UPDATE - Friday March 18 at 22:00:  Beenie Man gig at Hackney, London, is going ahead, the BBC is reporting

LONDON, March 17  –  The UK tour by Jamaican reggae singer Beenie Man has been cancelled, according to BBC Radio 1’s “urban news” web page.

And the Stop Murder Music Campaign and Outrage! have categorically denied that the cancellation was anything to do with them.

“We regret the cancellation of this tour,” said OutRage! spokesperson, Brett Lock.  “OutRage! and the Black Gay Men’s Advisory Group were looking forward to meeting Beenie Man and building bridges with reggae artists.  

“We want to work with them to explore ways that dancehall music can be a positive social force against prejudice and for the upliftment and liberation of the black nation – gay and straight.

“Although we have campaigned to have Beenie Man’s concerts cancelled in the past because of his lyrical incitements to violence against gay and lesbian people, neither OutRage! nor the Stop Murder Music campaign has anything to do with these concert cancellations,” he added.

According to the BBC, “four out of five of the dates have been pulled. The reasons aren't clear, but the police were involved in the decision to stop him playing in Milton Keynes and Bristol.”

In January, the Stop Murder Music (SMM) campaign came to an understanding with the Jamaican music industry, including the major record companies and promoters, who promised to regulate the industry from within to prevent the release of violently homophobic records.

“We intend to honour the agreement with the industry and we hope that reggae music fans understand that Beenie Man’s concert cancellations were not called for by us, nor does it have anything to do with the lyrics inciting the murder of lesbian and gay people,” said Mr Lock.

“The BBC report that Beenie Man is keeping a low profile after another dancehall performer was shot dead recently in Jamaica. We understand this may be the reason for his tour being called off. There were, apparently, threats to kill Beenie Man following this murder. We are told these threats led to security concerns regarding his UK tour,” added Mr Lock

Peter Tatchell, of OutRage! and the SMM campaign, who was one of the people who helped negotiate the agreement, added: “We hope this agreement is the beginning of a new era in reggae music, where the artists rekindle the spirit of one love, peace, unity, brotherhood and social justice promoted by reggae pioneers like Bob Marley, U-Roy, Delroy Washington, Mighty Diamonds, Burning Spear and Toots and the Maytals.”

Earlier this year, a line was drawn underneath the bitter controversy when SMM and the reggae music industry when both sides came to an agreement brokered by media and PR strategist, Glen Yearwood.

Both sides agreed to create formal procedures for conflict resolution.  This includes a series of on-going meetings to evaluate progress.

At the time, Bret Lock described the agreement as a “win-win” situation for all concerned.

“Singers are able to do their concerts.  Fans get to see their music idols.  Gay people are spared lyrics that advocate homophobic murder.”

LINKS

Outrage! website

17 March  2005