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

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Pixeltender said:

OfficerPJ said:

I have been struggling all night to try to find the way I feel about this and how to express it. This is something that is beyond disappointing and my first reaction was straight anger. I don't agree with this and waiting until the last minute hurts your truest fans the most. I know in the big picture that this is just a concert by some rock group, but to some of us it is more. Pearl Jam is my "thing". I don't go out drinking, or hunting, and anything else really. For the most part I just go to work, take care of my family, and all the other little things that adults do. This was always my splurge or something to look forward to that was kind of a reward to get through the monotony of everyday life. Besides the nonrefundable plane tickets, hotels, rental car, time off work, and various travel expenses there are other aspects that don't necessarily have a monetary value. Things such as, arranging help with your kids, using the saved up " kitchen passes" from the wife, spending your turn for help from the grandparents, arranging rides to and from the airport, and so on. These are things I am sure the band did not consider. Much of this trip was a Christmas gift and it just hurts that the same excitement is some how gone. It seems dumb that this would bring these feelings, but when it is something that you have been so passionate about for so many years, you just start to question it all. I could not even listen to their music tonight and that is something that I did not expect.

That's all very reasonable. It might help to remember why Pearl Jam is your "thing". Is it because of all those ideals they sing about and stand for? They're a band that you can feel pride for supporting because they're always standing on the right side of history. Even 25 years into it, they're not just old rockers playing nostalgia shows, they're still doing their best to use what power they have to help make a difference even at the cost of upsetting their precious fan base, which I can guarantee was no small consideration for them. Food for thought.

Pearl Jam is my thing because their music is freaking awesome.

They don't drive my social conscience. I like how they think and that makes me like them more... but their music is their greatest gift to us. Let's get serious.

Not sure why you had to add "let's get serious" to the end of a statement that doesn't contradict mine. Obviously the music is what brought us all here.

Pixeltender said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Pixeltender said:

OfficerPJ said:

I have been struggling all night to try to find the way I feel about this and how to express it. This is something that is beyond disappointing and my first reaction was straight anger. I don't agree with this and waiting until the last minute hurts your truest fans the most. I know in the big picture that this is just a concert by some rock group, but to some of us it is more. Pearl Jam is my "thing". I don't go out drinking, or hunting, and anything else really. For the most part I just go to work, take care of my family, and all the other little things that adults do. This was always my splurge or something to look forward to that was kind of a reward to get through the monotony of everyday life. Besides the nonrefundable plane tickets, hotels, rental car, time off work, and various travel expenses there are other aspects that don't necessarily have a monetary value. Things such as, arranging help with your kids, using the saved up " kitchen passes" from the wife, spending your turn for help from the grandparents, arranging rides to and from the airport, and so on. These are things I am sure the band did not consider. Much of this trip was a Christmas gift and it just hurts that the same excitement is some how gone. It seems dumb that this would bring these feelings, but when it is something that you have been so passionate about for so many years, you just start to question it all. I could not even listen to their music tonight and that is something that I did not expect.

That's all very reasonable. It might help to remember why Pearl Jam is your "thing". Is it because of all those ideals they sing about and stand for? They're a band that you can feel pride for supporting because they're always standing on the right side of history. Even 25 years into it, they're not just old rockers playing nostalgia shows, they're still doing their best to use what power they have to help make a difference even at the cost of upsetting their precious fan base, which I can guarantee was no small consideration for them. Food for thought.

Pearl Jam is my thing because their music is freaking awesome.

They don't drive my social conscience. I like how they think and that makes me like them more... but their music is their greatest gift to us. Let's get serious.

Not sure why you had to add "let's get serious" to the end of a statement that doesn't contradict mine. Obviously the music is what brought us all here.

You seemed to be implying that Pearl Jam's political viewpoints were the attraction as much as their music and if this wasn't the case... then maybe you're not a real fan.

I obviously misread what you meant. No worries. I'm not looking to irritate anyone more than they might already be.

ComeToTX said:

Negative attention doesn't matter to the few who passed this. Neither does popular opinion. Neither does PayPal and Deutsche taking money and jobs out of NC. They are bigots and PJ not playing a show won't change that.

It helped end apartheid in south Africa...

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Pixeltender said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Pixeltender said:

OfficerPJ said:

I have been struggling all night to try to find the way I feel about this and how to express it. This is something that is beyond disappointing and my first reaction was straight anger. I don't agree with this and waiting until the last minute hurts your truest fans the most. I know in the big picture that this is just a concert by some rock group, but to some of us it is more. Pearl Jam is my "thing". I don't go out drinking, or hunting, and anything else really. For the most part I just go to work, take care of my family, and all the other little things that adults do. This was always my splurge or something to look forward to that was kind of a reward to get through the monotony of everyday life. Besides the nonrefundable plane tickets, hotels, rental car, time off work, and various travel expenses there are other aspects that don't necessarily have a monetary value. Things such as, arranging help with your kids, using the saved up " kitchen passes" from the wife, spending your turn for help from the grandparents, arranging rides to and from the airport, and so on. These are things I am sure the band did not consider. Much of this trip was a Christmas gift and it just hurts that the same excitement is some how gone. It seems dumb that this would bring these feelings, but when it is something that you have been so passionate about for so many years, you just start to question it all. I could not even listen to their music tonight and that is something that I did not expect.

That's all very reasonable. It might help to remember why Pearl Jam is your "thing". Is it because of all those ideals they sing about and stand for? They're a band that you can feel pride for supporting because they're always standing on the right side of history. Even 25 years into it, they're not just old rockers playing nostalgia shows, they're still doing their best to use what power they have to help make a difference even at the cost of upsetting their precious fan base, which I can guarantee was no small consideration for them. Food for thought.

Pearl Jam is my thing because their music is freaking awesome.

They don't drive my social conscience. I like how they think and that makes me like them more... but their music is their greatest gift to us. Let's get serious.

Not sure why you had to add "let's get serious" to the end of a statement that doesn't contradict mine. Obviously the music is what brought us all here.

You seemed to be implying that Pearl Jam's political viewpoints were the attraction as much as their music and if this wasn't the case... then maybe you're not a real fan.

I obviously misread what you meant. No worries. I'm not looking to irritate anyone more than they might already be.

I was just trying to cheer up OfficerPJ with some perspective

athenssmile said:

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

jfayiii said:

I'm confused... didn't Pearl Jam just play in Chile a few months ago? Isn't abortion illegal there? Like 100% illegal, even in rape cases? Aren't there numerous other human rights concerns there and in the other countries they played? Sounds like selective/fashionable outrage.

It's called picking your battles.

It sucks that I'm out hundreds in travel expenses. I made plans to go to this show because my friend won the lottery that I got completely shut out of, again. While I am extremely disappointed that this happened, I'm directing my anger to the lawmakers in NC responsible for this pathetic law. Seriously, fuck those people. Fuck the NC governor, and fuck anyone that supports this law.

This band is just not as informed as they think they are and perhaps not as genuine in their beliefs

My wife and I are activists here in Raleigh. Hers is her career. We are talking ground floor level. We each have different primary causes but the progressive community as a whole supports each other. We have had some success but have lost fights too. If pj did their homework, they would have understood that this was not one of the better options in trying to repeal the law.

Moreover, the band just reeks of being hypocrites and grandstanding for publicity. The hb2 bill is bad and people on this board (even those in favor of pj cancelling) don't appear to understand how bad of a bill it is. It's disgusting. From a civil rights standpoint, the right to vote is also an incredibly important civil liberty in a democracy. The voter id laws in many of our states coupled with county and local level policies like closing all the dmvs in poor communities has resulted in essentially disenfranchising voters in poor communities, especially poor minority voters. These laws are major civil rights violations. And they are happening in plenty of states Pearl jam has played in like Virginia and Florida or will play in the future. Pj please cancel shows in places with bad voter id laws too. Be consistent.

I find it repulsive too that you are condemning a state where the biggest city actually was pro active in making a progressive law that helps lgbt community as opposed to the cities that have voted against it like Houston. Charlotte may have forced the states hand and created a situation where lgbt becomes a protected class by the Supreme Court but thanks for punishing the great people of the state trying to make a difference in advancing the rights of LGBT among other things.

Besides plenty of other hypocrisies such as the recent chile shows despite their detestable laws, let's not forget eddies support of Nader in the 2000 election. If not for Nader, that presidential election swings the other way and we likely have a Supreme Court that would have been far more favorable for civil rights then we have had. This all makes me think this cancellation was not genuine. It was a copout publicity move. The real move. The real protest. The real courage is playing a show and donating proceeds. If you don't feel like being so charitable, I understand. But then at least cancel with reasonable notice. But to do it like this and writing that garbage letter, you are out of touch with making real change (or you don't truly believe in it). It's just grandstanding without moving the dial at all. I'm very disappointed you decided this was the best course of action. Although I will always love your music, I have no respect for your political stances and supposed activism anymore. Next time I see you play, if there is any political rant, count me as one of those that will think shut up and just play. Before I respected the ramblings. Now I know it's a joke. Excuse me for typos as I writing this from a phone.

Sweet! I can change my flight out of LA to Charleston into Charlotte instead for only an extra 60,000 miles...way to wait until 2 days before the concert - PJ Mgmt. Here's how it probably played out, white guy to richer white guy, "We can't let all the local businesses get screwed in the process of making a statement...well then, cancel late, everyone talks about it, and all the business get to keep the money of the fans as will be past cancelation time. Brilliant." Way to stick it to that HB2 law. #FANGATE And to think it would have been my friend's PJ concert cherry. This one stings. And I have a trans friend.

Ed from the stage in Hampton:

"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.")