RALEIGH, NC — Along with Bruce Springsteen, who announced April 8 that he and the E Street Band would not perform the April 10 concert slated for Greensboro, NC to protest the state’s HB2 “bathroom law,” other bands and artists have spoken out against the law, canceled shows or announced that proceeds from shows performed would go to LGBT causes. Those canceling gigs include Ringo Starr, Boston’s Tom Scholz and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. Others vowing to steer clear of the state include Dead & Company and Cirque du Soleil.
On April 13, Ringo Starr canceled his band’s gig set for Cary, NC on June 18. On April 18, both Boston, led by Tom Scholz, and Pearl Jam, led by Eddie Vedder, announced cancellations. Boston will not perform gigs slated for Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, NC on May 4, 5 and 6; Pearl Jam nixed its April 21 show in Raleigh.
Some other artists, including Cyndi Lauper, who is scheduled to perform in Raleigh on June 4, have spoken out about the law while not canceling plans to perform. In Lauper’s case, on April 13, she noted her intention to perform as scheduled, but said she would use the concert as an opportunity to raise awareness and funds in a bid to get the law overturned. Jimmy Buffett spoke out against the law but opted to perform for show dates that had been booked before the “dumb” law went into effect. Buffett’s shows with Huey Lewis and the News April 21 and 23 in Raleigh and Charlotte were not canceled.*
Earlier this month, in a separate protest, Canadian rocker Bryan Adams canceled his show that had been set for April 14 in Biloxi, MS, in opposition to Mississippi’s law that lets religious groups and some private businesses to refuse service to gay couples citing religious objections.
Tom Scholz’s announcement of the cancelation of the three Boston gigs in North Carolina, posted on the band’s website, www.bandboston.com, follows:
While the enjoyment of our fans is our central concern, and we have been looking forward to celebrating forty years of history performing for our listeners in North Carolina with spectacular live shows this spring, human rights are more important. It is with deep regret, that I must announce the cancellation of our upcoming shows on May 4, 5 & 6 in Charlotte, Greensboro, and Raleigh in order to raise awareness, and protest in the strongest terms, the recent passage of HB2, the so called “North Carolina bathroom law.”
HB2 has the appearance of an oppressive discriminatory law against a small minority, who already have to deal with a narrow-minded world regarding issues beyond their control which they did nothing to bring upon themselves. Other aspects of the new law arguably encourage bigotry. With thousands of fans in attendance at our shows, it is likely that some members of our audience and/or their loved ones are affected on a daily basis by this ugly expression of intolerance.
My sincere apologies to our fans who have already made arrangements to attend these shows. The removal of the shows from our schedule is a major disappointment. It has always been my wish to inspire people with BOSTON’s music. Hopefully the sacrifices we are all making here will inspire people to do the right thing in the future. We look forward to the day that the state government of North Carolina will come to its senses and treat ALL individuals with equal freedom in their pursuit of happiness here in the United States.
—Tom Scholz
Cirque du Soleil also included the following excerpt in an announcement issued earlier this month:
Cirque du Soleil strongly believes in diversity and equality for every individual and is opposed to discrimination in any form. The new HB2 legislation passed in North Carolina is an important regression to ensuring human rights for all. We therefore choose to cancel our scheduled performances of OVO in Greensboro (April 20-24) and our scheduled performances in Charlotte (July 6-10) and our scheduled performances of TORUK – Avatar in Raleigh (June 22-26).
* CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this post noted that Jimmy Buffett and Huey Lewis and the News would be steering clear of the state; that will only be true for shows that would have been booked after the law got passed. Shows booked prior to the law’s enactment were expected to go on as planned.
