Inauguration blues: Why pop stars won't play for Trump

[Bad Dog]

From the BBC.

Reports from the US suggest Donald Trump is struggling to find A-list stars to perform at his inauguration. We asked the stars of the BBC Music Awards what it would take to get them to play.

When President Barack Obama was inaugurated in 2009, he was serenaded by Beyonce and Aretha Franklin.

During his stay in the White House, he's had audiences with the likes of Rihanna, James Taylor and Kendrick Lamar.

Donald Trump might not be so lucky.

According to US news website The Wrap, Trump's inaugural committee is scrambling to find stars who are willing to play at his swearing in ceremony on 20 January 2017.


"They're calling managers, agents, everyone in town to see who they can get and it's been problematic," an unnamed source told the site.

Grammy-winner John Legend, who has been a guest of the Obamas several times, says he is "not surprised at all".

"Creative people tend to reject bigotry and hate," he told the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38298215

[CentralMass]

1. I heard that he was going to have some very talented dancers.

[progressoid]

3. +1

[bdamomma]

48. yea seems

appropriate since he pledges his allegiance to Russia.

[BeyondGeography]

2. That plus a lot of their fans would hold it against them

[Auggie]

8. Yeah, career-ending potential

[PugDadDem]

23. Agreed

Their music will go into the trash with Elton John's after he played at Limboil's wedding.

[Parker DeWitt]

50. Yeah, poor Elton

Only getting $95 - $750 per ticket in Las Vegas. He must be crying all the way to the bank.

[Warpy]

55. Plus, given Twittler's history, they would never get paid

no matter what a YUGE fee he agreed on. The advertising benefit of playing at his inauguration should be compensation enough!

[Vinca]

4. There's always Nuge.

Be sure to order the Fabreeze.

[safeinOhio]

5. don't forget

Kid Rock.

[Bad Dog]

16. He's one of the few mentioned in the article, and perhaps Rick Astley, but not Elton John.

Despite their reservations, Trump's campaign appeared to have scored a victory last month, when they announced one A-list star would be taking part in the celebrations.

"Elton John is going to be doing our concert on the mall," said Anthony Scaramucci, a member of the presidential inaugural committee, claiming that Mr Trump would be the first president to enter the White House with a pro-gay stance.

But almost as soon as the comments were made, Sir Elton issued a strongly-worded rebuttal.

"Incorrect. He will NOT be performing," wrote his publicist, making liberal use of the caps lock key. "There is no truth in this at all."

Since then, the names bandied around have been much lower-profile - from rap-rock rascal Kid Rock to Achy Breaky country star Billy Ray Cyrus.

However, The Wrap claims Trump's team is still holding out for a Bruno Mars or Justin Timberlake. The situation has become so critical that they are allegedly breaking with protocol to offer artists an appearance fee.

"They are willing to pay anything," said their source, suggesting that a six-figure sum would be within reach.

Rick Astley, the 80s pop legend who is currently enjoying an unexpected career resurgence, is less forthright.

"Depends how big the cheque was!" he laughs, before expressing reservations about Trump's presidency.

[safeinOhio]

20. OH no, trump voters have been

Rick Rolled.

[Bad Dog]

62. If that's the worst thing,

they should be happy. I doubt it though.

[ALBliberal]

71. Lol that is what I was thinking!

[FuzzyRabbit]

61. Cash in advance

However, The Wrap claims Trump's team is still holding out for a Bruno Mars or Justin Timberlake. The situation has become so critical that they are allegedly breaking with protocol to offer artists an appearance fee.

"They are willing to pay anything," said their source, suggesting that a six-figure sum would be within reach.

I hope any artists who agree to play for Trump demand cash in advance. Trump's history suggests that otherwise they will not be paid.

[MrModerate]

70. I recently heard an interview with Astley . . .

Who is somewhat surprised to find his career currently undergoing a revival. He struck me as a good guy. I doubt he'd play. He doesn't need the money.

[Bad Dog]

80. I think what he was saying was very tongue in cheek.

He made his fortune in the 80s then decided to sit back and enjoy it. fair play to him.

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

77. Perhaps Miley Cyrus could ride out on

her giant penis again.

[madokie]

24. I said it before and I'll say it again

Theres always hank williams jr. and charlie daniels, both diehard republiCONs
I'm sure both of them are falling all over themselves every time the phone rings trying to get to it

[TheDebbieDee]

29. I thought Hank Williams Jr passed away...

[madokie]

32. Nope he's still kicking

maybe his career but his stinking republiCON ass is still with us.

[Aristus]

43. No.

The wrong Hank Williams died young. No justice in this world...

[cwydro]

6. Maybe Kanye and the Kardashians.

Kanye said that if he had bothered to vote, he would have voted for Trump.

[lunasun]

10. His wife was publicly pro Clinton but I would like to see Kanye show up to sing then during the

Last edited Tue Dec 13, 2016, 11:04 AM - Edit history (1)

swearing in portion jump in and grab the bible and talk about how he should have been president and how he would be a better choice much like all his stage grabs at award shows he is known for
Edit to add looks like you called it but I still hope the scene imagined above goes down

[Ineeda]

28. He just left tRump Tower at 9:55 AM Tuesday

with a yuge photo op hug.

[cwydro]

30. I know, right?

Wow.

[bdamomma]

49. maybe Kanye

asked for a cabinet position........

[justgamma]

60. Kanye is crazy, like Trump. n/t

[japple]

7. Hank Williams, Jr. and Charlie Daniels will be there for

him.

[HughBeaumont]

9. Ray Stevens is still alive.

[lunasun]

12. If it is all these patriotic showboaters it will be an even more nauseating event. Perfect!

[HughBeaumont]

13. Branson on the Potomac!

[lunasun]

14. Yes! Good One

[Judi Lynn]

72. Nice!

[Jake Stern]

59. How time changes people

Ray Stevens once sung about the beauty of diversity in "Everything is Beautiful" but now is an immigrant hating Bagger asshole.

Charlie Daniels once hilariously mocked Conservative White Southern culture in "Uneasy Rider" but now is a full-on Good Ol' Boy himself.

[HughBeaumont]

75. Sometime in the 70s, Charlie found Jeesus. Or Reagan.

He actually supported Carter early on. It's been a sharp right turn ever since.

I can't even figure out Ray Stevens. Maybe he was always that way and didn't start getting political until after 9-11.😠

[Jake Stern]

82. The way some cons talk Reagan is the avatar of Jesus

Sadly 9/11 brought out the right winger in more than a few people (cf. Dennis Miller) so it could have politicized Ray Stevens.

[rgbecker]

11. Quote of the week: "Creative people tend to reject bigotry and hate," he told the BBC.

[JI7]

41. it's why liberal talk radio could never be a success the way right wing radio has been

[muntrv]

15. Gene Simmons is busy?

[Bad Dog]

19. Probably memorising a new joke book.

I read once that he has a joke for every occasion, a sure sign that someone has no wit or sense of humour of their own.

[SammyWinstonJack]

68. He'll play any venue if the price is right, Cash in advance.

[KG]

17. lee greenwood could sing a medley of his greatest hit!

[jmowreader]

56. I think you can only do the 45-minute disco version of that song once

I think he's going to have to branch out a little...if he can't get any professionals to sing at his inaugural, why not just ask the Bob Jones University Music Department to come up and play a few hymns or something? Or maybe the choir from a Lord Jesus with Signs Following Church? They can even bring their snakes and put on a REAL show!

[world wide wally]

18. Maybe Lee Greenwood can sing "Proud to be an American" as they wave Russian flags

[Duppers]

44. +10 :D

[longship]

21. The Lennon Sisters! Or Pat Boone!

Here:

And here's Pat Boone losing his toupee on national TV:

[phylny]

73. Pat Boone! That was worth spending two minutes

Thinking about him LOL!

[anniebelle]

22. Ted Nugent can't find any clean underwear?

[cwydro]

25. I just posted about Kanye in this thread, and lo and behold.

CNN is reporting he's in Trump Tower.

Lmao and smh.

[lunasun]

31. Yes you called it , or as tavernier suggested West could be there regarding the SCOTUS pick......

[yesphan]

26. I hear that

MegaDeth is available.

[malthaussen]

27. Nickleback and Justin Beiber, maybe.

Although they'd be more appropriate if Mr Cruz had won the election.

-- Mal

[jmowreader]

57. He's not going to hire Canadian bands

And if he DID, the only Canadian band appropriate for a Donald Trump event is Chuggo.

[dawnie51]

33. I hear Kanye West is at Trump Tower this a.m.......

maybe Kanye is going to be the entertainment.

[HurricaneWarning]

34. The Red Russian Chorus

may be available:

[Cryptoad]

35. David Allan Coe

has agreed to do several on his hits from his "Underground" racist album......

[Mendocino]

88. My backward neighbors

listed on facebook their favorite "artists": Nugent, Hank Williams Jr. and Coe. UGH!

[awoke_in_2003]

36. Maybe it will start a trend

The inauguration, like the crap around the Super Bowl, is getting over the top.

[avebury]

37. Anybody stupid enough to agree to perform had better demand

payment in cash up front. nt

[aikoaiko]

38. I know a group that would accept....

Graphic Warning: Depictions of police brutality.

heh.

[sarcasmo]

39. Wayne Newton, Kid Rock, Ted Nugent and Gene Simmons.

[VOX]

40. That's a lineup from hell.

If I were being interrogated, the threat of having to listen to that lineup would make me confess to just about anything. Whew.

[sarcasmo]

45. All 4 support Orange Julius.

[JI7]

42. i would just go with local performers or high school choir instead

But i have a feeling many of them would not want to perform for the same reason so they would still be limited.

[liberalhistorian]

52. I think you just came up with a

new "enhanced interrogation" technique for the CIA!!! I know that would make me break in about twenty seconds.

[Bad Dog]

63. A bit like when Jonathan King released a record praising Margaret Thatcher.

Then surprise surprise, a few years later.

Pop mogul Jonathan King was today sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of molesting schoolboys.
Judge David Paget told a pale and shaken King that he had used his position in the pop world to seduce young boys.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/nov/21/childprotection.society

Maybe Trump could get Gary Glitter to perform, although I honestly don't know whose reputation would be most damaged by it.

[lindysalsagal]

46. Freedom Girls from Pensacola, Florida

"Deal from strength or get crushed every time."

[jberryhill]

51. Lol

[HarmonyRockets]

79. Except they got stiffed

Remember?

[lindysalsagal]

85. Why should they be different than any of his other vendors?

<cringe>

[DonCoquixote]

47. here is a good companion piece

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/seth-macfarlane-breaks-down-why-most-of-hollywood-hates-trump_us_5841b9b8e4b09e21702e5c5c

"We live and work amongst his kind every day here. His tactics are those employed by the shiftiest of agents, lawyers, and publicists,” the actor said in a long note. “We’ve learned to recognize the blustery showmanship of a lying con man because we encounter it every day in our business.”

But as MacFarlane went on to explain, it’s important not to confuse Hollywood’s dislike for Trump with a lack of patriotism.

“Most of us love America a hell of a lot, and we don’t want America to be conned the way many of us have ourselves,” he wrote. “Trump is not of the People. Trump is of Hollywood. And that is the problem.”

[jberryhill]

53. Live microphone? Wall to wall media?

Could be interesting.

[ailsagirl]

54. I hope no one shows up-- either audience or performers

Or the media

[Control-Z]

58. Someone with a twitter account

needs to go and make sure the maggot knows just how much he is hated. Hehe.

[Bad Dog]

64. Like they did with Kate Bush.

And she just praised Theresa May, who's not too bad as far as evil Tories go.

Kate Bush has shocked fans by saying that she ‘really likes’ Tory Prime Minister Theresa May.

The iconic British musician, 58, faced a social media backlash on Tuesday after admitting that she thinks the new PM is the ‘best thing that’s happened’ to the UK in a long time.

“We have a female prime minister here in the UK. I actually really like her and think she’s wonderful,” she told Canadian magazine Macleans.

http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/kate-bush-faces-backlash-from-fans-for-saying-she-supports-wonderful-prime-minister-theresa-may-a3407871.html

[Feeling the Bern]

65. Kid Rock, Charlie Daniels, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams Jr, Toby Keith, Trace Adkins

Gene Simmons, Ted Nugent, Lee Greenwood and special appears by David Allen Coe and Montgomery Gentry. . .opening act: The Mike Huckabee band, along with the Gary Sinise Band.


That's a fucking D list if I ever saw one!

[Bad Dog]

66. Still not as good as who's playing down the pub.

And they're holding down regular jobs.

[maveric]

84. Merle Haggard is dead.

[Feeling the Bern]

86. So? They'll dig his right wing ass, or convince their idiot bible thumper asskissers that he's

performing from beyond the grave. . .if they just accept Republican Jesus in their lives.

[AgadorSparticus]

69. If I was an A list performer,I wouldn't want to be associated with

The inauguration of fascism and the death of democracy...for the rest of my life.

Besides, it would be a career death knell. How would you ever be able to look at any poc in the entertainment industry again?

[Buns_of_Fire]

74. No Meat Loaf?

[JustAnotherGen]

76. They should skip the performances altogether

Do the swearing in, the dance/dinner at the White House - and call it a day.

[MountCleaners]

78. Skrewdriver can play

I'm sure they're celebrating the new President.

[Bad Dog]

81. In Hell maybe

Ian Donaldson died in 1993.

They're not proper skinheads anyway. The skinhead movement is a fusion of Jamaican and British music, it's message is inclusive and anti racist. There's still a lot of genuine skinheads about who are very active in the anti fascist movement.

[lpbk2713]

83. Victoria Jackson can do a somersault.

Kelsey Grammer can ... um ... ah ... must be something he can do.

[PinkTiger]

87. D.C. Area bands are also staying away.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/marching-bands-ditch-inauguration_us_58519dd1e4b0e411bfd51139?section=us_politics