NERD cancels Jakarta gig after KL mess

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

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.


Source and source 2.



N.E.R.D. Detained In Malaysia, Cancels Shows In Indonesia as posted at hiphopgame.com/

N.E.R.D. canceled shows this weekend in Indonesia after they were detained in Malaysia. According to reports, N.E.R.D. had just performed at the Sunburst KL International festival in Jakarta, Indonesia, when they left for Indonesia to play another concert. Shortly after the festival, the group was held by police for failing to get a permit from Malaysia's government. The Muslim country has strict guidelines for performing.

In addition, The Jakarta Post reports that N.E.R.D.'s Malaysian promoter had requested a permit for the group to perform in Malaysia twice. Authorities reportedly rejected both requests, saying the way the group members dressed was obscene. "Following investigations, we found that the group did not receive permission from the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry to perform at the concert," Immigration Director-General Datuk Mahmood Adam told local media. "After their statements were recorded, they were released with assurance from the concert organizer." According to reports, the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur tried to persuade the group's members, Pharell Williams, Chad Hugo and Shay Haley, to continue to Jakarta. The Embassy tried assuring them the Indonesian authorities would not treat them like the Malaysian authorities did.

Still, N.E.R.D. insisted on leaving and flying back to the U.S.