Controversial Jamaican reggae artist
Buju Banton will appear in Ohio and California after all.
Amid boisterous protests from gay
rights groups, tour dates in Columbus, Cincinnati, San Francisco and
Los Angeles, among other cities, were canceled, shutting out Banton
from Ohio entirely.
Banton's 1992 hit Boom Bye Bye
advocates for the murder of gay men by shooting them in the head with
a submachine gun and pouring acid on them to “burn him up bad like
an old tire wheel.” Banton has dismissed the controversy, saying
he penned the lyrics when he was “a child” of 15. But the
thirty-six-year-old reggae artist has never repudiated the lyrics and
continues to perform the song.
The victory for gay rights groups was
short lived as Banton's record label, the New York-based Gargamel
Music, announced a slew of new tour dates in both states.
In Ohio, Banton will appear Thursday,
October 1 at Club Elements in Cincinnati and the following day at the
Alrosa Villa in Columbus.
And Banton's scheduled appearances in
California have also increased. Six venues in the Sunshine State
will host the artist in October.
Banton is scheduled to appear at the
Shattuck Down Low in Berkley on October 10, the Nocturnum in Eureka
on October 11, the Voodoo Lounge in San Jose on October 13, the
Casbar in Santa Rosa on October 14, the Club Cabana in Los Angeles on
October 15 and the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach on October 17,
Gargamel records announced.
Gay rights groups in Florida have also
loudly protested Banton concerts. Two venues, the Hard Rock Live in
Orlando and The RITZ Ybor in Tampa, canceled appearances.
“I couldn't be more proud that Tampa
will be added to the list of cites where Buju Banton is not welcome,”
R. Zeke Fread, director of the gay rights group Pride
Tampa Bay, told supporters in an email announcing the
cancellation.
There are, however, signs that
alternative venues for Florida are also being pursued by the record
label.
The previously canceled November 1
appearance in Orlando by promoter Mr. CC Productions at the Hard Rock
Live will now take place at Club Destiny.