Oasis ain't comin'

Oasis was set to perform in Shanghai in April, and the city was abuzz with the fact that finally, another big name band was coming into town. But this past weekend, the Oasis China tour was canceled and people (like me) are pissed.

This year is an especially sensitive one in China -- leaders are fearful of social unrest as 2009 marks the 60th anniversary of the PRC, the 20th anniversary of the 1989 student movement, as well as sensitive anniversaries marking Chinese rule in Tibet. On top of all this, China's economic growth is slowing down in the midst of the recession, of course, and unemployment could also lead to flare-ups.

So in this year full of flashpoints, Oasis isn't wanted in China because of something that happened in 1997. To avoid another Bjork incident, the band's China tour has been canceled because word got out that Noel Gallagher appeared at a Free Tibet benefit concert in New York 12 years ago.

Oh dear.