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This episode of BSS is a bit of a different one. It comes from Derek Sherinian, the keyboard player in Yngwie Malmsteen's group. He has it on his site and he sent this story to several mailing lists, and we took the liberty of reprinting it here. It's shocking, to say the least. "Anti-Americanism
Rises" by Derek Sherinian
I am currently the only American in Yngwie Malmsteen's touring band.
What happened at last night's gig in Porte Allegre, Brazil was shocking.
Midway through the set, Yngwie finished his guitar solo spot with the
"Star Spangled Banner." The crowd of about 1500 people started immediately
booing very loudly, and throwing shit on stage. The crowd started chanting,
" O S A M A !!, O S A M A !!!" To see the Anti-American rallies on CNN
is bad enough, but to be in the middle of one is scary beyond words.
So after Yngwie's solo we had about 5 more songs to play. All of my
spirit was gone. I finished the set disgusted, and without looking at
the crowd for the rest of the show.
Yngwie went back on stage by himself and played the "Star Spangled
Banner" again to a choir of loud boos. He then said on the microphone,
"God Bless America, and FUCK YOU ALL" and walked off stage. The crowd
went into a riot and started throwing shit on stage. We immediately
were rushed back to our hotel. I have no idea of the status of our gear.
I want to thank Yngwie for backing me up, and for standing up for the
USA. To the people in Porte Allegre, you should be ashamed of yourselves...
God Bless America, Derek Sherinian"
Later Derek sent another mail, in which he apologized for some of comments. He writes:
"Despite my dissapointment in the crowd's support to Osama Bin Laden,
and hatred for my country, my comments only added fuel to a fire that
I wish never existed in the first place.
I have played Monsters of Rock in Brazil in 1996 with Alice Cooper,
and In 1998 with Dream Theater. I LOVE Brazil, and I LOVE the Brasilian
people. I want to play here in the future.
I am asking you to consider that this is a extremely sensitive time
for my country right now. Think about the children and families who
lost their loved ones in The World Trade Center tragedy. America was
NOT the only victim. Many Brasilians, among innocent people from many
other countries were killed by this heinous act of terror.
I am not a politician. All I care about is playing music, and taking
the music to the people around the world.
I will not judge the country of Brazil, or even the city of Porto Allegre
just by the actions of the crowd.
We
are ALL part of the human race, and the universal language between us
is the music."
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Derek wrote last week: "First of all, I would like to preface this
letter by saying that I am not a fan of one using their musical status
to promote religious or political beliefs. I am also not one to post on
message boards, but something happened to me on stage last night that
I feel compelled to write this letter.
After the final
song, the band went to the dressing room. I told Yngwie, " I refuse
to go out for the encore under any circumstances, FUCK THESE PEOPLE."