Oasis is definitely, maybe banned from China
On his China Rises blog, McClatchy’s Tim Johnson reports that Chinese authorities have cancelled performances by British band Oasis because of concerns over singer Noel Gallagher’s political views. From the band’s press release: “The licensing and immigration process for the two shows had been fully and successfully complied with well before the shows went on ...
On his China Rises blog, McClatchy's Tim Johnson reports that Chinese authorities have cancelled performances by British band Oasis because of concerns over singer Noel Gallagher's political views. From the band's press release:
On his China Rises blog, McClatchy’s Tim Johnson reports that Chinese authorities have cancelled performances by British band Oasis because of concerns over singer Noel Gallagher’s political views. From the band’s press release:
“The licensing and immigration process for the two shows had been fully and successfully complied with well before the shows went on sale. The Chinese authorities action in cancelling these shows marks a reversal of their decision regarding the band, which has left both Oasis and the promoters bewildered.
“According to the show’s promoters, officials within the Chinese Ministry of Culture only recently discovered that Noel Gallagher appeared at a Free Tibet Benefit Concert on Randall’s Island in New York in 1997, and have now deemed that the band are consequently unsuitable to perform to their fans in the Chinese Republic on 3rd and 5th of April, during its 60th anniversary year.
By now, China should’ve somehow realized that it’s gotta lighten up on those artistic censorship laws. Other superpowers’ leaders seem perfectly content to just ignore self-righteous outbursts from ageing foreign rock stars.
Dave Hogan/Getty Images
Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
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