Boston’s upcoming 40th anniversary tour just got a whole lot lighter.
Tom Scholz announced yesterday that the classic rock band has cancelled three of the band’s shows in North Carolina next month to protest the passage of the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, or House Bill 2, the state’s controversial “bathroom” law. Boston joins other bands and artists, like Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam, which have nixed performances in North Carolina as a show of solidarity with the LBGT community.
The cancelled dates are May 4 at the Uptown Amphitheatre in Charlotte, May 5 at Greensboro’s White Oak Amphitheatre, and May 6 at Red Hat Amphitheatre in Raleigh.
“While the enjoyment of our fans is our central concern, and we have been looking forward to celebrating 40 years of history performing for our listeners in North Carolina with spectacular live shows this spring, human rights are more important,” Scholz wrote in a press statement, adding that the cancellations are to “raise awareness, and protest in the strongest terms, the recent passage of HB2”.
Reaction to the band’s decision on their official Facebook page has been mixed, with many calling the group out for putting politics over music.
Scholz describes HB2 as “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.”
He concludes: “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.”
Boston’s tour concludes with an August 14 homecoming date at the Wang Theatre in Boston.