Oasis says China has blocked what would have been the British band’s debut in the country in April because lead singer Noel Gallagher took part in a free Tibet concert in 1997.
A growing number of western musical acts have travelled to China in recent years, including the Rolling Stones and Elton John but Beijing closely regulates live performances, especially after Icelandic singer Bjork embarrassed authorities last year by shouting “Tibet!” at the end of her concert in Shanghai.
Officials at China’s Ministry of Culture have now deemed the band are unsuitable to perform on April 3 in Beijing and April 5 in Shanghai after discovering Gallagher performed at a free Tibet concert in New York City in 1997, Oasis said in a statement on its website Wednesday.
The band is extremely disappointed and hopes Chinese officials will reconsider, the statement said.
Oasis said its show in Hong Kong on April 7 will go ahead as scheduled.
The former British colony is now ruled by China but has retained separate political and economic systems.
Oasis is also touring Japan and South Korea as part of the Asian leg of its world tour to promote its new album, “Dig Out Your Soul.”
