Ten years ago on this day the United States was still feeling super paranoid after 9/11, so much so that noted pro-peace activist and folk singer Yusaf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) was kept from entering the country. The nation cited the presence of his name on its "No Fly List."
The claims were notably ridiculous. Islam had posted immediately following 9/11 that he had felt "heartfelt horror" following the terrorist act and wrote that no "right-thinking follower of Islam" could condone such activity. Maybe it was false accusations of contributions to Hamas, maybe it was a simple misspelling, but he couldn't get in. The United States fixed the error...after a two-year period of red tape of course.
Check out some other performers who've had issues traveling abroad:
Chris Brown and the UK
Chris Brown had troubles performing anywhere immediately following his assault of Rihanna during 2009 but his legal issues kept on dogging the R&B star in later years. He was booked to perform as a tribute to Michael Jackson in Wales during 2011 but found his visa revoked by the UK at the last moment. Michael Forever, the event in question, dealt with other personnel issues as well, such as Gene Simmons being removed due to his previous critical comments about the honoree plus the Black Eyed Peas dropping out for non-controversy-related reasons.
Snoop Dogg and the UK
Snoop Dogg proved problematic to tight airport security when he visited Heathrow Airport during 2006...as did his entourage. The group got into fisticuffs with border guards and the emcee was one of several individuals arrested following the fracas. His visa would be restored following a court ruling in 2010 but he lost out on several tours in-between. The issues in the UK would lead to his later ban from Australia, another incident that would later be overturned.
Amy Winehouse and the United States
The UK isn't the only one denying performers. The trend went the other way when the United States denied access to one of the UK's star performers during 2008. Amy Winehouse was the story of the 2008 Grammy Awards thanks to her Back to Black, which took home a total of five awards at that year's ceremony. Unfortunately the performer herself was unable to pick up the trophies herself as she had been banned from entering the United States due to assault charges in the UK. Legal issues prevented her from making it to a headlining gig at Coachella during 2009, so hopefully fans were able to catch her 2007 set at the event.
Madonna and Italy/Egypt
Religious reasons have kept Madonna from making numerous appearances over the years. Italy is one of the world's strongest proponents of Catholicism and the Church didn't take well to her "Like A Prayer" music video, resulting in a 1990 ban. It should be noted that The Vatican City is technically its own political state so it seems unfair for the whole of Italy to suffer. The pop star got barred from entry to Egypt at a later date but not because her outfits upset the government, but because her personal religion had. Madonna is a noted practicer of Kabbalah, a form of Jadaism that the nation considers to be a cult.
Beyoncé and Malaysia
Malaysia and its Malaysian Islamic Party prevented Beyoncé from appearing during her 2009 concert run because of her "Western sexy performances." That charge is tough to deny but is one instance where the performer struck first: Beyoncé had cancelled a show in the nation during 2007 because of its overbearing dress code for women. Either way, the MIP comes out looking bad: Either it's carrying out petty revenge against the pop star or confirming her earlier accusations.
Jerry Lee Lewis and the UK
Jerry Lee Lewis was never formally barred from the UK but its culture informally rebuffed him, an act that itself would create legal problems for him. His 1958 tour was headline-worthy, an American rock act—that would inspire the Beatles and the Stones—coming to England for the first time. The populace and press were appalled to discover he had married 15-year-old Myra Brown. That age was bad enough, then they dug up that she was only 13. The they figured out she was his cousin. Lewis was kicked out of his hotel and forced to cut his tour down to three dates, which were full of catcalls from attendees. His career never fully recovered as U.S. media jumped on the bandwagon.
The Beatles and The Philippines
The Beatles arrived in The Philippines and performed two dates during 1966 as planned...kind of. The trip was under a bit of duress already because manager Brian Epstein was in conflict with the local government over who was supposed to pay several tax-based fees. The rumor got out that the band had rejected an invitation to greet the royal family, featuring now famous shoe collector Imelda Marcos. State-monitored media flipped the headline so it stated the band itself had requested her audience. It also bore demands that no staff at Manila International Airport assist the band, forcing them to carry their own equipment to the plane. Operators even stood by to turn off escalators as the band approached and goons manhandled the group and its staff. President Ferdinand Marcos would issue a statement the next day declaring The Beatles had not been responsible for any snubbing of the royal family...conveniently after the whole affair had occured of course. One has to wonder if the Filipino treatment led to the band to formally abandon touring later that year.
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