Pearl Jam Cancels 4/20 Raleigh, NC Concert in Opposition to HB2; Official Band Statement

This is a screenshot of an actual Craigslist ad (since removed) but it sums up the feelings of many in Charlotte, Raleigh, and other progressive cities very well.

TP80392 said:

By cancelling the performance, Pearl Jam had brought more attention to the issue than if they played and donated money

http://nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/pearl-jam-cancels-north-carolina-hb2-law-article-1.2606177

There has been a ton of attention since it was signed. It hasn't changed anything.

Puscifer played there.
that's the right thing to do.
wouldn't you piss off the lawmakers more if you didn't cancel??

25 fucking years and people still don't get that this band has never been afraid to stand up for what they believe in, and be willing to be criticized for it.

OceansMagnet said:

I posted this a while back in the Bruce thread but thought I would place it here as well.
If one of the shows I was planning on attending were to be cancelled over a law that I knew was unjust but that didn't affect me I would be furious... I would rant and cry foul and probably act like a spoiled brat... but having grown up gay in rural northern Louisiana in the 1980's, having Rock Hudson die of AIDS on my 14th birthday and hearing aids jokes about his death as they cut my birthday cake, having suffered abuse from the family that I was born into, the family that were supposed to be the ones to protect me but instead sent me off to a camp in hopes that some evangelist could change me, having had to assimilate into a religion that I knew was bullshit from an early age just to be left the fuck alone and to be taught that if I acknowledged my true self I would be hated by God, then I have to say that it's about damn time that somebody stood up for me and all the other ones like me. It's not just the law that needs changing. It's the hearts and minds of people who preach this hate. It's the culture of assholes who are inflicting harm in the name of God. I realize that those of you with good seats and non-refundable travel plans just want to scream "it's not fair!" Well you're absolutely right... and playing the show or cancelling it either way may make little difference as to invoking change... but knowing that the musicians who have made some of the worst times in my life bearable are willing to stand up and tell the world that I fucking matter... To lead by example in hope that the rest of you will acknowledge that kids should never have to grow up living in fear and shame for just being something that they have absolutely no choice in being, for saying it's not okay that so many lgbtq kids to commit suicide from carrying guilt and shame, well you see it may not change the world but it gives us a little hope. I think I've turned out pretty okay considering the road I have travelled. I have gathered my speed from them fucking with me. But now maybe just maybe once and for all finally the shades will be raised.

To those of you who are hurting right now from losing this show. Thank you for the sacrifice you are making even if it's involuntary. Peace and Love.

My heart goes out to you........this is a very moving statement of truth,you are very brave and articulate.

JP Losman said:

hsohi said:

JP Losman said:

I think they are clueless and this is grandstanding by the band...you just played Florida with the crazy stand your ground laws...you are playing states with horrible voter ID laws that are racist and a civil rights problem. and you aren't listening to the people that are actually being discriminated or the people actually trying to repeal the law.

http://perezhilton.com/2016-04-12-north-carolina-needs-you-gay-friendly-organizations-asking-artists-not-cancel-shows

Stand your ground laws allow people to defend themselves...pal

Yea tell that to Trayvon Martin's family

I will I have no sympathy for him or the false accusations made in Ferguson....BLM doesn't talk about Ferguson much any more

Beyond our Pearl Jam bubble, this isn't going to have much impact.
PJ just isn't going to get the same sort of news coverage that Bruce got.

They should have played the whole show wearing sensible dresses.
That would have been a bigger story.

RP112579 said:

25 fucking years and people still don't get that this band has never been afraid to stand up for what they believe in, and be willing to be criticized for it.

I'm not criticizing their beliefs. Just their shitty timing. Someone must have been asleep at the wheel.

All this anger and venting! Besides being pissed off at Pearl Jam, I hope some of that anger gets focused on doing something about sexism, homophobia, child abuse, elder abuse, inequity, inequality, racism, bigotry, war, poverty, repression, victims of hate groups, pollution, global warming, rapid species extinction, and all the other issues that are way more important than missing a rock concert because a band takes a stance on a social issue.

So if cancellation of the show was an economic punishment to NC, then PJ kinda missed the boat. The state likely doesn't need the income from a couple concerts, (include the Boss, etc). But, the local economy, the waiters and waitresses and the bartenders miss a big payday from the show crowds, the ticket takers and ushers and the arena workers miss a day of work as the venue will be dark. Local artists and merchants who the PJ fan base generally patronize are likely people of like mind and they will miss out on the spending power the fanbase brings... You get the idea... Yeah, someone used the word collateral damage earlier in this thread... I hope no one was counting on paying the rent with the money they were going to earn on the 20th....