My Chemical Romance announced tour dates this past Sunday that included a date at the Marquee Theatre on May 24th, 2011. MCR fans in the valley were ecstatic that they would get to see their favorite band play a small venue. The last time My Chemical Romance did a national tour was the Black Parade tour in 2007. The band is back from their break but not without controversy. News broke yesterday that MCR would be canceling their date in AZ due their allegiance with The Sound Strike. For those of you who don't know, the Sound Strike is an association of musicians started by Zack De La Rocha who have committed to boycotting our state due to SB 1070. Now, the more educated members of our society know that this bill was overruled by a Federal Judge in July when it was about to go into effect basically making it null and void. Officers are no longer allowed (or required) to ask for proof of immigration status. Basically the "guts" of this bill were thrown out, so why the boycott still?
My Chemical Romance released an official statement on their website yesterday stating the following:
We want to apologize to all our fans for the cancellation of our Phoenix show on May 24, 2011. This show should have never been booked due to our affiliation with Zach de la Rocha's The Sound Strike Organization. This was a horrible scheduling oversight on our part and for this we are deeply sorry.
For more information and how to help please visit www.thesoundstrike.net.
A few questions brewing through every one's minds are if you were so opposed to SB 1070, then why would you allow your tour management to book a show in AZ in the first place? You can't tell me this came completely out of left field.
Once again, is it fair to make your fans suffer for something we didn't vote for in the first place? And with the "controversial" provisions halted, why is there still a reason for a boycott? I asked some local valley fans for their opinions on the matter.
Victor M. from Phoenix said that "its another example of pampered out of touch "rock stars" taking a stand because its trendy. If they really believed in the reasoning for "sound striking" they wouldnt have "accidentally" booked a show. But its what I expect from any artists... affiliated with Soundstrike, a movement that is based on actually doing nothing to make change."
Brianne D from Gilbert said "It's not so much MCR that I'm mad about, rather than the strike against AZ itself, whether it be music or not. Regardless, I'm a music lover and avid concert goer, and as such, the news of MCR canceling the supposed "accidentally booked" show was what crossed the line for me. Give us some hope that bands still care and want to support their fans in AZ, then take it away? They think this will make a statement to our legislature, but they only hurt our music scene, which is a very separate entity. Powerful bands like MCR should be breaking this trend and helping us speak out, not abandoning us."
Vincent writes in "Lets forget for a moment that a great deal of this bands fans are not 18 and could not vote against it, the fact that Zach De La Rocha thinks he will collapse the Arizonan economy with the actions of his Sound Strike organization is truly ridiculous. Even if EVERY artist stopped performing in the state, it would not put nearly a dent in the economy, and definitely not enough to change the opinion of the government. It is blatantly obvious that the ONLY ones who are going to suffer from this 'movement' are the local venues, the bands, and most of all, the fans who wholeheartedly follow these musicians. Most fans did not even have a say in whether or not this law got passed, but they are the only ones that are paying for the actions of our government, and being punished by these artists. Why do these artists not take an active approach towards changing the law such as doing a benefit show in the state to show their disapproval and raise money and awareness to help repeal it? I am glad I listened to the album when they posted it instead of waiting for the release of the physical CD because, even though it was a stellar album, easily the best thing I've heard since their previous, I am far less excited for it's release and their return to the scene after this."
I am currently trying to reach out MCR and Sound Strike's publicity team for any comments or interviews they might be willing to offer regarding this as I know plenty of fans are disheartened by this news.
Comments
Translation - They couldn't even sell out this small venue. Good riddance to bad garbage
Why do they take it out on their fans just because they don't like the law? BOYCOTT THEM!!!
Ever since MCR posted and cancelled their 'accidentally' booked show, I've been reading about the Sound Strike and, unless I've missed something, the movement isn't actually trying to solve anything. De la Rocha never proposes a solution to the illegal immigration problems that Arizona faces nor has he really considered the effect this will have on Arizona fans. Instead, he generalizes about how bad Arizona is and spends the rest of his time complaining about Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
MCR and zach dela douchebag can go straight to hell. I will never ever buy anything they sell ever again. I will go home and burn all my rage and mcr cds from over the years...yes i will burn them (rather than just throwing them away) just to piss them off even further by adding the fumes to the atmosphere on their behalf.
"We apologize for this "horrible" scheduling oversight??" Sounds like that twerp dela douche or more likely some thug from his army called mcr to deliver the shakedown: "How dare you go to AZ when we, the omniscient cool hipster upper-classmen have said it is NOT okay. Gimme back your membership card!!"
Memo to MCR - Out here in the real word, no one gives a sh*t about soundstrike and their whiner-in-chief. We are trying go to work, work hard, put some food on the table and occassionally get out there for a concert by the muscians that create the soundtracks to our lives. We love and respect each other, and we love and respect you. We will put up with almost anything. But you just absolutely punched us all in the gut and we will never forget it.
There's plenty of places to voice your views if you really care. I notice Zach never does because he couldn't hold Joe Arpaio's jockstrap in a common sense debate.
I guess the duet with Nathalie Maines will be the next single. Have a nice career....AZ doesn't need you anyway....now go F#ck off!
Agreed!. If they cared so much about this law they say is "RACIST", then why don't they just stop with the cd's here, if they will not play here, they shouldnt have anything with their name on it here as well.
Just to clarify, Vince is not the Vincent that wrote in for the article.
I am just as angry as anyone else about the subject, but I choose to take a much more professional approach when it comes to this.
I can be reached at vinny.7765@yahoo.com if anyone needs to.
First off....if you look at the list of artist protesting (Rage, Nine Inch Nails) they are not longer touring anyways. The rest of the bunch are just bands trying to get their name heard and out to the public. Is anyone really going to be upset that Maroon 5 is not going to perform here and we will not be able to see Cypress Hill....are they even still alive? We are not missing out on much and it will fade away just like mos of their careers.
this move wreaks of elitism.... . they care about this issue more than their fans, what's up with that? an issue that's a non issue - the law is in place, but not enforced due to a judge's ruling. so the boycotts are a huge mis justice to every person living in this state.....
the mcr fan balloons are popping at an incredible rate in arizona at the moment. they may have no fans to come back to, and i'm sure that's just fine with them and their faux cause.
This is such crap! I was so excited for that show! These bands don't seem to understand that THE PEOPLE DIDN'T VOTE ON THIS!!!!! The bands are screwing fans and not doing anything to the state of AZ (and Rage hasn't been to AZ since 1997 or something and they had no plans of coming here anytime soon any ways so their not boycotting anything)
I came here Legally, In 1993, My husband and I AGREE with this law. It has really always been here, Sheiff Joe Arpio is the only one who has balls around her to get them back to where they belong, I know they want to come here to have a good life because that's is what My parents did to help me and my little brother out.I don't want to hear any comments about people talking crap. I watched my parents work work and Grow their own veggies and I WOULD HAVE TO pick them every day!, and yet I agree with this law?, and I racist?. I Never really have a childhood. . I am mexican, was born In mexico and watched my parents get us a good life THE RIGHT way!. Now look I graduated highschool, Graduated from ASU and make a good amount of money with me and my husband combined. Thanks to my Parents, and when they came here, they took the jobs most people do not want. I am a mexican republican who thinks you should work for what you get, and not just get thing's handed to you. Liberals think everyone should have everything equal. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ONE BIT. People who work harder dererve what they get. Then people just sitting there. I don't mind my money going to the legals here who are struggling. I am more than happy to help them,...Just not the illegal One's.
I LOVE SHERIFF JOE!!!
Here is a petition to sign to get them back to AZ. Please give it a look and sign if you're in the boat of fans who want them back here.
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