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The Squids' US tour cancelled over flag-burning imagery

Contributed by an Anonymous Source. Posted by aubin on Thursday, November 29, 2007 at 7:00 PM (EST)

Northhampton, UK-based The Squids have been forced to cancel their American tour after a dispute over some inflammatory imagery used in the band's tour posters. According to a local paper, the band used the images of flaming stars and stripes pictures on a MySpace flyer for three New York shows, which prompted the US venues to cancel the band's gigs.

Singer Stuart Fraser explained:

We used a picture of an American flag and it said 'The Squids are coming to burn America'. We didn't think it was too offensive, just a bit rock 'n' roll. We were contacted by the venues, who said it was offensive and asked if we would take it down, but we said no. A few days later, all our shows were cancelled.

We're annoyed by what's happened. It was only a burning American flag. We didn't even know it was illegal to burn them. We just thought it was a bit of fun; we saw the picture and thought it would do. We wanted to show we were coming and we were going to make an impact, but they obviously have no sense of humour.

You can see the flyer in question here.

News (73 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

Archangel (November 29, 2007)

God bless America...

1+ Reply

returnofdebs (November 29, 2007)

i believe you meant 'america bless god.'

Wentz_Equals_Death (November 29, 2007)

clearly these bloodthirsty squids must be stopped

LetTheDayBegin (November 29, 2007)

I think it is a little lame for The Squids to think that no one would get offended. If my band was asked by the venues to remove the flier, I would; I would never risk a whole country tour for a stupid picture.

1+ Reply

raded6 (November 29, 2007)

Attitudes towards flags/national identity are much different in Europe than in the USA

mikelagglesby (November 29, 2007)

i want to burn an american flag at my next show!

PersonalResponsibility (November 29, 2007)

It's not illegal to burn the flag.

8+ Replies

veganboyjosh (November 29, 2007)

it looks from that picture like they're not just burning it, but grilling it.

what kind of sauce would YOU put on your grilled american flag? GO!

el_matt (November 29, 2007)

Just lots of salt.

eran_zombis (November 29, 2007)

In order to preserve it? Really?

Windfall (November 29, 2007)

Anarchy.

Albert_Belle (November 29, 2007)

HA HA HA! I'd smother bad boy in some Heinz 57.

Albert_Belle (November 30, 2007)

*THAT bad boy in some Heinz 57... Damn, I'm such a waste of life.

Me_is_Murder (November 29, 2007)

since it's an american flag, nothing less than barbecue sauce and lard would suffice

trevor_the_exploder (November 29, 2007)

flag desecration: it's not illegal at all. of course it does say in the US Flag Code that, "No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform" - guess that yahoo with the flag bandana is less of a patriot than he thinks...

notfeelingcreative (November 29, 2007)

"While desecration of the American flag is legal in the United States, it is illegal to "deface, defile or contemptuously abuse" the Confederate flag in the state of Florida."

Guess I should find some new toilet paper!

NotPatriotic (November 29, 2007)

"I wipe my ass with maximumrocknroll"

Citizen_Crack (November 29, 2007)

I wipe my ass with showbiz.

noiinteam (November 30, 2007)

nice

ashtraymonument (November 30, 2007)

us flag code isn't law though

fallingupwards84 (November 29, 2007)

nice to know that free speech is alive and well in this country

2+ Replies

xmadcowx (November 29, 2007)

Americans' right to free speech does not mean that there are no consequences for what you say. In addition, they aren't US citizens nor in the US and there was no censoring of what they said, merely businesses making business requests and then business decisions. This is the wrong article to complain about infringement on American liberties. Nice try though.

Guy_Incognito (November 29, 2007)

This has absolutely ziltch to do with free speech in the way you are implying. The didn't government canceled the shows to censor the band.

The VENUES canceled the shows because they were exercising THEIR right to free speech by not supporting the implied viewpoint on the flyer. The venue has a right to express their views in this way just as much as the band does in theirs. If they don't want to be associated with this kind of imagery then that is their RIGHT as well under the concept of free speech.

Why is free speech only a one way street with you?

returnofdebs (November 29, 2007)

who are the lame ass venues that would care about this? so it's cool to have no talent ass clowns make deragatory remarks about women or homosexuals while on stage, but this is offensive? they should have gone all out and just had a picture of osama raping an american soldier while burning the flag. i would have bought a ticket then.

Concept (November 29, 2007)

I bet that's some grade A flag, ahh the spoils of being American.

leftapart (November 29, 2007)

I am not even going to start in on how disrespectful these images are. I can clearly see why they got there shows canceled. I don't understand why they wouldn't just take the flyers down when they were told too. This is ignorance and defiance at it's best. And yet the do not understand what the big deal is. They are just plain oblivious. I am glad they got their shows canceled.

4+ Replies

usversusthem (November 29, 2007)

flamebait?

(literally)

NotPatriotic (November 29, 2007)

I don't know if your comment was sarcasm or not, but if it was serious, I would like to dig into your brain. The quote, "I don't understand why they wouldn't just take the flyers down when they were told too" is interesting. Have you ever thought that maybe some people disagree with being told what to do? Especially when the act they are participating in is not harmful towards a specific person or group of people. Obviously there are pictures that are harmful and do hurt, but a US flag burning is not one. There is no history behind it.

Guy_Incognito (November 29, 2007)

How is flag burning not potentially harmful or hurtful to some people...in New York City of all places?

Flag burning is all in the eye of the beholder. Some people believe the flag represents the government, so it doesn't really bother them. Other people believe the flag represents a nation of people. To those people, flag burning is akin to calling someone a...well a really bad word that I don't like repeating.

Not only that, but its completely reasonable for the venue to not want to be associated with that kind of imagery. It's not censorship, it's the venue exercising their own right to free speech to be able to say that they don't want to be a part of that kind of thing.

If someone put your face or name on a flyer with the caption "I support President Bush!" wouldn't you want to have the right to say that you don't want

show rest of comment

NotPatriotic (November 30, 2007)

Oh I agree that the venue should do whatever they want to do. But so should the band. The original poster said, "I don't understand why they wouldn't just take the flyers down when they were told too" and I was just trying to respond to that.

Guy_Incognito (November 30, 2007)

Of course and they did. My only point of contention (not with you necessarily) is that the venues canceling the show has become an issue with some people. Both parties couldn't agree, so they canceled the show. Seems like the most logical solution is the one that prevailed, end of story.

If the band wants to make a statement by not taking them down, that's cool and I respect that. But people also should respect the venues position that they don't want to have their name on that kind of imagery. It's really not that far out in my opinion.

DeadMilkMan (November 30, 2007)

Fuck off. For me, burning an American flag is a symbol acknowledging that the world does not revolve around the US. And I'm sick of this bullshit stigma that comes with right wing "patriotism" and September 11th. 9/11 didn't just impact New York or America. It fucked everything up for everyone, worldwide. People like you are the reason we're in Iraq now. Because you throw the 9/11 card around as a justification for everything. Genocide is occurring as we speak in Darfur, but if you saw someone burning the Sudanese flag you wouldn't bat a fucking lash.

And how can you even create an account on PUNKnews.org if you're such a conservative bitch, clinging to ridiculous old myths and dogmas like near worship of a cloth rectangle? I bet you think Vietnam was a just war.

And whoever said flamebait was fucking right. I guess I took that shit hook, line and sinke

show rest of comment

strangenotes (November 29, 2007)

Anyone would thinks this is a good idea is a fucking Republican. I have no idea who this band is, but this is perfectly acceptable. Seriously, if you said "Good! America, guys! America!," get the fuck out of punk.

2+ Replies

SydBarrett420 (November 29, 2007)

What does that have to do with a private venue getting offended at a tour poster and not wanting to let the band that created that poster play?

Albert_Belle (November 29, 2007)

AAAAHHH! Rabble, rabble, rabble!

skasucks76 (November 29, 2007)

4 more years!

1+ Reply

NotPatriotic (November 29, 2007)

The rest of your life!

stickystyle (November 29, 2007)

I'm curious to see the flyer, anyone have a copy that doesn't need an effin myspace account?

2+ Replies

Cos (November 29, 2007)

you're not missing much

DeadMilkMan (November 30, 2007)

I respect you big time for not having a MySpace account.

Guy_Incognito (November 29, 2007)

I'm not exactly offended by the flyer but I don't see why its unreasonable for the venue to exercise their right to say that they don't want to be associated with this kind of imagery or implied opinion. The venues didn't even cancel them outright, they just asked them to take it down because they didn't want their name on it. The band refused so what's the big deal if the venue pulls the show? The venue has rights too and they exercised them.

The Squids have the right to do whatever they want and make any kind of statement they want, but the venues also have the right to book whatever bands they please that reflect their values. Free speech is NOT a one way street and it's really interesting to me how all of the "punks" on seem to think that it is and pile on anyone that doesn't walk lock step with their views.

2+ Replies

Badger_Legion (November 29, 2007)

The venue can do whatever they want, but that doesn't stop us from thinking their reasoning is stupid.

Guy_Incognito (November 29, 2007)

I don't get why you are saying that, I'm not trying to stop anyone from doing or thinking anything.

I'm just asking people to consider both sides of the story rather than just having the usual knee jerk reaction.

That said, I probably wouldn't want the name of my place of business and my livelyhood on a flyer like that in New York City either. It's not as simple as "Oh, that's so lame what's the big deal?".

Badger_Legion (November 30, 2007)

"I don't get why you are saying that, I'm not trying to stop anyone from doing or thinking anything."

I never said you did, I was just saying I agree with that the venue has the power to to cancel the shows if they want to (it's not a free speech issues), but the reason they're getting so much shit on here is because most people here think they're being pussies. Yeah, people are offended by burning flags, but just because some people find it offensive doesn't mean I have to agree it's a legitimate reason to be offended.

Badger_Legion (November 30, 2007)

I gotta start proofreading.

*I never said you did, I was just saying I agree with you on the point that the venue has the power to cancel the shows if they want to (it's not a free speech issues)...

Badger_Legion (November 30, 2007)

*(it's not a free speech issue)

God I suck.

DeadMilkMan (November 30, 2007)

Real men don't make typos. Real men make fuck with bitches.

Guy_Incognito (November 30, 2007)

Well fair enough, you don't have to agree with their reasoning.

I would consider the fact though that the venues might have been acting in the interests of protecting their business rather than their own personal opinions. Venues are hard enough to keep in business as it is these days. You've seen how many get shut down due to local resident vendettas, noise complaints, fights, ect.

It's pretty logical for them not to want to have their name on a flyer like that in a city like New York City when there is a potential for the local media to spin it out of control if they catch wind of it. Would you risk your business and your livelyhood on making a stupid statement? That's much easier said than done.

Ass_Pirate (November 30, 2007)

i smell a big punknews fight a brewing.

1+ Reply

Albert_Belle (November 30, 2007)

You sure it's not the flag you smell burning instead? WHOOOOOOO HAAAAAAA!

PhillipIck (November 30, 2007)

I have a side business burning flags at punk shows. Bands pay us to show up and stage flag burnings. It's cheap! American flags, European flags--hell, we'll even do state flags if that's your fancy! Whether you've got a serious grudge or ya just feel the need to play anarchist for an evening, we've got flags! We'll burn according to your own personal oppositions, no matter how bitter and misdirected they are--NO questions fuckin' asked!

2+ Replies

veganboyjosh (November 30, 2007)

how much to burn an anarchist flag? a pirate flag?

spoon_of_grimbo (December 3, 2007)

if my career plan fails, i'm falling back on my plan B - steal a boat and become a pirate. so if you DARE burn the jolly roger, i'm coming for you, son, and it wont be pretty...

FuckYouOiOiOi (November 30, 2007)

if this country were so goddamn free
then i could burn your fucking flag wherever i damn well please

3+ Replies

BarleyPat (November 30, 2007)

And then I'm going to stick it up your fucking ass.

Guy_Incognito (November 30, 2007)

What does this have to do with venues saying they don't want to book a band that uses this kind of imagery?

I still don't why people are turning this into a free speech issue. The venue is it's own private entity and they have the right to disassociate themselves with whatever bands or implied statements they want.

It's not like the US government denied them entry because of the flyers...maybe then we'd have something to get huffy about.

FuckYouOiOiOi (December 1, 2007)

yeah but those club owners have no more right to that land than i do. land is natural, it belongs to nature and those flag burning brits are part of nature so they have as much of a right to that land and burning a flag on that land as the club owners.

or are you saying brits are not equal to americans? thats goin down a slippery slope of racism and bigotry my friend.

LushJ (November 30, 2007)

It's not illegal to burn a flag. It's constitutionally protected political speech. That's why pandering politicians are always talking about a flag-burning amendment to the Constitution.

(sorry if someone else has already pointed this out)

TheeValiantRA3 (November 30, 2007)

they(and by "they" i mean the government that has been hijacked due to our neglect, fear, and apathy) are fighting an unjust war, tapping our phone lines, justifying torture, and generally ignoring any actual crisises(sp.?) that are occurring in the world ie. Darfur, Myanmar. And most americans are more or less compliant while this is all going on. Didn't we all kind of expect this? Actually, let me rephrase that: hasn't this happened a couple of times in the last eight years?

1+ Reply

DeadMilkMan (November 30, 2007)

It's not like George Bush went on some crazy rampage and started tearing the posters down all around NYC. The government wasn't even involved. I agree with you on the idea that this is the result of the Administrations fear tactics.

"If you're not patriotic enough, you may end up in Guantanamo."

DeadMilkMan (November 30, 2007)

"The term "bitch slap" is derived from American slang. In the original sense, a "bitch slap" is a powerful, full-swing slap in the face with the front of the hand, evoking the way an angry pimp might slap a defiant prostitute (not to be confused with a "pimp slap" which uses the back of the hand). However, the term is now frequently used figuratively to describe a humiliating defeat or punishment."

Thank you, Wikipedia.

I had to post it on something. Maybe a story will arrive one of these days that will genuinely deserve that quote. Until then, I post it here.

1+ Reply

spoon_of_grimbo (December 3, 2007)

you've made my day sir!

xchemicalx (November 30, 2007)

OK seriously. all of you political retards who are screaming "free speech" and "republican assholes" need to open up a fucking book. not to mention all of you "punker than fuck" kids need to learn how to survive in this world. this has nothing to do with free speech, the government or even politics. this is 100% in the private sector. a venue owner asked a band to take down an image that he did not want to be associated with. nothing political. the band refused. the venue had every right to do whatever they wanted to do (without political strongarming) and they did it. Good for them. now, THAT is demonstrating free speech. Making your point of view heared.

So to Notpatriotic, deadmilkman, strangenote ("get the fuck out of punk"? are you serious?) and anyone else who's arguing on behalf of the band: If this band wants their music to be heared, and if they want to

show rest of commentOK seriously. all of you political retards who are screaming "free speech" and "republican assholes" need to open up a fucking book. not to mention all of you "punker than fuck" kids need to learn how to survive in this world. this has nothing to do with free speech, the government or even politics. this is 100% in the private sector. a venue owner asked a band to take down an image that he did not want to be associated with. nothing political. the band refused. the venue had every right to do whatever they wanted to do (without political strongarming) and they did it. Good for them. now, THAT is demonstrating free speech. Making your point of view heared.

So to Notpatriotic, deadmilkman, strangenote ("get the fuck out of punk"? are you serious?) and anyone else who's arguing on behalf of the band: If this band wants their music to be heared, and if they want to make any sort of statement, they need an audience. That's the nature of the fucking beast. You tell me that punk rock is about nonconformity and pissing off the man (while in essence punk rock is about conforming to nonconformity which is as retarded as you're liberty spikes and leather jackets, but that's another matter) but if you piss everyone off no one will hear your voice. The way any artform works is people need to appreciate it. without that, this band is nothing. without giving people a chance to appreciate or hate them for what they're doing they are dead in the water. welcome to the music industry. There is nothing wrong with making that flyer. But if a venue asks you not to associate them with that image and you tell them (in essence) to fuck off, then you deserve whatever fate you get. Forcing someone on the other side of the world to be associated with a controversal image (offensive or not, the image is OBVIOUSLY controversial) is hindering free speech much more than the venue owners did.

And yes it has to be mentioned that this IS New York. Whatever asshole said that 9/11 didn't only effect new york needs to take his head out of his ass. 2,974 died on that day and 2,603 of them were in the towers or on the ground. I'm not trying to start some patriotic rally here, but you tell me that any place in the world was as affected by that as new york.

3+ Replies

boombalonga (November 30, 2007)

Well, not to crap on your good post, but I'd say Iraq has been affected more by 9/11 than New York in terms of body count. The military (as much as you may or may not hate the military it's made up of our friends and family) has been more affected by 9/11 than New York in terms of body count.

xchemicalx (November 30, 2007)

touche, but you understand what I mean.

Guy_Incognito (November 30, 2007)

The connection between Iraq and 9/11 is fuzzy at best. At best it gave Bush the political capital to kick off the war. I know very few people still remember this, but Iraq whether justified or not was about Saddam's repeated violation of several UN resolutions under the penalty of force. Military action was specifically spelled out in the UN resolutions as being one of the consequences of non-compliance. Saddam did not comply even by the admissions of his own officers in order to feign strength against Iran. The bluff failed and the UN never enforced the resolutions, so Bush decided to do it unilaterally.

I'm not saying that was the best decision to invade Iraq in our own self interest, because it wasn't, but to make a direct connection between 9/11 and Iraq really leaves alot of highly relevant history on the sidelines.

hungjury (November 30, 2007)

We have young kids, basically, dying in the MIddle East for that flag. It is illegal to burn the flag and why even question it?

They should've have changed the poster. Granted, they didn't know but once they knew it was illegal, they should've changed it.

4+ Replies

hungjury (November 30, 2007)

But, then again, it follows the punk ways. Can't argue with that.

mrsquid (November 30, 2007)

hi. squids here. here is our new flyer -

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImag e&friendID=141767325&albumID=1047344&imageID=13952568

hope u like. x

xchemicalx (November 30, 2007)

oh my god! are you guys... TRYING to get a rise out of people!?! fuck i'm intimidated! you guys must be... like... hardcore!!!

the only rise you're going to get out of this is in your own pants when people make a stink. fuck off.

LushJ (November 30, 2007)

It's NOT illegal.

This was 100% private, no government involvement at ALL. Arg.

wearestillalive (November 30, 2007)

hahahaha this band is from my town (which was spelled wrongly by the way) and they're pretty fucking awful. a really average punk band made up of older guys trying way too hard to be outrageous in the desperate hope that someone will compare them to the sex pistols. they probably did this particularly to piss people off.
still, pretty fuckin' cool to see them on here.

LushJ (November 30, 2007)

By the way, what kind of "US tour" are 3 shows in NYC?

More like a US weekend trip.

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