Bjork Tries to “Declare Independence”

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China is now prohibiting all foreign performers who “threaten national sovereignty” or attend events that do so. The decision comes after a performance that Bjork gave in Shanghai earlier this year, where after her song “Declare Independence”, she led the crowd in a chant of “Tibet! Tibet!” There have been other incidents with various performers, but the Bjork incident prompted China to take action.

China has occupied and ruled in Tibet since the 1950s. In 1959, the Tibetan uprising against China caused the Dalai Lama and 100,000 Tibetans into exile. Any opposition to China’s authority is heavily condemned.

With the Olympics coming up next month, Beijing has been enforcing strict rules, banning pop shows, and having all entertainers give them an exact list of songs performed, even encores. China wants to prevent unruly crowds and protesters.

Listen: Declare Independence by Bjork

Sex Pistols Singer Booed At Exit Festival

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During the last night of the Exit Festival, The Sex Pistol’s Johnny Rotten silenced and shocked the crowd when he asked “So who thinks America should still be in Iraq?” After a moment, booes and jeers were thrown at him, which in response Johhny Rotten started raising his arms and saying “Praise Allah, Praise Allah,” over and over. The booing and jeering continued.

Realizing his mistake, he started chanting “Praise Serbia, Praise Serbia!” and quickly started another song. (Virtual Festivals)

The Exit Festival started as a student initiated project and is now in it’s 8th year. The four day festival takes place in Serbia, in the historic Petrovaradin Fortress (doesn’t that sound fancy and fun?). This year’s festival also included Gogol Bordello, M.I.A., Paul Weller, The Hives, and many others.

Listen: God Save the Queen by The Sex Pistols

Fans of Nine Inch Nails On a Treasure Hunt

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An exclusive concert on July 19th to kick off the band’s tour has sent fans digging in the dirt and looking under rocks.

According to the L.A. Times Music Blog, the band posted a file on their website that took them to a Google Earth map with markers directing hard-core fans to an exclusive ticket hidden under rock. The second ticket was hidden in a drain pipe, which the blog’s writer tells you all about him and his brother’s victory in finding the tickets.

Nine Inch Nails have been known in the past for sending their fans on adventures to obtain coveted tickets.

Listen: Closer by Nine Inch Nails

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