Did Maroon 5 cancel China gigs because of tweet?
Jesse Carmichael's tweet might be the reason for Maroon 5's cancelled gigs.
Keyboard player, Jesse Carmichael's tweet might be the reason for Maroon 5's cancelled gigs.
Earlier this week Maroon 5 unexpectedly cancelled the China leg of their Asia tour due to take place in September this year.
While the tour's promoters Live Nation did not give a reason for these cancellations speculation surrounds a tweet by Jesse Carmichael. The tweet which has since been deleted said, "Happy Birthday America (and The Dalai Lama too) sang happy birthday to his holiness today with a…(link to Instragram)". Although the tweet has since been deleted a cached version of it is available here.
If this is indeed the reason for the shows being cancelled it wouldn't be the first time bands have been banned from the country.
In 2011 Linkin Park were banned from China after they were photographed shaking hands with the Dalai Lama. Next week the band will be making a return to the country for the first time in six years.
2009 saw Oasis forced to cancel shows in China after it emerged Noel Gallagher had performed at a Free Tibet concert in New York in 1997.
And in 2008 Icelandic singer Bjork was permanently banned from the country after she chanted "Tibet! Tibet!" at the end of her song 'Declare Independence' at a Shanghai concert.
Photo credit: PA Photos Main photo: Adam Levine, lead singer of Maroon 5 Second photo: Linkin Park