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

brianlux · April 2016

Name calling all over this place. Recent sightings: "Fuck you", "Moron", "Dip shit". Really people?

iisee · April 2016

I grew up in Charlotte, NC. I live in Charlotte, NC. I have seen every Pearl Jam show in Charlotte, NC. I agree with the below. That is all.

rchallen said:

bootlegger10 said:
North Carolinians: I hope you like the liberal elites pushing around your politicians you voted for. This time you may be okay with it, but next time you may not.

The people...or rather... the rich people have the power, the rich people have the power.
Well, I voted for the Charlotte mayor who passed pro-TG legislation.
Then the "conservative elites" in my state capital decided to teach us "Charlotte liberals" a lesson (or they just needed an excuse), and passed the most sweeping anti-LBGT legislation in the country.
So the politicians I did vote for are getting pushed around... and the politicians I didn't vote for are also pushing us around. I suppose that Pearl Jam cancelling a show also "pushes around" politicians... although not nearly as much as the $100 million that PayPal took away from the state last month. Or the $350 million we've already lost thanks to other corporations and conventions boycotting us.

Given the choice between the rich people in Pearl Jam and the rich assholes in the NC State House, I'd rather have Ed and company passing my laws, thanks.

iamica · April 2016

Normally I appreciate when Pearl Jam takes a stand about things, but I can't support them this time. There are so many fans who took time off work, paid hundreds for travel/hotels, etc. So many fans who live in the area and can't travel to see them anywhere else. This is just a really crap move on the band's part.

madtowndave · April 2016

Aside from the above travel advice, I would be disappointed in the band if they had not canceled. Rock music and politics have always been closely intertwined, and I have chosen to support bands that state their beliefs.

camsjam · April 2016

However as a Raleigh resident I find this sad. I have tickets but was not able to go due to helping family in SW. Nobody I know supports this bill and myself and my friends did not vote for our government reps we have. I know how excited I was to have a show in my hometown and I am sorry for the people who were really looking forward to the show. Very sorry for those with non refundable plane and hotel bookings. The band really should have not waited so long to cancel. I don't agree with them doing this to prove a point. ..it just doesn't really effect those that passed this bill or support these conservative outdated views. Pearl Jam is doing what in their beliefs is the right and moral stand to take and I can respect that in them. Lots of us here want to make the world a better place for everyone too. My sympathy for all those who are feeling the crushing disappointment. Peace.

JJ262810 · April 2016

Although PJ is one of my favorites this was a terrible decision that only hurts the "fans".
No debating that the law is ridiculous and I am shocked that these elected officials have time to even pass laws regarding bathrooms that discriminate.

But think of all the fans that now have nonrefundable hotels, airfare and have possibly planned their vacations around this concert. That is who gets hurt here so you guys can make a "stand". Bullshit, you want never play in NC again, no problem but in such short notice that really sucks.

Taking a look at your past world and Latin America tours I find a lot of countries you guys played that I am sure you could have made a case to cancel based upon those governments treatment of there people.

Stick to playing music, you want to educate and organize support to repeal the bill, fine but screwing your fans over is not cool.

vp20 · April 2016

My girlfriend is in the middle of asking the airline if a refund is possible for chicago. If so, we as fans should be eligible for a refund to future shows. If the band can decide this state has a law that is unjust, whether it be right or wrong, and not judge or eliminate other states to play in-- we as fans should have the right to get a refund to other shows we signed up for. I doubt that we get a refund on our flight, but I hate flying. HATE IT. I decided I'd only fly for a pj show at wrigley. And if I died on that plane it was meant to be because it's pj at wrigley lol. But Seriously if the band can say 2 days before a show sorry we don't agree with this new law so f u to the fans and your lost money time vacation etc-- fans should have an option to skip their shows. It's only fair. I haven't agreed with plenty of things this band and others have stood for in the past, but I decided it's worth it. Freedom of speech is essential. But now to cancel.... when the fans who were attending are the ones paying for it are the ones hurt.... and the band could skip half the country if u look at other states with wrong laws... it's bs. Period. I wondered since bruce when some fans out there might attempt to file lawsuits for lost money. U figure someone out there will try to recoup airfaire, hotels, etc. I sure as shit couldn't blame them.

jeffwalsh · April 2016

FYI, this afternoon, Tennessee just tabled discussion on introducing a bathroom bill in its high schools for another year (where it would be even stranger for an adult trans sexual predator to be hanging out one would imagine?!). So, this isn't only about NC, it is the early stages of a movement trying to stigmatize and discriminate against trans people everywhere. Now that the gays sort of got past the point where the GOP/Religious Right can sort of use us as their punching bags and bait for fearmongers, they are using the trans community instead. So, other states are watching NC and take cues from it, as well...

Ledbetterman10 · April 2016

JJ262810 said:
Although PJ is one of my favorites this was a terrible decision that only hurts the "fans".
No debating that the law is ridiculous

What EXACTLY is the law again? It's my understanding that they want transgender people using the bathrooms of their birth gender. Is that correct?

jmlinar · April 2016

I love PJ, but stick to playing music and not dabble in politics. You are only punishing the fans. Donate money and let your voice be heard in other avenues.

Free · April 2016

Shut up, play music, and donate the money and rant away.

Comments like this proves that PJ's music attracts all sorts of people. But, it falls dangerously short of what the band represents: empathy, social justice and integrity.

EdsonNascimento · April 2016

I'm sure this will work as well as their fight against Ticketmaster. The legislation will get turned around and what Bruce and they did will have had zero impact on effecting that. Total vanity move which is the modern liberal way.

Oh for the days of George Harrison and Bangladesh where musicians made statements by doing something, not by NOT doing something.

Ledbetterman10 · April 2016

EdsonNascimento said:
I'm sure this will work as well as their fight against Ticketmaster. The legislation will get turned around and what Bruce and they did will have had zero impact on effecting that. Total vanity move which is the modern liberal way.

Oh for the days of George Harrison and Bangladesh where musicians made statements by doing something, not by NOT doing something.

Yep

JJ262810 · April 2016

Please let me know if you are cancelling Chicago a little earlier then two days prior.

I am sure you can find 1,000 reason to cancel Chicago....Could it be, murders, crime, corruption, racism.....

BS44325 · April 2016

EdsonNascimento said:
I'm sure this will work as well as their fight against Ticketmaster. The legislation will get turned around and what Bruce and they did will have had zero impact on effecting that. Total vanity move which is the modern liberal way.

Oh for the days of George Harrison and Bangladesh where musicians made statements by doing something, not by NOT doing something.

Take a bow for the new revolution

Mike D88 · April 2016

JR119983 said:
Hey dipshit

Always a good sign that well-reasoned political insight is incoming.

brianlux · April 2016

Free said:
Shut up, play music, and donate the money and rant away.

Comments like this proves that PJ's music attracts all sorts of people. But, it falls dangerously short of what the band represents: empathy, social justice and integrity.

Exactly!

JP Losman · April 2016

Its just grandstanding. They didn't take the time to figure out how the bill actually could be repealed. This move did nothing to help repeal it. It just hurt the people already oppressed by it and that are voting against it.

Seriously, PJ fans...its okay to acknowledge they didn't handle this properly. It would have been 1000 times better to play a show and donate proceeds to the dozens of non-profits fighting this. You could have brought Roy Cooper on stage and expressed your support for him. Make it a rally.

This makes me question how genuine they have been in the past about their fights against social injustice and political awareness. Was it all for publicity? This is one situation where I understand the issue very well. I've been involved in fight for equality for some time in NC along with my wife. I've also been a ten club member since 2001 and a fan of theirs since mid 90s. This was a horrible decision and one that will paint them as hypocrites in my mind and others moving forward if they don't take a similar stance in future locations with bad laws (which there are plenty of).

jeffwalsh · April 2016

Free said:
Comments like this proves that PJ's music attracts all sorts of people. But, it falls dangerously short of what the band represents: empathy, social justice and integrity.

Preach! ;-)

KR151056 · April 2016

One, two, three, four, five against one Ten Club
Five, five, against one Ten Club
Torture from you to me

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

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