Promoter: THE DARKNESS Will Not Be 'Censored' At Dubai's DESERT ROCK Festival

January 29, 2005

Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based music web site Phride.com has contacted BLABBERMOUTH.NET to refute a published report that British rockers THE DARKNESS have been ordered to clean up their act for an upcoming performance in Dubai.

According to the original report posted at the ContactMusic.com web site and subsequently picked up by BLABBERMOUTH.NET, THE DARKNESS frontman Justin Hawkins was warned that swearing and wearing his trademark catsuit would deeply offend the Muslim audience at the Desert Rock Festival in the United Arab Emirates.

A source said, "Because of the beliefs of many of the people, the band will be expected to tone the more risque parts of their performance down.

"So they'll drop the 'motherf**ker' lyric from 'Get Your Hands Off My Woman' and Justin will have to wear far more modest stage gear. It's just a matter of respecting customs."

In response to the report, Phride.com sent the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"Phride.com have been working closely with the promoters of this show for the past few months, and we believe there has been a misunderstanding regarding the story you reported about THE DARKNESS playing live in Dubai at Desert Rock 2005.

"There has been no specific censoring of THE DARKNESS' set on March 25. A spokesperson for Center Stage Management (organizers) told a local paper, 'Like all acts that play here [Dubai], they have simply been asked to understand where they are — there was no mention of specifics.' She continued by saying, 'As far as we are aware, there are no explicit parts in their act.'

"The bands of Desert Rock 2005 will play in front of an extremely diverse crowd that consists of Arabs, Europeans, Asians, Americans and Africans. Dubai is the most culturally diverse, technically advanced city in the Middle East — we guarantee that both the bands and the fans will have a great time at this year's Desert Rock.

"The fans in Dubai have shown nothing but signs of happiness, enthusiasm and excitement on the coming bands of Desert Rock, and are really looking forward to seeing these bands live on stage in Dubai."

Other bands scheduled to appear at Desert Rock 2005 are MACHINE HEAD, SEPULTURA, NERVECELL and JULIANA DOWN. A few more international acts will be announced in the coming weeks.

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