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

JP Losman · May 2016

Well the battle is going in the courts...as expected...and why things like PJ not playing the show did not move the dial at all. They basically hosed a bunch of innocent fans, vendors, businesses, etc. for no reason other than to improve their public image.

Smozilla · May 2016

As a refunded Raleigh NC show 10C ticketholder, but non-NC resident, I am curious as to how closely Ed + the band are following the recent developments involving North Carolina and US Justice Department.

North Carolina sues U.S. Justice Department over bathroom bill
http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/09/politics/north-carolina-hb2-justice-department-deadline/

JP Losman · May 2016

Many were so opinionated about this issue before so I think it is important and relevant to follow how the issue proceeds.

bluesuedeitzrad · May 2016

I'm listening to their response now... http://www.wral.com/

EM194007 · May 2016

First, I don't care what bathroom people use. We haven't had any laws about it, don't need any now, IMO.

But the NC Governor is doing the correct thing, regarding the DOJ threat. The DOJ has no authority to threaten to withhold any money from any state for anything.

KV4053 · May 2016

EM194007 said:
First, I don't care what bathroom people use. We haven't had any laws about it, don't need any now, IMO.

But the NC Governor is doing the correct thing, regarding the DOJ threat. The DOJ has no authority to threaten to withhold any money from any state for anything.

Ever think about how it came to be that the legal drinking age is 21 in all 50 states? You may find it hard to believe that it was pressure from the US Department of Transportation.

EM194007 · May 2016

KV4053 said:

Ever think about how it came to be that the legal drinking age is 21 in all 50 states? You may find it hard to believe that it was pressure from the US Department of Transportation. Like God, the US Government works in mysterious ways.

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, was a bill passed by Congress on July 17, 1984. The new law required all states to enforce a minimum legal drinking age of 21 or else risk losing 10% of all federal highway construction funds. The US Department of Transportation didn't do it on their own, and couldn't do it on their own.

Again, what authority does the DOJ have withholding money from NC over this bill? Which is exactly what they're threatening to do.

KV4053 · May 2016

EM194007 said:

KV4053 said:

Ever think about how it came to be that the legal drinking age is 21 in all 50 states? You may find it hard to believe that it was pressure from the US Department of Transportation. Like God, the US Government works in mysterious ways.
The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, was a bill passed by Congress on July 17, 1984. The new law required all states to enforce a minimum legal drinking age of 21 or else risk losing 10% of all federal highway construction funds. The US Department of Transportation didn't do it on their own, and couldn't do it on their own.

Again, what authority does the DOJ have withholding money from NC over this bill? Which is exactly what they're threatening to do.

There will be pressure. Financial or other pressure. It's simple. Not saying you're wrong, but this is the way the US Government controls the States.

EM194007 · May 2016

KV4053 said:

There will be pressure. Financial or other pressure. It's simple. Not saying you're wrong, but this is the way the US Government controls the States.

I agree, they'll try to pressure, or pass something in Congress. But with NC taking this to court, it will most likely end up in the Supreme Court. If it does, then it all depends on the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling.

IMO, Government has to much control of everything. And they say were a free country, ya right.

Tim Simmons · May 2016

lol

Tim Simmons · May 2016

Glad some fans still think they are the real victims of discrimination here.

LukinFan · May 2016

When PJ does make this show up, it's gonna be one hell of a show!

bluesuedeitzrad · May 2016

I had GA tickets for the Raleigh show – I hope I get lucky and get them again!

jordn6971 · May 2016

Tim Simmons said:
Glad some fans still think they are the real victims of discrimination here.

Wrong! The fans got screwed out of their money. The LGBT people were already discriminated against. So maybe you can explain how those two wrongs make things right?

bluesuedeitzrad · May 2016

I don't think the fans see themselves as the real victims. It's OK for us to be disappointed that a show we have been looking forward to was cancelled.

Not for nothing, but because of the Boss and PJ cancelling, I have gotten more involved with fighting HB-2. I am putting in my own time and using my career background in helping out. All this has definitely brought my into the fold of trying to make a difference.

I still think those who had tickets have every right to be bummed about missing the show.

ComeToTX · May 2016

From Mike in RS:

But we did have to cancel that show in North Carolina. That was a thing we thought really hard about. As a band, we just don't tolerate any kind of abuse or intolerance of any kind of LGBT people by any kind of government. We felt we needed to support people that didn't have a voice.

It was a long, drawn-out meeting that we had over a period of days. "Should we do it? Should we not do it?" It turns out that [Bruce] Springsteen had kind of set the mark there. We felt these transgendered people are being discriminated against under this law, and there's just no room for that in my mind. We felt very, very sad that we had to not play. We wanted to play. But at the end of the day, we felt like we couldn't do it. It was a moral belief. We had to boycott the state.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pearl-jams-mike-mccready-talks-prince-north-carolina-boycott-20160510#ixzz48HGMMCwb
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook

JP Losman · May 2016

Yea, they couldn't do it. But then things like this happen...

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/animal-collective-offer-live-albums-to-help-fight-north-carolinas-hb2-20160509

PJ was very out of touch with how to overturn the bill. As was Bruce...they did not have an understanding at all about the way the state legislature is setup and where the votes are and what votes could get changed. You all do realize the legislature has been in session and NO, they did not repeal the bill.

lolobugg · May 2016

JP Losman said:
Yea, they couldn't do it. But then things like this happen...

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/animal-collective-offer-live-albums-to-help-fight-north-carolinas-hb2-20160509

PJ was very out of touch with how to overturn the bill. As was Bruce...they did not have an understanding at all about the way the state legislature is setup and where the votes are and what votes could get changed. You all do realize the legislature has been in session and NO, they did not repeal the bill.

funny, i just sold my tickets to that show on Sunday. found some cool millennial hipsters that really wanted to go.

JP Losman · May 2016

ComeToTX said:
From Mike in RS:

But we did have to cancel that show in North Carolina. That was a thing we thought really hard about. As a band, we just don't tolerate any kind of abuse or intolerance of any kind of LGBT people by any kind of government. We felt we needed to support people that didn't have a voice.

It was a long, drawn-out meeting that we had over a period of days. "Should we do it? Should we not do it?" It turns out that [Bruce] Springsteen had kind of set the mark there. We felt these transgendered people are being discriminated against under this law, and there's just no room for that in my mind. We felt very, very sad that we had to not play. We wanted to play. But at the end of the day, we felt like we couldn't do it. It was a moral belief. We had to boycott the state.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pearl-jams-mike-mccready-talks-prince-north-carolina-boycott-20160510#ixzz48HGMMCwb
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook

Well, that didn't stop PJ from playing Italy, which still doesn't have gay marriage. Italy has done lots of bad stuff for LGBTA and even violated the European Court of Human Rights. Bad laws in Poland too. They played Poland and Italy in 2014.

jordn6971 · May 2016

They cancelled 48 hours before, when they know they have a traveling fan base who took off work, had nonrefundable flights, car rentals, hotels etc.

So the band cares less about those people than they do about making a political statement. Next time find a way to make a statement without screwing over your fans.

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

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