Posted on 12/07/2003 10:13:21 AM PST by Sockdologer
LONDON (Reuters) - A Jamaican reggae star has canceled concerts in Britain where police are investigating complaints his lyrics incited violence against gays.
Gay rights group OutRage! said Sunday that Bounty Killer, born Rodney Price, canceled his concerts because of the investigation.
But a spokesman for the London venue where he was due to perform Saturday said he canceled the gigs because he had missed his flight from Jamaica.
Bounty Killer rose to stardom in 1996 with the album "My Xperience" and has since gained huge popularity in the United States, collaborating with some of the country's top rappers.
OutRage! had urged the London Metropolitan Police's hate crime unit to investigate lyrics in four songs by Bounty Killer, which they say incite violence against gays, and even murder.
"Bounty Killer chickened out and dared not show his face," OutRage! spokesman Peter Tatchell said. "He knows what he is doing is wrong and he is terrified of facing a gay rights protest. His macho bravado is in ruins."
The promoter for the event, who did not want to be named, confirmed that Saturday's London gig had been canceled but said he could not give details for legal reasons.
A spokesman for London's Rex club, where Bounty Killer had been due to perform, said the singer had canceled because he had missed his flight from Jamaica. A concert in Birmingham was canceled for the same reason, the spokesman said.
Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll of Scotland Yard's Racial and Violent Crime Task Force confirmed last week he was examining lyrics from the singer's tracks "Mr Wanna Be," "The Eagle and the Hawk," "Another Level" and "Next Millennium."
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