I remember this discussion some time ago ( a year?), but can't find it anymore...
What is/was all the fuss about with this tour? They didn't play for whites only, nor for black ppl exclusively- they played for everybody! In fact- they put their music ABOVE all this... More importantly- there wasn't so much fuss when they did South America- not a very democratic part of the world back in 1981... And how about doing Budapest? Most of the audience were ppl high in the communist party- behind the Iron Curtain there were some terrible things happening as well... Why than does this particular one still is the most controversial? Is racist crime worse than crime without racist reasons? Isn't actually this racist- dividing the two? Crime is a crime and regime is regime- doesn't matter if it's called apartheid or communism or whatever...
What do you think?
There are two reasons why the Sun City concerts were so controversial -
First, there was a UN boycott in place and all artists were supposed to comply but Queen just ignored it. They almost were thrown out of the British music union for breaking the boycott.
Second, Sun City was an all-white luxury resort - it was not a mixed audience and it was not that everybody could attend. Many people thought that Sun City is not the place where a Rock band should perform.
In the "Killer Queen" documentary Roger said it was a mistake to perform in SunCity.
"it was not a mixed audience and it was not that everybody could attend"
And do you think that in a communistic country everybody could buy a ticket to a rock concert? :-) C'mon, rock music was an "imperialistic weapon that was sent by evil British and Americans to destroy the comfortable living in communism".
<font color ="olive">ThomasQuinn wrote: And what's wrong with communism? Hell, it beats McCarthy (you remember him?) and Bush. The Russians messed it up, but the idea is good, ok?!
Sorry, Thomas. You don’t know what you speaking about. I lived there and very good remember how hard we’ve looked for records etc. And rock concerts of foreign bands. HA,HA. That’s why I never seen Queen live - that communistic crap.
<font color ="olive">ThomasQuinn wrote: And what's wrong with communism? Hell, it beats McCarthy (you remember him?) and Bush. The Russians messed it up, but the idea is good, ok?!
Mmm. Communism works? Not sure on that one, but don't know enough to argue the point!!! I would say that democracy should work, but show me a country with democracy that works perfectly and I'll show you the drugs you were taking.
BUT, communism surely must be more flawed than any other system (well, apart from out and out dictatorship, but then the two go together more often than not). The places where it existed have all been very controlled states, and of course Russia couldn't sustain it.
Is China still communist? In practice? Anyone else got any other ideas?
Back to Sun City, I was under the impression that the audience was mixed, but I suppose it's true that Sun City is very far removed from most of South Africa. I think Brian still defends the gigs doesn't he?
wstüssyb wrote: talking to a a few ppl who actually went to the show, about 99.9% were white
of course the .01% black that were there, were working.
Interesting. Not totally surprised, though. When you think about it, it was a slightly strange choice of venue really. I think this might be the case of they were made an offer they couldn't refuse?
All I can say is that both extremes LEFT and RIGHT are BAD!
So it doesn't matter whether you lean more towards Castro or McCarthy. Both motherfuckers are dead wrong.
deleted user 30.09.2004 13:48
I guess the press were having a field day, and Queen were the lucky bastards.
Maybe they played there because they wanted to know a different kind of audience like the african people (BLACK AND WHITE people) but FOR SURE they knew that Suncity was a city for WHITE people......so i think that the main reason because they played there is that they could earn a lot of money in Suncity.Queen are the greatest band on the planet but they aren't moral myths =)
andrew wrote: Maybe they played there because they wanted to know a different kind of audience like the african people (BLACK AND WHITE people) but FOR SURE they knew that Suncity was a city for WHITE people......so i think that the main reason because they played there is that they could earn a lot of money in Suncity.
I hope they didnt play their just for the money, its kind of a slap in the face to their black fans.
-C
Anybody who thinks that communism might work is a fucking idiot who has never lived in a communistic country. I suggest a trip to Cuba, Northern Korea, China or maybe some ex-Soviet Union country as these are the only (major) places where communistic dictators rule.
I'm interested in this topic from another point of view:is there any full or partial registration of any of these concerts in South Africa?
How many dates they do and haw many were cancelled?
Is where Freddie lost his voice and it would be interesting to listen to it when it happened from an historical point of view.If so,I hope someone will attach them in the download section.