Joan Baez not allowed to perform at WRMC

mikeschmike · #1 05-02-2007, 02:25 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Musi....ap/index.html

Quote:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Folk singer and anti-war activist Joan Baez says she doesn't know why she was not allowed to perform for recovering soldiers recently at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as she planned.

In a letter to The Washington Post published Wednesday, she said rocker John Mellencamp had asked her to perform with him last Friday and that she accepted his invitation.

"I have always been an advocate for nonviolence and I have stood as firmly against the Iraq war as I did the Vietnam War 40 years ago," she wrote. "I realize now that I might have contributed to a better welcome home for those soldiers fresh from Vietnam. Maybe that's why I didn't hesitate to accept the invitation to sing for those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. In the end, four days before the concert, I was not 'approved' by the Army to take part. Strange irony."

Baez, 66, told the Post in a telephone interview Tuesday that she was not told why she was left off the program by the Army. "There might have been one, there might have been 50 (soldiers) that thought I was a traitor," she told the paper.

In a statement, a Walter Reed spokesman said that leaving Baez out of the program was a matter of logistics.

"The John Mellencamp concert took several months of coordination between Hoffman Entertainment, Walter Reed, Department of the Army and Department of Defense," said spokesman Steve Sanderson in the statement.

"A final agreement/contract was prepared between Hoffman entertainment and the Defense Department laying out everything the performance would entail. However, two days prior to the live concert, Hoffman Entertainment suggested Ms. Joan Baez's possible performance coupled with an interview by Mr. Dan Rather to Walter Reed officials. These additional requirements would were not in the agreement/contract and would have necessitated a modification.

"Nevertheless, the patients and staff at Walter Reed thoroughly enjoyed the Mellencamp Concert and wish to thank him for his generosity."

Baez's manager, Mark Spector, told the Post that Mellencamp's management invited Baez to perform in March and handled all the arrangements. The Post said Mellencamp's manager, Randy Hoffman, did not return calls requesting comment and that Mellencamp's publicist said the singer was ill Tuesday and unavailable.

But Mellencamp earlier told RollingStone.com: "They didn't give me a reason why she couldn't come. We asked why and they said, 'She can't fit here, period.' "

I read a similar article on AOL where JB quoted a "cynical friend of hers" wondering why "they let the rats in but not you?"

I feel a lot safer knowing that these troops won't be exposed to a 64 year old folk singer singing about peace. We barely missed that iceberg, didn't we?

Sarah · #2 05-02-2007, 02:43 PM

See. If I was in charge, I wouldn't deny her because of the whole speaking-out-against-war thing.

I would deny her because her music totally sucks.

oh. snap.

JazmenFlowers · #3 05-02-2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah

See. If I was in charge, I wouldn't deny her because of the whole speaking-out-against-war thing.

I would deny her because her music totally sucks.

oh. snap.

I don't recall giving you snapping privileges.

danax6 · #4 05-02-2007, 05:15 PM

Sheesh, you can't say anything anymore these days. No wonder Stevelah is keeping her mouth shut about this.

Btw, Sarah, STFU, I love Joan Baez. But I was born two decades too late, so yeah.

JazmenFlowers · #5 05-02-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danax6

Sheesh, you can't say anything anymore these days. No wonder Stevelah is keeping her mouth shut about this.

Btw, Sarah, STFU, I love Joan Baez. But I was born two decades too late, so yeah.

I did give you snapping privileges some time ago, correct?

so, snap in a Z formation girl. you deserve it.

danax6 · #6 05-02-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

I did give you snapping privileges some time ago, correct?

so, snap in a Z formation girl. you deserve it.

That's okay, I snapped her in my head. Voodoo snap. Bad karma will hit her some time this week. Most likely tomorrow when I throw some of my Joan Baez vinyls on my record player.

JazmenFlowers · #7 05-02-2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danax6

That's okay, I snapped her in my head. Voodoo snap. Bad karma will hit her some time this week. Most likely tomorrow when I throw some of my Joan Baez vinyls on my record player.

oh...you went hardcore with the voodoo snap. that's some dark ****.

I'm skeered of you sugah.

Sarah · #8 05-02-2007, 07:44 PM

Can't..roll..eyes..hard..enough..

Douchebags. The both of you. Maybe one of you more so than the other, but still.

There are a lot of similar artists that I like, but.. her voice and songs do nothing for me. Boring, boring, lame.

I'd say a personal attack deserves more bad karma than stating the simple fact that Joan Baez sucks. So, that being the case, thanks a lot for bringing me down to your level. Insert unauthorized, unapologetic snap right HERE.

BlackWidow · #9 05-02-2007, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah

Can't..roll..eyes..hard..enough..

Douchebags. The both of you. Maybe one of you more so than the other, but still.

There are a lot of similar artists that I like, but.. her voice and songs do nothing for me. Boring, boring, lame.

I'd say a personal attack deserves more bad karma than stating the simple fact that Joan Baez sucks. So, that being the case, thanks a lot for bringing me down to your level. Insert unauthorized, unapologetic snap right HERE.

I never said you could SNAP! either....

Sarah · #10 05-02-2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackWidow

I never said you could SNAP! either....

Well, screw you too then.

I'm not trying to be in your ridiculous little SNAP club. Snaps existed before you guys and they will outlast you. So your little snap rules totally do not apply to me. I do what I want. Snap snappity snap.

JazmenFlowers · #11 05-02-2007, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah

Boring, boring, lame.

my sentiments exactly.

better luck next time.

Sarah · #12 05-02-2007, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

better luck next time.

Don't wave at me. I don't like you. You can go pick on somebody else for no reason. It's ****ing ridiculous, and I'm not going to play this idiotic game with you any longer. I'm sorry you need to boost your confidence in this pathetic little way. Find someone else. AND. Joan Baez still sucks.

goldustsongbird · #13 05-02-2007, 10:15 PM

wtf @ this thread

foxyluva · #14 05-02-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

wtf @ this thread

Me to - these fools hating on Joan

Sarah · #15 05-02-2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

wtf @ this thread

Well, you know, I made a simple statement in jest, and somebody just had to be an asshole about it. I accept that it's pathetic, and the ignore feature has been used accordingly. It's to the point around here that every thread turns into some stupid pissing contest.

Alas. The sun will shine tomorrow, and I will have bigger things to deal with than whether a some peons here like me or not.