Shinedown have become the fourth artist to pull out of Kid Rock’s MAGA-leaning “Rock the Country” music festival, the band announced on social media Friday.
The group is the fourth artist to pull out of the festival, following Ludacris and country artists Morgan Wade and Carter Faith.
“Shinedown is everyone’s band,” the group wrote. “We feel that we have been given a platform to bring all people together through the power of music and song,” the message began. “We have one BOSS, and it is everyone in the audience. Our band’s purpose is to unite, not divide. With that in mind, we have made the decision that we will not be playing the Rock the Country Festival.
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“We know this decision will create differences of opinion. But we do not want to participate in something we believe will create further division,” the band continued. “And to our fans, thank you for supporting and believing in us. We love and appreciate you always.”
While many of the comments are critical of the band’s decision — “It’s a shame nobody can leave politics out of music,” one wrote, which is hardly true of many artists on the bill — others are giving support.
Ludacris pulled out of the festival just days after his appearance was announced. A rep told Rolling Stone the rapper he was never intended to be on the on the lineup and his inclusion on the poster was a “mix-up.”
“Lines got crossed and he wasn’t supposed to be on there,” the rep said. Wade and Faith pulled out without comment.
From Variety US