Neil Younger has cancelled his upcoming free live performance in Ukraine – see what he needed to say under.
Earlier this month (March 3), Younger introduced that he could be performing a free live performance in Ukraine someday this 12 months. The present – which was as a consequence of mark his first-ever present within the nation – by no means acquired a confirmed date.
Now, nonetheless, Younger has taken to his official web site to announce the cancellation of the Ukraine gig over security issues. He wrote on March 20: “Our live performance in Ukraine is cancelled. We had a very good venue, near a shelter, however the altering state of affairs on the bottom was an excessive amount of.”
He continued: “I couldn’t in good conscience take my crew and devices into that space. My apologies to all. Ukraine is a superb nation with a very good chief. Slava Ukraini.”
Younger has been a really vocal backer of Ukraine ever because it was invaded by Russia in 2022, and has been extraordinarily essential of President Trump. In 2020 he filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in opposition to Trump over his utilization of his music ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’, and shared a number of open letters on his web site condemning the previous President’s continued unauthorised use of his music.
Final 12 months, he granted Kamala Harris’s operating mate Tim Walz permission to make use of the music in his personal marketing campaign to be Vice President.
Younger’s cancellation of the Ukraine present comes after an explosive assembly between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28. The 2 leaders met in Washington D.C. with the intention of securing a minerals and defence deal. Nonetheless, the summit was reduce brief after a tense argument erupted between the presidents and US Vice President JD Vance in entrance of the press, throughout which Trump mentioned the Ukrainian chief was not “prepared for peace” and accused him of “playing with world warfare three”.
Because the assembly, figures together with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have expressed sturdy solidarity with Zelenskyy, with the previous internet hosting a summit of European leaders in London on March 2 to debate find out how to assist Ukraine shifting ahead.
Figures from throughout the leisure world have been reacting to the extraordinary scenes on Friday, with Jack White describing Zelenskyy as a “very brave man who deserves the assist of the world. He has taken on the battle of his individuals and his nation with valor and honor.” In the meantime Rod Stewart additionally weighed in, saying that “we should maintain supporting the Ukrainians”.
Later this summer season, Neil Younger is about to return to the UK and Europe as a part of his ‘Love Earth’ world tour with the Chrome Hearts.
This features a bill-topping set at Glastonbury Pageant in late June, and a headline slot at BST Hyde Park the next month. For the latter, he’ll be joined by Yusuf/Cat Stevens and Van Morrison, with additional assist acts to be confirmed at a later date. Go to right here for tickets.
In addition to the dwell reveals, Younger lately launched his first monitor together with his dwell band The Chrome Hearts, ‘Huge Change’. He has since given an replace on his debut album with the group, explaining that he hoped to launch it in April forward of a summer season tour.
“It’s in mastering now to make the vinyl, CD and digital copies,” Neil Younger wrote. “I’m very completely satisfied and relieved to have this achieved within the brief time it took. The album artwork has been accomplished and handed in with Jenice Heo. I’m engaged on the lyric sheets now, hoping to hand-write the phrases and get them in, in time…”