NERD cancels Jakarta gig after KL mess

The Jakarta Post ,  JAKARTA   |  Mon, 03/23/2009 9:30 AM  |  Headlines

US hip-hop group NERD (No one Ever Really Dies) have cancelled their Jakarta concert following an unpleasant experience in Malaysia, concert organizers announced Sunday, just hours before the concert’s scheduled start.

Java Festival Production and Urbanite-Sinjitos said NERD had called off their Jakarta gig after Malaysian authorities questioned them and took their passports following their show Saturday at the Sunburst KL International Music Festival.

Resanda from Java said NERD members Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo and Shay Haley did not
want the same thing happening in Jakarta.

Earlier, NERD’s Malaysian promoter had twice requested a permit for the group to perform in Malaysia, but authorities had rejected both requests, saying the way the group members dressed was obscene.

Even without a permit, NERD still performed. The authorities did not stop the show, but after it was over, the group members were detained and their passports held.

After negotiations, it was decided that it was the promoter’s fault, not the group’s, so they were released.

The Jakarta promoters said in a press release they were the victims of this debacle. Resanda said the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur had tried to persuade NERD to continue with their trip to Jakarta by assuring them the Indonesian authorities would not pull a stunt like the Malaysian authorities did, but NERD had insisted on flying home.

Ticket holders can claim a refund from March 25 to 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at ticket boxes. Ticket holders can also call the organizers’ hotline at 0813 090 2424, 021 570 3704 or 96810022 during working hours.

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Mumba (not verified) — Thu, 05/28/2009 - 3:28pm

feel free to read the "official" news at:
http://www.klue.com.my/articles/1581-UPDATED-NERD-not-detained-in-KL-and...

Aoki (not verified) — Sun, 03/29/2009 - 2:05pm

oh for god's sake, dress obscene?? that country has been complaining too much. it's kinda pointless for big artists to come, cause they are just going to kick outta the country and be complained by the lame party. what an unfortunate citizen.. ugh just be patience.

Ralph (not verified) — Thu, 03/26/2009 - 10:53am

WangFu,,say what you like about us. afterall some indonesians has given remarks about us worse than you are. we are ok with that.yup i admit indonesians are more tolerence and acceptable interms of dressing and music. but we , malaysians, we prefer the way we are, remain conservative about this things.we will maintain our values perceived by you as backwards.it doesnt matter at all to us

hiphopindo (not verified) — Thu, 03/26/2009 - 8:54am

The whole NERD crew including its management did nothing wrong, the malaysian imigreysen did nothing wrong, the promoter did nothing wrong, the malaysians ain't done nothin wrong..
Let us all just blame canada man! Lol!

ps: pharrell ain't got the balls to do a concert in jakarta, he's just like 50..
too scared to come to indo? Boy, he ain't close to become a ghetto!

Ayoh (not verified) — Thu, 03/26/2009 - 4:06am

"Earlier, NERD’s Malaysian promoter had twice requested a permit for the group to perform in Malaysia, but authorities had rejected both requests, saying the way the group members dressed was obscene"

they won't let them in because the dress was obscene? what? they wearing bikinis and thong during concert? this is most unprofessional thing and the worse reason I ever heard in my life. I mean if they want to ban KoRn for heavy music and wearing skirt during concert I can take it but the way they dressed is obscene is completely stupid.

"After negotiations, it was decided that it was the promoter’s fault, not the group’s, so they were released" My god, Big shame for promoter.. I think they will never come here again because of this issue....

WangFu (not verified) — Wed, 03/25/2009 - 11:13am

Malaysia is going down fast. What was once a standard-bearer for development and tolerance in the region is fast becoming... PAKISTAN.

It's very likely that this the promoters of this band did not pay off the people in charge. American band? Of course, those fat government ***tards would have seen the almighty $$$ sign.

On recent trips, I noticed that the government, at all levels, had gone from inefficient to openly corrupt and menacing. And after my experience last year, I swore that I wouldn't go back. No one has a clue what the policies are, and the government is hemorrhaging.

For all of criticisms of the Malaysian government when it comes to Indonesia, Indonesia is moving forward. It may not be perfect, but it's moving in the right direction. The religious zealots are being moderated, and the society is one of tolerance. Malaysia seems obsessed with becoming like an Arab country. An identity crisis, no doubt.

Indonesians know who they are. The majority are learning to peacefully co-exist with other religions and minorities. Indonesia is advancing! Malaysia, watch and learn!

Membrane Insane (not verified) — Wed, 03/25/2009 - 2:19am

If you wanna blame someone, blame the event company who didn't get the proper approval from the authorities. You don't blame the immigration people as they are just doing their job. And you don't blame Malaysians as a whole as not all care so much about N.E.R.D., much less heard about them.

Those idiotic rumour mongers who keep harping on the moral police issue should be slapped in the face for spewing false info and making this non-issue into a regional mess.

And one more thing, i guess you can blame N.E.R.D mgmt or themselves for not knowing the true meaning of a contract. They're insane in the membrane.

p/s: chak should just keep his apology to himself as he is definitely not our spokesman.

Rahma h. (not verified) — Tue, 03/24/2009 - 11:08pm

to chak:

i doubt that the promoter will go bankrupt just because of this one concert.. please remember that this is the same promoter as java jazz festival, i'm pretty sure they will manage just fine.

Toam (not verified) — Tue, 03/24/2009 - 5:40pm

They'd probably watched Too Phat's footages by accident and said "hey..we should perform in Malaysia". Anyway, they shoulda come to Indonesia first.

... (not verified) — Tue, 03/24/2009 - 10:06am

So who's correct?
What's the real story?

N.E.R.D. should release an official statement of what happened.
This is getting out of hand.

Bloody idiots.

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