The Black List: Malaysia’s Arbitrary Bans & Regulations

By Alif Omar Mahfix  •  in Features
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NAPALM DEATH, KREATOR, SOILWORK, DYING FETUS, NUMEROUS LESSER KNOWN METAL BANDS
COULD HAVE BEEN BANNED FOR… THE SAME REASONS WE CAN’T GET MAYHEM HERE.
Probably because the organisers weren’t dumb enough to advertise a metal concert in the papers, quite a number of metal bands have actually performed here. Some, like goddamn Napalm Death and Dying Fetus, are bands with lyrics arguably more upsetting and mayhem-inducing (if you were a middleage mother and/or PAS youth that is) than ironically the banned Mayhem. The trick is, apparently, if you want to bring a metal act here – don’t friggin’ advertise it. Keep s#it niche, yo!

ELTON JOHN & ADAM LAMBERT
COULD HAVE BEEN BANNED FOR… BEING GAY
Elton John and Adam Lambert were both met with protests from the usual suspects, namely PAS demonstrators who were opposed to their sexuality out of all things. As if any of their popular songs were about gay relationship or that another person’s sexuality would challenge theirs. This was particularly bad during Lambert’s concert because of PAS’s anti-gay protest outside the venue, which consisted of veiled women carrying statement placards saying “not our culture” in reference to homosexuality (strangely veiling yourself is our culture?). Their performances weren’t hindered by the oppositions, but the damages were done anyway; we were portrayed in international news as bigots yet again. On the plus side, there was damage on the demonstrators’ side too as they were dubbed ‘Taliban’, which was rather extreme to be honest.

 

PUSSYCAT DOLLS
COULD HAVE BEEN BANNED FOR… CHOICE (OR RATHER LACK OF) OF CLOTHING.
The staple regulation put on international female acts, regardless of who they are (even painfully unsexy Avril), is to cover up. Yet when Pussycat Dolls performed in Kuala Lumpur, they managed to perform, as one official said it, “sexually suggestive” routines and dressed in scantily-clad clothes. While they were never banned, authorities fined the organisers RM10,000 for allowing such to happen. It is said that it was this incident that caused the strict guidelines that have been imposed on consequent foreign female acts – from Gwen Stefani to Mariah Carey.

FLO RIDA & PITBULL
COULD HAVE BEEN BANNED FOR… SUCKING.
No further explanation is needed here. How many times do they have to invite Flo Rida and Pittbull here?!

 

 

 

 

 

LOUDNESS
COULD HAVE BEEN BANNED FOR… BEING TOO BADASS FOR MALAYSIA, AND THESE DUDES ARE WAY MORE HARDCORE THAN METALLICA!
Japanese band Loudness is as loud as their name suggests, we’re not worthy to host such Nippon deities.