***This post has just been updated***
The amount of musicians who have been denied visa's for a U.S. tour is becoming increasingly ridiculous. Here's some current stories from foreign bands:
Brit M.I.A. has been forced to cancel her appearance at Sasquatch after failing to qualify for a visa for the second time. Her other U.S. festival appearances are still listed as confirmed, but consider them in jeopardy. The reason that she keeps being denied a visa stems from her father's involvement as a founding member of The Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students, a militant group of Sri Lankan Muslims......
Canada's You Say Party! We Say Die!, who have their sophomore album coming out in August, have once again been denied a visa to tour the U.S. The group have not played a legal show on the U.S. since 2005. They have been caught sneaking over the border twice. The groups founder, Stephen O'Shea, is banned from entering the U.S. until 2011....
Handome Furs have been forced to cancel their highly anticipated U.S. tour after being denied visas. They were set to play the Mercury Lounge and Maxwells.....
Swedish death/thrashers Raise Hell cancelled their North American tour after their guitarist was denied a visa.........
JUST ANNOUNCED: The Mystery Jets have just announced that "We regret to have to inform you that due to VISA issues the lads have had to push back their tour till after the summer....No folks, they haven't any criminal records nor have failed any government drug tests but have had the unfortunate reality of delays in paperwork and processing. It happens, and to the best of bands quite apparently."
DOWNLOAD: You Say Party! We Say Die! - Teenage Hit Wonder"
DOWNLOAD: Handsome Furs - "Snakes on the Ladder"
Comments (5)
I saw you say party! we say die! play to a mostly empty room at sin-e a year ago. i guess they were here illegally, but it does make you wonder if it's even worth the effort for them.
if even in new york they couldnt get more then ten people to show up, especially with the blow playing a packed house right before them, then i think it's time to give up on your stateside dreams.
Posted on May 23, 2007 12:15 PM
come on...you know you want to say it...come on...it's President Bush's fault, like every other problem ever faced by my man on this planet.
Posted on May 23, 2007 12:49 PM
Add Mystery Jets to that list too. Their tour has also been postponed due to visa issues.
Posted on May 23, 2007 1:45 PM
Yeah, it costs a shitload to expedite visas. In the classical world the burden is usually placed on the producer to make it happen, not the artist, 'cause it's a one-shot concert and not a tour. You either budget the fees or you just give up and book something else.
Posted on May 23, 2007 5:24 PM
I have been visiting sources like that lately. That’s the most important point of everything. That’s why I can professionally say that this information is objective and sounds true to me
Posted on April 6, 2008 1:18 PM