possible. Its such a presumptuous suggestion to make. Many folk have commitments both in and out of work, packed schedules (probably worked around this show) and a good deal probably simply cannot afford to hitch to another state to see a rock concert. Some seem to take their good fortune for granted and simply apply it to everyone, when in fact it isn't that simple.
Its very easy to post about this when personally we are unaffected, but those looking at it subjectively are bound to be upset. Of course making a stand is what this band has always done, and of course it makes sense in the bigger picture, but it doesn't ease that dejection that many are feeling today.......dejection following months and months of excitement.
In many ways the band couldn't win, but they made what I think must have been a very difficult decision for the greater good....unfortunately a group of people lose out as a result. But Im sure they'll make this right as soon as they can, they wouldn't have taken the decision lightly.
The timing is the only head scratcher and the real lack of notice, but as has been said many times, there must have been a reason for that.
So, November 2013 I traveled to see the band play Portland, Oregon. Oregon, the state in which January of that year a baker refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple. Why was there no cancellation of the show? I'm not saying this is apples to apples but...it's also a situation that involves discrimination
In your completely different example, the government was on the right side of the issue, by supporting existing non-discrimination laws for all local businesses in that area. The bakers claimed their rights were being violated because they object to marriage equality. The only connection between the two is that the same group helping the bakers in this case IS the same group putting bathroom bills and religious freedom bills up in states everywhere, but unlike Pearl Jam's decision, that will eventually put them on the wrong side of equality and history.
Did he really say something about crossing the picket lines? Are GLAAD and other gay rights groups crossing those lines when they asked bands to keep coming and supporting the cause?
This show, another show, a show here and a show there.
"We had to make a real tough call and um, we had to make a call about what we would do about the situation in North Carolina. (crowd cheers and some boos). Because they have a law there that broadly…broadly discriminates against a whole group of people. And I can’t tell from here if you are booing North Carolina if your booing us for having to decide that we are not gonna play there. I would understand that too. It was a hard process because we thought we could still play and make things right and we could fortify all the people on the ground working to repeal this despicable law. We thought we could take the money and give it to them and still play the show but the reality is there is nothing like the immense power like boycotting and putting a strain and it’s a shame because people are going to affected that don’t deserve it but it could be the way that ultimately is gonna effect change so again, we just couldn’t find it in ourselves in good conscience to cross a picket line when there was a movement so… So we apologize to those in Raleigh, we apologize to those who are going to Raleigh, we apologize to the locals who probably believe in the same things that we do. They have a reason to be pissed and were pissed off too. But we gotta be pissed off at the right people and get them to change their minds because they made a mistake, a big mistake and they can fix it. So tonight we play this one for all the soldiers in the LGBT community.")
The 'soldiers' in the LGBT community in NC asked you to not turn your backs on their people & economy. That's exactly what you just did.
If I was flying to this show, I would be pissed off too.
I appreciate the statement the band is trying to make, but they didn't have to do it this way.
They just played 4 shows in Florida. Where is the rage against the racist stand your ground laws? These are laws that are pushed hard by the NRA. Oh Trayvon was killed a few years ago so I guess this isn't a fashionable topic for a band to make a stand against.
This cancellation did nothing to move the dial. You want to get people to rally on April 25 when the legislature is back in session? You persuade them at your show to make the effort. What did cancelling do? You are economically hurting the businesses and people in locations that are already strongly opposing the bill. And you are grabbing some cheap national attention and publicity for yourself and the issue. You have basically spit at the dozens of organizations that are doing REAL work in trying to repeal the law by doing what they specifically asked you not to do by cancelling the show. Also, you are punishing the people in the state who are being oppressed by the bad law.
Yeah, PJ, play South Carolina which is one of the most racist states in the country and has very racist voter ID laws. You aren't being a hypocrite at all by doing so. Social justice for blacks is not a popular cause for you and your predominantly white fan base and won't generate much in terms of publicity for you.
Did he really say something about crossing the picket lines? Are GLAAD and other gay rights groups crossing those lines when they asked bands to keep coming and supporting the cause?
I can't find a statement from GLAAD on this, other than them retweeting news stories of the artists that have canceled in NC, played in NC, or spoken out on this issue.
There is a brand-new group, North Carolina Needs You, encouraging bands to come and play their scheduled shows, but it is a new thing created by two NC activists.
But as for the largest LGBT rights group, Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin released a statement praising Springsteen's decision. "Bruce Springsteen is a hero and an icon because he gives voice, both through his music and his advocacy, to those who struggle against injustice and equality," he said. "It means so much that he has spoken out against this hateful bill on behalf of thousands of citizens whose rights and fundamental dignity are being trampled by the leadership of North Carolina."
But he stopped short of saying whether or not Bruce should have played. So, it seems like (aside from that one new group), the "gay groups" are letting musicians do whatever feels right to them, and encouraging them to speak out either way.
I'm guessing Ed, who is a songwriter, after all, could mean there is a metaphoric picket line forming, and playing there would be walking past Bruce, Ringo, and the others with whom they agree who have decided not to play?
Did he really say something about crossing the picket lines? Are GLAAD and other gay rights groups crossing those lines when they asked bands to keep coming and supporting the cause?
Yes the did. Incredibly insensitive and out of touch statement.
Had tickets to the show, live in Durham and work in Raleigh. Been in the club since '92 and couldn't believe they were finally coming to Raleigh. For anyone who thinks the majority down here supports this law is insane. These were a group of conservative, redneck politicians who passed a law in one day without anyone even knowing about it until after it happened. I haven't always agreed with the band's politics, but I've respected it. I think they dropped the ball here. I say make your statement on the stage. They have a day off today, come early and join the protests down in front of the state house. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision to cancel, but it does feel like the safe way out for the band. I can tell you in Raleigh and Durham we are a very open minded group of people who in no way agree with this garbage legislation. Wish they had played their show and joined the protest...
Had tickets to the show, live in Durham and work in Raleigh. Been in the club since '92 and couldn't believe they were finally coming to Raleigh. For anyone who thinks the majority down here supports this law is insane. These were a group of conservative, redneck politicians who passed a law in one day without anyone even knowing about it until after it happened. I haven't always agreed with the band's politics, but I've respected it. I think they dropped the ball here. I say make your statement on the stage. They have a day off today, come early and join the protests down in front of the state house. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision to cancel, but it does feel like the safe way out for the band. I can tell you in Raleigh and Durham we are a very open minded group of people who in no way agree with this garbage legislation. Wish they had played their show and joined the protest...
This. This would speak VOLUMES. I hope they do this and post on here that they plan on doing it, because I would join them in a heart beat!
Comments
First PJ Show: March 20, 1994 | Ann Arbor | Crisler Arena
'10- MSG 1-2 '11- PJ20
'12- MIA; DeLuna '13- Wrigley; Pitt; Brooklyn 1-2; Philly 1-2; Baltimore; Seattle
'14- Denver '16- Philly 1-2; MSG 2
'17- Pilgrimage Music Fest (Eddie)
'18- Fenway
2006 Arnhem 2007 Werchter 2009 Rotterdam 2010 Nijmegen 2010 Werchter
2012 Amsterdam 1 2012 Amsterdam 2 2014 Amsterdam 1 2014 Amsterdam 2
2014 Berlijn
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
So, there's that.
I'll ride the wave where it takes me...
Using your fans as fuel to get headlines doesn't sit well with me.
And morally, if they don't want to play that state no more that is great. But when telling people "buy tickets to our show" they did not know of this law and therefore they do not approve it by standing up to their commitment and playing.
But boycotting at the last minute for headlines or to have a bigger effect, I don't see the reasoning other than them feeling shitty towards Bruce or something if they did play.
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
I don't appreciate being used as a puppet for someone else's political aims, even when I agree with those aims. I love you Pearl Jam and I love that you're willing to stand up against injustice. I just hope you hear some of the feedback here and think twice before using your fans as pawns again.
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
I'll ride the wave where it takes me...
Unfortunately, this is the only concert I bought tickets for. But, they cancelled and I understand why. I have lived in NC all my life and this whole HB2 thing sucks royally. I'm also gay. So now I have to sit at work all day today and have this huge, heavy feeling of disappointment because of something I waited 22 years for but be proud of my favorite band for standing up for my community. It's not the best feeling in the world, but my heart weighs heavy for the financial burden my "family" on here is facing. So, I dont know what to say. NC never had a chance to vote for this stupid law, they passed it unanimously but only because the democrats walked out in protest and never voted (they were outnumbered, their votes never would have mattered). If you are so mad, sign the petition and call the Governor's phone number. It's a public listing.
Too many people however just suggest that people who have lost their show should just go to another, seem to lack the understanding that to a lot of folk that simply isn't possible. Its such a presumptuous suggestion to make. Many folk have commitments both in and out of work, packed schedules (probably worked around this show) and a good deal probably simply cannot afford to hitch to another state to see a rock concert. Some seem to take their good fortune for granted and simply apply it to everyone, when in fact it isn't that simple.
Its very easy to post about this when personally we are unaffected, but those looking at it subjectively are bound to be upset. Of course making a stand is what this band has always done, and of course it makes sense in the bigger picture, but it doesn't ease that dejection that many are feeling today.......dejection following months and months of excitement.
In many ways the band couldn't win, but they made what I think must have been a very difficult decision for the greater good....unfortunately a group of people lose out as a result. But Im sure they'll make this right as soon as they can, they wouldn't have taken the decision lightly.
The timing is the only head scratcher and the real lack of notice, but as has been said many times, there must have been a reason for that.
SNL just had a go at this on Saturday:
If I was flying to this show, I would be pissed off too.
I appreciate the statement the band is trying to make, but they didn't have to do it this way.
This cancellation did nothing to move the dial. You want to get people to rally on April 25 when the legislature is back in session? You persuade them at your show to make the effort. What did cancelling do? You are economically hurting the businesses and people in locations that are already strongly opposing the bill. And you are grabbing some cheap national attention and publicity for yourself and the issue. You have basically spit at the dozens of organizations that are doing REAL work in trying to repeal the law by doing what they specifically asked you not to do by cancelling the show. Also, you are punishing the people in the state who are being oppressed by the bad law.
Yeah, PJ, play South Carolina which is one of the most racist states in the country and has very racist voter ID laws. You aren't being a hypocrite at all by doing so. Social justice for blacks is not a popular cause for you and your predominantly white fan base and won't generate much in terms of publicity for you.
There is a brand-new group, North Carolina Needs You, encouraging bands to come and play their scheduled shows, but it is a new thing created by two NC activists.
But as for the largest LGBT rights group, Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin released a statement praising Springsteen's decision. "Bruce Springsteen is a hero and an icon because he gives voice, both through his music and his advocacy, to those who struggle against injustice and equality," he said. "It means so much that he has spoken out against this hateful bill on behalf of thousands of citizens whose rights and fundamental dignity are being trampled by the leadership of North Carolina."
But he stopped short of saying whether or not Bruce should have played. So, it seems like (aside from that one new group), the "gay groups" are letting musicians do whatever feels right to them, and encouraging them to speak out either way.
I'm guessing Ed, who is a songwriter, after all, could mean there is a metaphoric picket line forming, and playing there would be walking past Bruce, Ringo, and the others with whom they agree who have decided not to play?
I haven't always agreed with the band's politics, but I've respected it. I think they dropped the ball here. I say make your statement on the stage. They have a day off today, come early and join the protests down in front of the state house. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision to cancel, but it does feel like the safe way out for the band. I can tell you in Raleigh and Durham we are a very open minded group of people who in no way agree with this garbage legislation. Wish they had played their show and joined the protest...
This would speak VOLUMES. I hope they do this and post on here that they plan on doing it, because I would join them in a heart beat!