Red Hot Chili Peppers Slam Gladys Berejiklian’s “Bullshit” Festival Regulations
"Who the fuck came up with that idea?"
Flea has done what he does best: bite back, using one of The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ recent Australian shows to speak out against Gladys Berejiklian’s new music festival regulations.
As reported by The Music, the bassist took a moment between songs during their Melbourne show last week to voice his thoughts on the Berejiklian’s draconian new licensing regulations which have classified 14 NSW festivals into a “higher risk” category. It has put several festivals’ futures in jeopardy, including Laneway, prompting a coalition of promoters and organisers to take the NSW Government to court.
If that doesn’t sit too well with you, then you’re not alone. In the video below, uploaded by Don’t Kill Live Music, Flea rips into the Berejiklian government.
“Did they figure out that stupid shit in NSW yet?,” he asked. “Trying to pass a law so that it’s impossible to put on a concert? Make it hard for people to go and see live music?”
“That is the stupidest fucking thing I have ever heard in my life! What could make a community stronger and better than everyone going out to see live music? Who the fuck came up with that idea?”
Whomst the fuck, indeed. Lead singer and author of Scar Tissue — the autobiography which every single second-hand store in Australia has multiple copies of — Anthony Kiedis also weighed in, calling the laws “some bullshit”.
Before jumping into their next song, Flea made one last declaration: “Live music forever, for the people!”
Watch the video below. If you haven’t already, consider signing Don’t Kill Live Music’s petition, or head out for a good cause tonight and grab a ticket to #UniteForTheNight, a benefit gig at Sydney’s The Metro Theatre raising money for the Night Time Industries Association’s efforts to fight off these new laws.