Maroon 5 boycotting Arizona, will not tour in the state over immigration law

[Bluebear]

Maroon 5 aren't known as a political band, but they've now joined the likes of Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, Ben Harper and many others in protesting Arizona's controversial new immigration law.

When PopEater recently visited Maroon 5 in Los Angeles, frontman Adam Levine said it was a tough choice to cross Arizona off any touring they'll be doing for their upcoming 'Hands All Over' album.

"I did an interview in Tucson on the radio. asked about playing there," Levine recalled. "I said it was a really difficult decision to make because we have fans out there that are being penalized essentially by us not playing, so it's a really difficult decision to make. It really kind of comes down to what feels right, and it really didn't feel right to play there and reward Arizona for what we thought was a really bad decision."

Levine and the rest of his bandmates are aware that with controversial issues like the Arizona law, which will go into effect July 29, there is often a backlash against artists speaking out.

"We're just citizens. It's always good to look at everything that we're talking about, discussing, debating or standing up for as an issue," he said, "not to grandstand, necessarily, our beliefs, but kind of just follow our hearts, as cheesy as that sounds, and say, 'Look, this is how I feel, so I'm going to do this.'"

http://www.popeater.com/2010/07/23/maroon-5-tour-arizona-boycott-immigration-law/

[nashville_brook]

1. i had not thought about that band until last night watching Diablo Cody's new film...

Jennifer's Body where they are referenced (by the demon band). two days, two Maroon 5 references. too much.

[47of74]

2. Good to see 'em taking a stand

[pinboy3niner]

3. K&R

Good for them.

[Confusious]

4. Never heard of them, didn't even know they existed. nt

[Bluebear]

6. And you tell us this why?

[blondeatlast]

10. Because it's so persuasive!

(As to what, your guess is as good as mine.)

[Bluebear]

12. Nothing waters down a boycott like people saying "I never use that anyway!"

I never shop there, I don't drink that, I never heard of that. Shut up, up, up!

[blondeatlast]

13. The '80s boycotts here enlivened the collegiates, punks, just about every

genre of msuic fan you could name. U2 didn't come, Pretenders, heck, just about anyone who was anyone refused to come--and it helped a great deal.

The young people turned out to vote because they missed their favorite bands. I LOVE/hate that it's happening again--but it works; I've seen it.

[michreject]

5. Never heard of em nt

[Bluebear]

7. And you tell us this why?

[michreject]

18. Enlightment nt

[Bluebear]

19. Enlighten yourself and look them up. They are a big name & taking a big stand.

[Raschel]

8. One more reason to love Adam Levine

[blondeatlast]

9. GOOD! The cultural boycotts in the '80s here helped get us the MLK holiday

observance--even if I was thoroughly broken-hearted that I would not see my beloved Fishbone (who again are boycotting here over SB 1070).

Mind, this old ska/new wave lover had to Google Maroon 5, but I applaud the action anyway.

!Prevalacemos!

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Good for them

Great band. Huge following.

[pinboy3niner]

14. Great poster from the Sound Strike Benefit Show:

[leftstreet]

16. That is awesome

What a great graphic they came up with!

:thumbsup:

Thanks for posting this

[thelordofhell]

15. I'm torn about this

I'm for the band for making a stand, but I feel for the local concert promoters and local crews that are out of a job for the gig.

I personally hate SB1070 and the political opportunism it represents. This bill would NEVER have been signed into law if the Governor that we elected(Janet Napolitano) didn't take the Homeland Security gig. As it is, we have a Secretary Of State for a Governor who knows nothing and is being led around by the partisan hacks that are the GOP legislature in Arizona.

I love my city(Phoenix) and my state and it's a damn shame we have to go through this crap again because we have too many scared old people(retirees) and religious nuts(Mormons) that vote republican.

[David Zephyr]

17. K&R.

I read today where the LA Times says that at least 100,000 people have left Arizona, and in so doing, are shutting down businesses, leaving even more vacancies in homes, apartments, commercial real estate.

What's sad is that there are so many good people in Arizona who will be financially punished by the idiotic behavior of the Governor and a ginned-up racist voting bloc.

Another classic example of bigots being manipulated into voting against their own best interests. The GOP knows how to punch the buttons of their zombies.