Topline
Rock singer and Poison frontman Bret Michaels announced early on Friday that he is pulling out of the “Great American State Fair” later this month, becoming the fifth act to drop out of the event, which is being held as part of the Trump administration’s “Freedom 250” celebrations.
Bret Michaels performs before the second night of the NFL football draft in Pittsburgh.
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Key Facts
Michaels announced his decision in a long Instagram post, saying the event was originally described to him as a “celebration of our country through music” and a chance to honor “hardworking Americans from all walks of life.”
The singer noted that the event had evolved into something “much more divisive” and this has prompted him to pull out.
McBride also announced her plan to drop out in a lengthy social media statement saying she was initially asked to “perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.”
The Commodores made the announcement across their social media profiles, saying in a statement they will not “publicly affiliate with any single political party.”
The band’s exit is the third dropout from the music acts scheduled to perform at the Great American State Fair, which now only has six of its original nine performers listed for the event.
Young MC and Morris Day and The Time have also dropped from the concert series’ lineup.
What Else Did Michaels Say In His Statement?
Michaels said his shows have “never been about politics,” and “Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of.” The singer noted that concerns were also raised about the safety of his “fans, band, crew, family and myself” and “completely unfounded and unforgivable” threats were made. Michaels added: “This isn’t about politics…Everyone is entitled to their own opinions…But as a father, friend and bandmate, I have to take threats and safety concerns seriously.”
What Did Mcbride Say In Her Statement?
McBride said she believe the event was going to be “just a bigger version of so many state fairs” she’s performed at and something “wholesome” but “Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening.” She added: “I’ve spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues…It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I’m abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you, that is not the case.”
What Performers Are Still Participating In The Great American State Fair?
The lineup for the event, announced by Freedom 250 on Wednesday, still includes C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli and Flo Rida. On Thursday, Vanilla Ice put out a video on his Instagram page talking about how honored and excited he was to perform at the event. In the caption he wrote: “I’m tired of all the news channels dividing this country…This is not a political platform. This is celebrating America’s birthday. Nothing too serious just enjoying some fun, dancing and great memories. ” C+C Music Factory said in an Instagram post Wednesday he initially planned to drop out of the Great American State Fair, but decided against it after receiving backlash for being part of the event’s billing.
Key Background
The Great American State Fair is free, though organizers have encouraged those interested in attending to register for tickets ahead of time. The fair is one of several events being spearheaded by a task force created by Trump for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. In addition to the music performances, the celebration in Washington, D.C., will include speeches, flyovers and a “breathtaking fireworks finale,” according to the Freedom 250 website. While not a direct competitor to the fair’s own concert series, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello announced Thursday a “Power To The People Festival” scheduled for October in Maryland, near the nation’s capital. Performers for the event include Bruce Springsteen, the Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Joan Baez, System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian, Cypress Hill and Killer Mike. Tickets for the event start at $125.
