Livid on a prayer: Bon Jovi concerts in Beijing and Shanghai are cancelled after Chinese regime discovered the rock band featured images of the Dalai Lama in previous shows 

  • American band has had two concerts in Beijing and Shanghai cancelled 
  • Ticket sales for the shows were abruptly halted with no explanation given 
  • But sources say it is due to band previously showing images of Dalai Lama
  • The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader is a man reviled by the Chinese regime 

Two concerts in China by rock group Bon Jovi have been cancelled after reports the government discovered they featured images of the Dalai Lama in previous shows.

The American band, most famous for hit 'Livin' on a Prayer' had been due to play dates in Beijing and Shanghai but the performances were suddenly called off yesterday and ticket sales abruptly halted.

Ticket sellers Damai.cn confirmed that they had stopped selling tickets at the request of concert organisers, but were not told why and provided no other explanation.

Rock group Bon Jovi, who have had concerts in Beijing and Shanghai cancelled suddenly and ticket sales halted

Rock group Bon Jovi, who have had concerts in Beijing and Shanghai cancelled suddenly and ticket sales halted

However, according to sources, the Chinese regime had banned the concerts after discovering a picture of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, a man reviled by China, had featured in a video shown at a previous concerts.

Meanwhile they also allegedly found that Bon Jovi's 2009 'We Weren't Born To Follow' music video features brief images of the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations around Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

The government forbids artists performing content that 'harms national unity' and vets set-lists and lyrics before approving concerts, as well as the artists themselves to ensure no objectionable connections, such as to human rights groups.

An official at the Ministry of Culture, responsible for the vetting process, said decisions about the Bon Jovi concerts were being handled at the city level.

The band's lead singer Jon Bon Jovi performing in front of an image of the Dalai Lama at a concert in 2011. According to sources, the Chinese regime banned the group from performing after discovering the images 

The band's lead singer Jon Bon Jovi performing in front of an image of the Dalai Lama at a concert in 2011. According to sources, the Chinese regime banned the group from performing after discovering the images 

A recently released video showed lead singer Jon Bon Jovi singing a famous Chinese love ballad from the 1970s in Mandarin, added to the buzz in China around this tour.

And Chinese fans expressed their disappointment and anger on social media, with some complaining that they had booked airline tickets and time off work to see the concerts.

One wrote on Chinese social media network Weibo: 'Another concert cancelled. Let's thank our country once more!'

While another said: 'The world's most populous country and second largest economy is scared of a few songs?'

Chinese officials have been especially sensitive about live concerts since singer Bjork chanted 'Tibet, Tibet' during a performance of her song Declare Independence in China in 2008.

The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who has been living in exile from Tibet. China claims Tibet has always been part of its territory, but many Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries

The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who has been living in exile from Tibet. China claims Tibet has always been part of its territory, but many Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries

This also prompted pop group Maroon 5 to cancel a concert in China in July after authorities refused permission because a band member had met the Dalai Lama.

Authorities in the country censor also content they deem to be politically sensitive or obscene, while international music acts are required to submit set lists for major concerts in advance.

Last year, the suggestive lyrics of 'Honky Tonk Women' were apparently too much for China's cultural authorities as the Rolling Stones said the chart-topping song was 'vetoed' for their show.

The announcement of the Bon Jovi cancellations came on the same day as the Communist Party held grand celebrations in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa to mark 50 years since it established Tibet as an ethnic autonomous region firmly under Beijing's control.

China claims Tibet has always been part of its territory, but many Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries and that Beijing's tight control is draining them of their culture and identity.

 

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