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Anger as Met allows 'gay-hate' singer's gig
Amar Singh18.11.08
POLICE have been accused of supporting homophobic music by allowing a Jamaican reggae singer to perform in London this weekend.
Bounty Killer, whose real name is Rodney Pryce, has been approved by the Met to play at the Stratford Rex on Saturday - despite the fact that some of his songs glorify the killing of gay people.
Among his lyrics are the lines "bun a fire pon a puff and mister fagoty" translated as "burn a fire on poofs and faggots" and "you know we need no promo to rub out dem homo" or "you know we don't need prompting to kill a homosexual".
The Met said it agreed to let the 36-year-old perform on the condition he "does not perform the songs that may be considered as offensive in a homophobic manner".
But Peter Tatchell of gay human rights group OutRage! and co-ordinator of the worldwide Stop Murder Music campaign, said: "The Metropolitan Police are hypocrites.
"They allow homophobic singers to perform in London but not racist ones. Racist artists are banned on the grounds that they are a threat to public order and good community relations. It's double standards.
"Homophobic artists are allowed to perform, even when they are on record as inciting the murder of lesbian and gay people. Although inciting murder is a serious criminal offence, the police give their approval for these singers to hold concerts in London."
In a statement, the Met said a previous concert in which the artist performed at the Stratford Rex "passed off without incident" and added it would "deal robustly with any offences that arise".
But Mr Tatchell accused the police of breaking a promise to only allow reggae singers who had signed the Reggae Compassion Act - a one-page contract created by gay activists to ensure reggae stars no longer use violently homophobic lyrics in their music and performances - to perform in the UK.
He said: "They are taking the side of a singer who has promoted and celebrated the murder of gay people, and who is defying the RCA."
A spokesman for the concert's organisers Cavalli and Paradise Promotions said that he had been assured Pryce had signed the RCA.
The spokesman said: "He performed two months ago at the Stratford Rex and we were assured by his agency that he had signed the RCA. We wouldn't have booked him otherwise because we know the consequences of this. We've worked with the police, who will be securing the event for us, and they seem satisfied."
This year, police forces in Bradford and Birmingham halted two proposed Bounty Killer concerts saying they would be harmful to community relations.
Bounty Killer's record label VP records declined to comment.
Reader views (38)
What this rapper wrote in his lyrics is pure evil. Stopping him from having a concert? I dunno cause there are artists out there who say other things that seem innocent but have sent many teenagers out to have premarital sex, take drugs to cope with life and drink to forget their worries. Hate however of this genre is atrocious.
- Fnb, PA, USA
This man seems scared of something, like gay people are a threat. Sure, everyone has their views but teling people to burn others whether they are gay, black, chinese, white whatever is not a very nice thing to do. Artists no matter what kind of format they use should be aware of how their art affects and effects people and they must take some form of responsibility for their work. This guy thinks he is a big bad boy, he isn't, he is just scare and as much human as anyone else. He's probably very angry as well.
Having let him perform is a makes me a little worried. Having someone hate you soo much isn't nice and does not make me feel very safe.
- David Lau, London
I'm all for freedom of speech as long as it doesn't incite hatred against others and glorifies killing people just because they are different to you.
- Albert, London
Its all non sense, gay, straight alike they all listen too and sing along with his music.
Let the man make his money, let the government get their money and let his audience enjoy his music.
- Cassandra, uk
Oh dear...
"bun a fire pon a puff and mister fagoty"
He sounds like a 5 year old. I'd be offended if he wasn't such an illiterate plonker. He's obviously not the sharpest knife in the drawer is he?
- Dunc, London
Of course he should be allowed to perform. He has the same rights as everyone else under the law, which includes freedom of speech up to certain legally defined limits.
But should he break the law, whether in speech or song, he should be arrested, charged, and tried. It would also be a good idea for the police to give him some legal advice before his show, so he can't plead ignorance of the UK's laws in mitigation.
- Nigel, London
NO, NO and NO..... what is wrong with this country?
- Sharon, London
Whilst I do not condone nor support the message within the lyrics of these Artist’s songs it MUST be said that as a ‘free world’ each should be able to exercise their ‘Freedom of Speech’. However, the United Kingdom and any other state has a right to protect its borders and its inhabitants. With this in mind, the UK have/had a right to ban his message from being promoted and they should continue to exercise this right. His message will still be the same, in terms of what he as an individual stands for even if the word-by-mouth is toned down.
What’s mildly amusing is that as an institution, the MET has been accused of being racist. Now, they appear to be using a tool they despise as a ‘megaphone’ for their other message.
To the MET, We get it, loud and clear!
- Wordfromthestreet, London
So let me get this right. The MET is okay with homophobic singers from jamaica coming here and singing hate filled songs but they claim the BNP is a racist homophobic organisation?! When is this country going to wake up?!
- Jstar, Surrey
These ignorant people should be banned from performing in our country. No matter what comparrison 'D' from London wishes to make, it cannot justify homophobic singing. We would not allow racist singing - this is no different. It's about time Britain showed backbone and stopped so called artists like Bounty Killer
- J Kenyon, London, England
I am gay and could never be offended by some called RODNEY PRYCE! Let's just stand outside any venue his is performing in and just remind him of his real name. How scary can you be called Rodney?
- Alan, Brighton
I find it absolutely obscene that this so called 'artist' can be allowed to bring his homophobic Jamaican 'music' over to a modern cosmopolitan city, even more so to an area that is supposedly up and coming and hip. Whilst he may be 'banned' (sure he'll stick to that rule Met Police?!) This is a major setback to all equality in the capital. If we had a white singer singing (i use the term singing VERY loosely) about how he was going to mutilate and kill black people would there not be an outcry and extreme outrage! This is an absolute case of double standards, a huge step backwards in equality and yet another reminder that homophobia is still utterly rife in this country. Appalling. If this man (again i use this term loosely) is truly religious then i hope he burns in hell with all the other fascists who attend this gross spectacle.
- Chris, london
Sure sign of talentless trash when all you gota rant about is violent and homophobic misogynist nonsense ,poor man is bankrupt of ideas and he trades on the naivety of the youth.
- Kev, London
I live near tghe Rex and it is responsible for crime, drugs and prostitution. The local police and council have done nothing to close it down. This is the final straw. Why should I pay my council tax with this kind of 'artist' being allowed to incite murder 100 yards from my home?
- Paul Malyon, Stratford, London, UK
Er'.. Joe, I don't think this guy would have much clue who was even in government here, let alone how many gays and Scots were on the front bench. The only thing he will have on his mind is how quickly he and his entourage will find a drug-connection once they land here, if they haven't lined one up already.
- Dave, N10
We are in a world city (people from all over the world)and everyone is trying to live their lives.
Go back to the small village where you came from.
- Harvey Muscles, se london
Ahhhh - the vocal minority out for their pound of flesh. How unusual. They're not the least bit interested in the fact that he has agreed not to do those numbers in his performance - just that he has done so in the past. They want to punish him for disliking homosexuality at all. Perpetual punishment. The Greek gods making Sisyphus forever push his stone uphill had nothing on these guys.
- Rogan, Irving
This trash should never be allowed in the country.
- Eric Muldownie, London
When Mary Whitehouse wanted to ban 'The Romans in Britain' because it was offensive to Christians every one saw her actions as an attack on intellectual freedom, now Peter Tatchell wants to ban a singer from singing songs offensive to the gay community in London. While I am sure that both Mrs Whitehouse and Mr Tatchell held or hold sincere beliefs, the question is what is the difference between the two?
- D, London
It is so sad that a so-called singer has to claim he hates homosexuals just to sell his music.
- Keith Price, Luton, England
One thing is freedom of speech out of democratic principle, which is the bastion of the free world. The other, as in this case, is an incitement to violence and murder of a minority people. Under no circumstance should this person be allowed to perform.
- Jaime Gamell-Riera, Madrid Spain
The article clearly states that it's a Met decision and the council aren't involved.
- Ed Harvey, London
Whatever happened to freedom of speech? We should all be able to sing/talk about whatever we want, if you dont like it, dont listen!
This country is going censorship crazy!
- Graham, London
Does seem strange all this homophobic criticsm when the Labour Government, with its disproportionate number of gay members, appear more heterophobic with Harriet Harman now apparently telling us gay women are best? Is this the Labour Governments way of telling us what kind of society we should be developing? Well at least it should breed any opposition out of existence in true communist fashion for it could only continue in test tubes and that would have us all bowing and praying robotically to the Great Leader.
- Joe, London, UK
Can someone more IT literate than me start an online petition calling for the sacking of the person at the Met who signed the order allowing this man to perform in London? Either this person is a half-wit or a homophobe; either way, he has not place in the Met which policies all Londoners, including the gay ones.
- Ant, London
Isn't there just a hint, in this lashing out by Tatchell, of 'punishing' the rapper for what he has done in the past? If he has signed this RCA document surely it means that he has stated a willingness to me more circumspect in his performances.
Radical pressure groups seldom want simple compliance though, do they. They want to score points, political or otherwise. They want others to 'feel their pain', and couldn't care less if they become a pain themselves in the process.
- Rogan, Irving
The Met have always believed the some people are more equal than others. At the top of the food chain in Met-Land are Muslims; gay people are at the bottom of the Met-Land food chain. Whites languish somewhere in the middle with Christians. Met-Land is a strange strange world!
- Cameron, London
I suppose that that is democracy in action... too bad if you don't like it, he is allowed to feel that way if he wants to, it his 'uman right' mate! also, it seems that he has promised to behave, what is the big deal?
- Nigel, London
One law for whites, while people of colour can do what they want; Death threats, gay bashing, terror threats, support for Mulsim extremism etc.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
ALAN from London, Bounty Killer's race has nothing to do with this.
I have been listening to raga and reggae music for years and Bounty Killer along with the other reggae artists that write and sing these blatant homophobic songs that insight violence should be dropped from their record labels. Bounty Killer should respect other peoples personal choice.
Being gay and being black are too different things.
Whether it was a black or white singer singing these offensive lyrics they should be banned, FULLSTOP.
- Hiedi, London
how gay people suppose to feel safe in London if the Met allow homophobic singer to perform. The Met should reconsider their decision.
Emmanuel
- Emmanuel Schmitt, London
Double standards by the Police indeed, just because a previous concert "passed off with no incident" does not mean that people that advocate murdering gay people should be allowed a voice in a civilised country.
- Lee Wilson, London
Hypocrites, the lot of them.
Some people are obviously more equal than others.
Newham Council are the worst
Why do they allow these idiots and muslim fanatics into our borough ??
Anything goes in Newham if you are "non white"
- Chris, London
His performance, with or without the banned lyrics, is an insult to the huge gay community in London. We just recently hosted Europride and will be hosting 'World Pride in 2012'. Maybe someone pass on that message to the MET...
- Carsten, London
What does "does not perform the songs that may be considered as offensive in a homophobic manner" mean sounds like he can sing them as long as he doesn't do so with too much conviction. This not dealing with things unless there is a public order problem will only encourage protest groups to create public disorder. It needs to be made clear whether he has signed this form or not. Those who continue to incite murder should not be given a public platform.
- David, London
I agree with Tatchell that this is rank hypocracy. If this vile individual had a history of singing songs calling for the deaths of blacks, jews or muslims, you can be sure he would be stopped from entering our Country. I suspect that if he were white the position would be very different. If the police in Bradford and Birmingham can see sense on this issue then I don't see why the Met should have such a problem.
- Alan, London
If I used the same level of offensive language about this mans race I would be hung out to dry and quite rightly so.
So why is it OK to be so offensive to Gays?
Respect is a two ways street and we all, not just Bounty Killer need to remember this.
- Stuart, Luton, UK
Maybe his views are directed towards the apparent disproportionate number of gays in the Labour Government when the Government keeps peddling messages about equality. Yet the Labour Government appear biased towards, gays, scots and people with scottish accents. I wonder if there is a message within?
- Joe, London, UK
