Oasis Banned From China

The Chinese government has revoked performance licences from Oasis, which has forced the British band to cancel two scheduled April shows in the communist country.

Guitarist/singer Noel Gallagher played a Free Tibet Benefit Concert in 1997, which made his group "unsuitable" to perform in China, according to a statement issued on the band's behalf.

While a genuine Gallagher reaction to this turn of events would have included a lot of expletives, here's the official statement issued on behalf of Oasis:

"Oasis were informed Saturday (February 28) by their Chinese promoters [Emma Entertainment/Ticketmaster China] that representatives from the Chinese government have revoked the performance licenses already issued for the band and ordered their shows in both Beijing and Shanghai to be immediately cancelled. The government have instructed the ticket agencies to stop selling tickets and to reimburse the thousands of fans who have already purchased tickets for these inaugural Oasis shows in the People's Republic of China.

"The licensing and immigration process for the two shows had been fully and successfully complied with well before the shows went on sale. The Chinese authorities action in cancelling these shows marks a reversal of their decision regarding the band, which has left both Oasis and the promoters bewildered.

"According to the show's promoters, officials within the Chinese Ministry of Culture only recently discovered that Noel Gallagher appeared at a Free Tibet Benefit Concert on Randall's Island in New York in 1997, and have now deemed that the band are consequently unsuitable to perform to their fans in the Chinese Republic on 3rd and 5th of April, during its 60th anniversary year.

"Oasis are extremely disappointed that they are now being prevented from undertaking their planned tour of mainland China and hope that the powers that be within China will reconsider their decision and allow the band to perform to their Chinese fans at some stage in the future.

"The rest of the South East Asian leg of the band's tour, including the Hong Kong show, will go ahead as planned."

That last piece of news is interesting, since singer Liam Gallagher was banned for life from Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific airline 11 years ago after people complained that band members smoked, swore and threw things at crew members and other passengers during a flight.

You can still see Oasis here:

March 3 Paris, France @ Le Bercy
March 18 Nagoya, Japan @ Nihon Gaishi Hall
March 20 Tokyo, Japan @ Makuhari Messe Hall 8
March 22 Sapporo, Japan @ Makomanai Ice Arena
March 24-25 Osaka, Japan @ Intex Osaka
March 28-29 Tokyo, Japan @ Makuhari Messe Hall 9
April 1 Seoul, South Korea @ Olympic Gym 1
April 7 Hong Kong, China @ AsiaWorld Arena
April 10 Johannesburg, South Africa @ Newmarket Racecourse
April 13 Cape Town, South Africa @ Cape Town Ostrich Farm
June 4, 6-7 Manchester, England @ Heaton Park
June 10 Sunderland, England @ Stadium Of Light
June 12 Cardiff, Wales @ Millennium Stadium
June 17 Edinburgh, Scotland @ Murrayfield
June 20 Slane, Ireland @ Slane Castle
July 2 Werchter, Belgium @ Rock Werchter Festival
July 3 Roskilde, Denmark @ Roskilde Festival
July 9, 11-12 London, England @ Wembley Stadium
July 14 Bodelva, England @ Eden Project
July 16 Castellon, Spain @ Benicassim Festival
July 19 Grafenhainichen, Germany @ Melt Festival