Rock band Muse postpone Istanbul show over promoter comments about anti-government protests
Rock band Muse have postponed a concert in Istanbul after the event's promoter branded the actions of some anti-government protestors in the city as 'treason'.
The British group, fronted by singer Matt Bellamy, said on Wednesday (2 April) that they had pushed the gig – originally scheduled to take place on 11 June – back to 2026 in order to find a new promoter.
'After careful consideration and hearing the feedback from our fans whilst fully respecting their concerns, our show in Istanbul will now be postponed until 2026 so we can ensure DBL Entertainment will not be involved,' their statement said.
Turkish fans had urged the band to scrap the gig after DBL's head, Abdulkadir Ozkan, criticised the actions of people taking part in nationwide protests against the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
"Plain and simple, this is hostility towards the capital. Act of treason," Abdulkadir Ozkan wrote on X/Twitter. He later posted another message, explaining his comments were not aimed at the 'constitutional right to protests'.
Imamoglu was elected mayor of Turkey's largest city in March 2019, in a major blow to president Recep Rayyup Erdogan and the president's governing Justice and Development Party (AKP), which had controlled Istanbul for a quarter of a century.
Erdogan's party pushed to void the municipal election results in the city of 16 million, alleging irregularities. The challenge resulted in a repeat of the election a few months later, which Imamoglu also won.
He was jailed on suspicion of running a criminal organisation, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data, and bid-rigging. A request for him to be imprisoned on terror-related charges was denied.
The mayor has labelled all the claims 'unimaginable accusations and slanders', according to Sky News.
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial
Reuters reports that Ozkan later said his comment had been misinterpreted and taken out of context, adding that DBL was withdrawing from all projects. He expressed regret for any 'misunderstanding'.
Turkish journalists told The Independent last week that the crackdown on protests has been the worst they have ever seen, as tens of thousands faced tear gas, batons and rubber bullets as they marched through Istanbul.
More than 1,400 people were taken into custody over seven days of demonstrations against Erdogan.
'He wanted to be another Putin, but the country is not ready to be another Russia,' journalist Can Dundar told The Independent. 'So now the people are resisting, and Erdogan is pushing.'
Muse, who formed in Devon 1994, are known for songs that incorporate themes of government oppression and civil uprising, particularly in their 2009 album The Resistance and in 2022's Will of the People.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Iconic TV show to return after 22 years - with Holly Willoughby lined up to host
Iconic British TV show Blind Date is reportedly set to return to screens 22 years after it last aired - with a huge twist Iconic dating show Blind Date is reportedly set to return to screens 22 years after the late Cilla Black 's final episode. For months, it was rumoured the ITV show would be revived on the BBC. However, in a huge shake-up, the reboot will reportedly air on streaming service Disney +. The ITV show originally aired on Saturday nights from 1985-2003, and saw hundreds of couples meet for the first time. Like most dating shows, many didn't last past the studio doors - but some made it all the way to the alter. Now, a new bunch of singletons will be hoping to find their perfect date. A star studded line-up of female hosts are being eyed up to step into Cilla's shoes, including Holly Willoughby, Davina McCall and The Traitors ' Claudia Winkleman. Although there will be some "modern twists" to the revival - bosses are said to be keen to keep some of the original features that viewers know and love. Of course, they couldn't get rid of the iconic sliding wall. 'Although there's likely to be some modern twists, the bosses very much want to keep the essence of the original," an insider told The Sun. 'There'll be key elements returning, including the famous sliding wall. 'Plus there will be a prize up for grabs of a wedding package, which echoes Cilla's famous gag whenever couples had enjoyed a successful date, and she used to ask, 'Do I need to buy an 'at for the wedding?'' However, it is unknown whether the show will provide a replacement for voiceover Graham Skidmore, aka 'Our Graham'. The Mirror has contacted Disney + for comment. It won't be the first time the show has been revived. In 2017, the show return on Channel 5, two years after the death of original host Cilla Black - with Paul O'Grady replacing the late host. Melanie Sykes also joined the show as a replacement for 'Our Graham' providing the iconic voiceover. The show ran for four series until June 2019. Original voiceover Graham died in 2021 at age 90, seven years after the death of host Cilla Black in 2015. Black died at her holiday home in the Spanish town of Estepona, aged 72.
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins on ‘ridiculous' feud rumours
The White Lotus co-stars Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins have both denied rumours that either of them are in a feud as 'ridiculous'. There has been speculation that the two co-stars had drifted apart after being on the HBO show, which follows the lives of guests and staff at a luxury resort as dark secrets are revealed and tensions rise over the course of the holiday. The third series sees the positive Chelsea, played by British actress Wood, 31, try to keep her mysterious older boyfriend, Rick, played by 53-year-old US actor Goggins, calm in Thailand. Following the 2025 series, Goggins appeared to step away from his fellow co-stars, and unfollow Greater Manchester-born Wood on Instagram. They both addressed the swirling rumours during a joint interview for US publication Variety, which was published on Wednesday. Goggins said: 'There is no feud. I adore, I love this woman (Aimee) madly, and she is so important to me.' He added that 'she's special', and explained he had not addressed the reports before as he did not want to talk about Wood when she was not there. 'I think it's such a comment on where we're at culturally. Why is everyone obsessing over Instagram? That is irrelevant. We don't give a shite about Instagram,' Wood said. Goggins said that when he finished The White Lotus he 'needed to just back away from everyone', as it is his 'process' when filming a project ends. 'It's all so ridiculous,' he said. 'It's just a part of me just saying goodbye to this character so that now Aimee and I will be friends for f****** ever.' Wood previously criticised a Saturday Night Live sketch, with an cast member impersonating her with exaggerated prosthetic teeth, calling it 'mean and unfunny' on Instagram. She told Variety that it 'felt misogynistic. It felt like the punchline was a woman's appearance, which is just not funny. It's not cool'. Goggins shared the same sketch online and praised Jon Hamm for playing a version of his character, before deleting the Instagram post, ahead of hosting SNL> He said he was 'gonna say it (something) to your face', and added: 'I don't use social media in any way, and I'm not a mean guy.' SNL apologised for the April sketch, according to Wood, and the comedian and cast member who impersonated her, Sarah Sherman, sent her flowers to apologise. Wood is also known for Netflix teen show Sex Education, BBC comedy Daddy Issues and the 2022 drama film Living with Bill Nighy. Goggins has been in Western series Justified, post-apocalyptic series Fallout, and drama Sons Of Anarchy. He has had two Emmy nods, while Wood has won a TV Bafta for Sex Education and been given a Rising Star Bafta nomination.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit who vanished on stag do's likely cause of death given by police
Gary Monks' body has been found down a ravine after he disappeared during a stag do in Albufeira, Portugal, a week ago, and a police source has said what likely happened A British man whose body has been found after he disappeared while on a stag do in Portugal is believed to have fallen down a ravine to his death after jumping over a fence while lost, according to police. Greg Monks, 38, vanished during a stag party in the tourist hotspot of Albufeira in the early hours of May 28 sparking a major search that also involved his parents and girlfriend flying out to help look for him. He was last seen on CCTV in the residential area of Cerro de Aguia, located roughly four miles away from the main bar area. And tragically Portuguese police gave an update today saying that the body of a 38-year-old man had been found in the search for Greg. Sources from the law enforcement said investigators believe Greg, from Glasgow, got lost and fell to his death as he tried to get back to his hotel. Authorities said that having investigated possible paths he may have taken, they found a body in the Cerro de Aguia area. Because of the fact he laid undiscovered for a week in high temperatures, his body had begun to decompose. The well-placed police source said: 'There is nothing at this stage to indicate this man's death was linked in any way to a crime. But we need to wait for the autopsy results to conclude that is the case.' He added: 'Our belief is he lost all notion of where he was after drinking heavily and finding himself in an unfamiliar place, and that he jumped over a wall and fell to his death. The body was already in a state of decomposition when it was found.' Forensic officers have been seen at the ravine where Greg's body was found, gathering evidence. Authorities had said that the body was found "on a vacant and very uneven terrain" and that it was taken away for an autopsy. Following the devastating news that the body had been found, Greg's sister Jilian paid a heartbreaking tribute calling him "an amazing boy". Posting in the Missing Person Greg Monks - Albufeira, Portugal Facebook group, she wrote: "Didn't think it would end like this.. We are absolutely devastated! Greg was an amazing boy who everyone thought so highly of, Was friends with everyone and always made us laugh! We will miss him everyday! "I just want to thank absolutely everyone for everything they done from sharing their posts to out looking, phoning everywhere to get CCTV. She added: "The support we have received from everyone has been out of this world If love coulda saved you, you would live forever! Miss you forever brother."
