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

fall by the wayside said:

Proud to be a fan of this band today. Ashamed to be a part of this fan base. I get it. I would be upset too. We all look so forward to these shows. But the selfishness and childishness is ridiculous. The band is not punishing you. You are collateral damage. It sucks. It's just that the band thinks the civil rights of others are more important than your concert. End story. It's also unfortunate to see tough life lessons being learned about purchasing non-refundable rooms and flights to an event that can very much be cancelled. Hopefully this law gets fixed and someday they come back and make everyone happy.

Please don't speak to me about this being an opportunity to learn a life lesson about purchasing non-refundable rooms and flights. Being someone who isn't what one would consider rich, I got a room I could afford and it is non-refundable. I purchased the hotel room and tickets to this show because Pearl Jam told me they were coming to perform in an arena that I could reasonably drive to. I trusted that they would show.
The life lesson I teach my children is that when they make a commitment to someone, they follow through with it. I tell them it doesn't matter that the referee is unfair, that it is cold outside, that the other team cheats. They made a promise to their teammates that they would show up and they will be there for them. They will go and play their hardest, show good sportsmanship, be an example of the behavior they want to see from others. Pearl Jam could have done this, too. We are part of their team. Get us to that show and tell us what we can do to make a difference. What a missed opportunity for them. They could have educated a group of people who love them and will do almost anything they ask. They let their team down.
Selfish and childish is what you are calling the fans who are upset with their decision? I think you are off base. Yes, I understand this law discriminates, but I don't believe that cancelling this concert is going to get this law repealed next week. All it has done is leave a bad taste in the mouths of their fans who have been planning for this show for months. My enthusiasm for them has faded. I don't think I'm being selfish and childish when I say that they let me down. They didn't have faith in me. They didn't trust that they could use me and everyone else in that arena to change the law by bringing us together for their show.
I spoke with my dad yesterday, who had wondered if Pearl Jam had cancelled the show. I told him no, they hadn't. I also mistakenly told him that with it being this close to the show, there is no way they would do this to their fans. I explained that Ed would use this show as a platform to speak about this law. He would see it as an opportunity to educate. That they recognized their fans had made travel arrangements, taken off from work, spent money, and were emotionally invested in the upcoming show. They wouldn't do this at this point. Really looking forward to calling my dad.

pjalive21 said:

october22 said:

. But I guess they just couldn't resist the trendy freak-out over anything concerning LGBT at the moment.

nailed it!!!

fall by the wayside said:

Proud to be a fan of this band today. Ashamed to be a part of this fan base. I get it. I would be upset too. We all look so forward to these shows. But the selfishness and childishness is ridiculous. The band is not punishing you. You are collateral damage. It sucks. It's just that the band thinks the civil rights of others are more important than your concert. End story. It's also unfortunate to see tough life lessons being learned about purchasing non-refundable rooms and flights to an event that can very much be cancelled. Hopefully this law gets fixed and someday they come back and make everyone happy.

Bands are paid to play music...I know they are political and always have been, but since when it punishing a fan base that made you who you are beneficial to them? Without us Ed would still be pumping gas somewhere for minimum wage

I have my own brain cells to be locked into social issues and don't need someone preaching to me or teaching me a lesson on what side to take especially rock bands

they should refund everyone who had hotels and air flights all their money back

pjalive21 said:

october22 said:

. But I guess they just couldn't resist the trendy freak-out over anything concerning LGBT at the moment.

nailed it!!!

fall by the wayside said:

Proud to be a fan of this band today. Ashamed to be a part of this fan base. I get it. I would be upset too. We all look so forward to these shows. But the selfishness and childishness is ridiculous. The band is not punishing you. You are collateral damage. It sucks. It's just that the band thinks the civil rights of others are more important than your concert. End story. It's also unfortunate to see tough life lessons being learned about purchasing non-refundable rooms and flights to an event that can very much be cancelled. Hopefully this law gets fixed and someday they come back and make everyone happy.

Bands are paid to play music...I know they are political and always have been, but since when it punishing a fan base that made you who you are beneficial to them? Without us Ed would still be pumping gas somewhere for minimum wage

I have my own brain cells to be locked into social issues and don't need someone preaching to me or teaching me a lesson on what side to take especially rock bands

they should refund everyone who had hotels and air flights all their money back

pjalive21 said:

october22 said:

. But I guess they just couldn't resist the trendy freak-out over anything concerning LGBT at the moment.

nailed it!!!

fall by the wayside said:

Proud to be a fan of this band today. Ashamed to be a part of this fan base. I get it. I would be upset too. We all look so forward to these shows. But the selfishness and childishness is ridiculous. The band is not punishing you. You are collateral damage. It sucks. It's just that the band thinks the civil rights of others are more important than your concert. End story. It's also unfortunate to see tough life lessons being learned about purchasing non-refundable rooms and flights to an event that can very much be cancelled. Hopefully this law gets fixed and someday they come back and make everyone happy.

Bands are paid to play music...I know they are political and always have been, but since when it punishing a fan base that made you who you are beneficial to them? Without us Ed would still be pumping gas somewhere for minimum wage

I have my own brain cells to be locked into social issues and don't need someone preaching to me or teaching me a lesson on what side to take especially rock bands

they should refund everyone who had hotels and air flights all their money back

You seem to have a pretty strong stance about them canceling. Guessing that you will also go all out for something you so strongly believe in and not attend any other shows this tour you have tickets, reservations, etc. for????? It's everyone's right to be upset. It's everyone's right to protest however they want. Let's see all of you f' youing the band not show up for the rest of your shows or buy anything.

Spiritual_Chaos said:

LEXINGTON
Kentucky’s Senate on Tuesday passed a ‘religious freedom’ bill that provides businesses in the state a carte blanche license to discriminate against LGBT citizens.

Senate Bill 180 was proposed by Senator Albert Robinson (R) and was passed with an amendment that attempted to limit the scope of the bill. The bill received 22 votes in favor and 16 against.

The bill will undo 8 LGBT nondiscrimination measures in Kentucky, specifically measures in Covington, Danville, Frankfort, Lexington, Louisville, Midway, Morehead and Vicco.

Cancel this one too PJ!!!! Its only right!!!

This kind of stuff is what might get Trump elected president. 90% of people don't want men in women's bathrooms. Liberals going nuts trying to accommodate 0.1% of the population. The issue isn't about transgenders, it is about perverted heterosexuals using the law as an excuse to put on a dress and go into women's bathrooms to get their jollies or even commit a sexual assault.

I know someone who this happened to. She went into an isolated bathroom in a shopping mall when a guy walked in and started peeking through the crack in the stall door and jerking himself off. She screamed, but no one heard her. The guy eventually finished himself off on the stall door and left.

I know that is a graphic description, but it is reality. For every transgender person, there are probably 1,000 sex offenders in any given community. Go on-line and check out how many live within a 5 mile radius of your home. The number will likely make your draw drop. It will only be a matter of time before some guy in a dress molests a child or rapes a woman. Then who is going to look stupid?

I don't live in North Carolina, so I don't have a dog in the fight. But these "boycotts" by artists don't do anything but hurt the fans. I don't agree with some of the positions that band members take, but I let it go as a respect to the First Amendment. I own guns and Eddie said something about killing all gun owners -- did I "boycott" PJ music, merchandise or shows over it? No!

You guys are doing this because of pressure being put on you by a small number of "politically correct" agitators. You can't "boycott" every state that has or makes a dumb law. You've played a lot of shows in Florida over the past ten years. I bet you didn't know that up until about a year ago it was legal under state law here to have sexual relations with a farm animal, but illegal for two unrelated people of the same sex to share a house. You never "boycotted" those laws. That is because you didn't know about them and there wasn't any pressure from the PC crowd.

I was at the Jacksonville show last Wednesday. The first time you've ever played in my hometown. It was great. I really feel sorry for your NC fans -- they are the ones being hurt by this. The conservative political leaders in NC are not going to give a damn. Plus, they will not suffer over this issue. If it becomes the center piece of the Democratic campaign platform, they GOP will wipe the floor with them come November.

Im broken. Ive been looking forward to this since the tour announcement. Begged off work, hubs too. First time I won lottery. Ive never lived in NC or voted for these losers. That being said I love PJ for their convictions as well as their music. Although I want to cry I dont expect any less from them. I love you and PLEASE COME NEAR ROANOKE VA SOON!!!

ehbacon said:

hate this, should've just been a politically charged show

The politically charged show is on for Thursday!

CM189191 said:

Serious question: how much does it cost a band like PJ to pull out of a show like this? There had to be some deposit or penalty by the venue.

Louis CK was pretty upfront when he had to cancel his MSG gig because a huge storm was coming, and I think he said it was low six figures, since he rented the space and such, and that he had to make that decision by a certain point after which it would have cost even more. As it turned out, the storm missed NYC.

Should have cancelled weeks ago to give fans time to change ravel plans. I like that it brings visibility to the issue, but it definitely could have been handled better.

Well I've calmed down, just bought tickets for SC Thursday night. Bucket list item is still on

bcoker said:

The issue isn't about transgenders, it is about perverted heterosexuals using the law as an excuse to put on a dress and go into women's bathrooms to get their jollies or even commit a sexual assault.

All of which is already illegal.