Eric Clapton To Play North Korea

Rock icon Eric Clapton has been invited to play a concert in the North Korean capital Pyongyang, an official at the country's UK embassy has confirmed.

If he accepts, the 62-year-old will become the first Western rock star to perform in the Communist country.

According to newspaper reports Clapton has agreed in principle to the concert, suggesting it takes place in 2009.

News of the invitation follows the New York Philharmonic Orchestra's landmark concert in the North Korean capital.

The North Korean State Symphony Orchestra is due to perform in the UK later this year.

According to embassy officials, an appearance by Clapton would be "a good opportunity for Western music to be understood better by Koreans".

A spokesman told the BBC the invitation had been received by the singer's management and brought to his attention.

The singer's management, however, would not confirm the approach.

Clapton is in New York this week, performing a series of concerts at Madison Square Garden with Steve Winwood.

Kim Jong Chol, the son of national leader Kim Jong Il, is said to be a Clapton fan.

Thanks for the info to News.bbc.co.uk.

Comments

[cody733]

oh wow.. this could be interesting

[slayerbizkit]

Let's just hope he isn't jailed or made to "disappear" while in N. Korea. Good luck to him and the others that follow.

[Nazi zaschzi]

najzz

[Reecoom]

Come on, Eric... Don't go...

[Habit Zero]

So... Kim Jong Il's son listens to Clapton? Are North Koreans even aloud to listen to music? I'm not too hip on current affairs, but that surprises me.

As to the concert... Why would he wait until 2009? I suppose he could be very busy, but... he's not recording an album or anything?

[Comeback Kiddd]

its a trap! dont go Mr. Clapton!

[Comeback Kiddd]

Thanks for the info to .

and i never knew a dot could know all this information ;]

[Zebra_Planet]

the picture on the main page shows jack white instead of eric clapton, quite bizarre.
i heard the new york phil harmonic are also playing in North Korea, i guess they've decided to change somethings.

[Zebra_Planet]

Zebra_Planet wrote:

i heard the new york phil harmonic are also playing in North Korea

sorry, i mean to say, i heard about that before reading this article.

[raasbo]

guitarguy.jerem wrote:

maybe eric can assissinate kim jong il with his guitar playing madness

Haha...That'd be cool.

[otherkid]

guitarguy.jerem wrote:

maybe eric can assissinate kim jong il with his guitar playing madness

Place a bomb in a guitar and give it to Kim.

That would solve so many problems, just have to make sure Clapton is out of North Korea before the bomb is detonated. Or all of the music industry goes to war with North Korea

[WalrusZach]

Very cool.

[mercedesisbenz]

Nice source

[Toms' anominous]

pfft
nothing can stop the music industry
not even the americans can kill the MPA and whatnot

[rockergurl09]

Awesome! could it be the fall of communism in North Korea! Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but this really reminds me of the fall of the Soviet Union. Right before, there were small instances of Western influence, such as this. History does tend to repeat itself, doesn't it?

Just so long as Eric Clapton is heavily guarded...

[uhh_me?]

checked.

[copet]

I don't want to risk Clapton's life. Send someone I don't care about, like the president.

[xXx Hobbes xXx]

Habit Zero wrote:

So... Kim Jong Il's son listens to Clapton? Are North Koreans even aloud to listen to music? I'm not too hip on current affairs, but that surprises me.

As to the concert... Why would he wait until 2009? I suppose he could be very busy, but... he's not recording an album or anything?

Not 'hip' on current events?

North Korea citizens cannot even feed their loved pets without the expressed consent of a nearby official. No radio, no internet, no automobiles, not even a cellphone in city limits.

Scary place; communism is the most super-duper evil thing in the world!

[white99z]

Hey Hobbes... Communism, on paper, is actually a brilliant form of government. However, greedy, power hungry bastards like Kim Jong Il are what ruin it.

[PLOP]

slayerbizkit wrote:

Let's just hope he isn't jailed or made to "disappear" while in N. Korea. Good luck to him and the others that follow.

1

[PLOP]

woops meant +1 and i agree with white99z

[sthall]

See CNN for the original AP story.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/26/clapton.nort hkorea.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

[shwilly]

This offer was made like a month ago and neither he nor his record label have confirmed whether he will perform or not. I guess that the reason for the whole thing to finally make the news is that nobody took the Koreans seriously until this New York-thingy orchestra performed there yesterday

[insurgentsteve]

what?! holy crap. Maybe he'll turn black and white like the rest of N. Korea... that's how evil it is.

[mp3stalin]

slayerbizkit wrote:

Let's just hope he isn't jailed or made to "disappear" while in N. Korea. Good luck to him and the others that follow.

if he is. we're sending in sam fischer.

[sambargun]

Maybe he can confirm the existence of Camp 22(a concentration camp rumoured to be bigger than Washington DC). Or better still he can castrate Kim Jong II

[rx_eb]

xXx Hobbes xXx wrote:
North Korea citizens cannot even feed their loved pets without the expressed consent of a nearby official. No radio, no internet, no automobiles, not even a cellphone in city limits.

Scary place; communism is the most super-duper evil thing in the world!

you know what's even more scary?

getting brainwashed by capitalist media's bullshi[b][/b]t ....

get your facts straight.

[Muckle]

If i was him i'd do my own spin of Muse's Take a bow(very different musical styles i know) That kind of protest is worth being incarcerated for:P

[Muckle]

rx_eb wrote:

xXx Hobbes xXx wrote:
North Korea citizens cannot even feed their loved pets without the expressed consent of a nearby official. No radio, no internet, no automobiles, not even a cellphone in city limits.

Scary place; communism is the most super-duper evil thing in the world!

you know what's even more scary?

getting brainwashed by capitalist media's bullshit ....

get your facts straight.

Lol so true.... Its not really communism, its justa a different version of Fascism... Communism is not a bad thing it's just not compatible with man.

[SlapMeWithBacon]

copet wrote:

I don't want to risk Clapton's life. Send someone I don't care about, like the president.

Haha. Same applies to me, but send the Prime Minister in my case :P

[gynther flynt]

Communism is not a bad thing it's just not compatible with man

exactly, very well said.

[sonic mouse1]

its a great concept and a huge step foward...but i hope he comes back in one piece...
man, i'd be hesitant to play in north korea!

[Sword Boy]

Eric Clapton doesn't deserve to visit the greatest country in the world.

[FunkedUp]

xXx Hobbes xXx wrote:

Habit Zero wrote:

So... Kim Jong Il's son listens to Clapton? Are North Koreans even aloud to listen to music? I'm not too hip on current affairs, but that surprises me.

As to the concert... Why would he wait until 2009? I suppose he could be very busy, but... he's not recording an album or anything?


Not 'hip' on current events?

North Korea citizens cannot even feed their loved pets without the expressed consent of a nearby official. No radio, no internet, no automobiles, not even a cellphone in city limits.

Scary place; communism is the most super-duper evil thing in the world!

That has nothing to do with communism, maybe do a bit of research into what communism is actually about! (Not starting a political debate here, just suggesting that Hobbes might like to learn a bit about what any particular ideology actually is before opining on it!)

[xXx Hobbes xXx]

white99z wrote:

Hey Hobbes... Communism, on paper, is actually a brilliant form of government. However, greedy, power hungry bastards like Kim Jong Il are what ruin it.

I was being sarcastic. Note the *super-duper evil thing*

[FunkedUp]

Also - it's probably the safest place he could ever go as an international celebrity - North Korea is probably the strictest, most brutal police state in the world currently. Harm to someone as well-known as Clapton would probably start a war, if not tighten sanctions even further, harming the state, so anyone who even subconsciously conceived any notion assassinating Clapton would be in a gulag before they even knew they'd thought it. He will undoubtedly be guaranteed complete Korean state protection. Who the hell do you think is going to assassinate him?

[xXx Hobbes xXx]

Chill out guys, merely joking.

I was purposefully showing how ignorant most of us Americans are in subjects such as communism.

[FunkedUp]

I take it back! (The first post)

[FunkedUp]

Should have assumed you couldn't have been that thick as you actually correctly used a semi-colon in an internet post!

["Tele" Steve]

There's two ways of looking at this. Either it's a good idea to expose North Koreans to the rest of the world in this manner or it's a bad idea to support the economy that supports a ruthless dictator.

[FlamingYouth]

otherkid wrote: Place a bomb in a guitar and give it to Kim.

That would solve so many problems

you're kidding, right? Please do not run for any political position. ever.

[FlamingYouth]

xXx Hobbes xXx wrote:

Chill out guys, merely joking.

I was purposefully showing how ignorant most of us Americans are in subjects such as communism.

jaja. am i the only one who appreciates the irony of your name?

[kamikaze_74]

Haha. Same applies to me, but send the Prime Minister in my case :P

there is no prime minister - last time i checked we VOTED our prime ministers in.

[Scott O]

Little known fact, but Kim Jong Il was a member of Derick and the Dominoes, co-wrote half the songs, and did the solo on, "Layla". It's true.

[FunkedUp]

Well you didn't check very thoroughly then, the UK has never had a directly elected PM - we vote for the party that we want to govern us, and whoever is their leader is PM by default! Again, why do people feel they can be opine and even be indignant about things about which they know nothing?

[Kurapica]

Interesting news. I don't think this is really of much importance though, because unless alot of changes happen on the North of the Korean peninsula, it'll be business as usual. Scary place.

Oh and for the person who asked if N.Koreans could listen to music...it's Kim's son. He'd be allowed to do what he wanted. Like, Western films aren't allowed in N.Korea, but Kim Jong Il is known for having a vast collection.

[broken fusion!]

xXx Hobbes xXx wrote:


Scary place; communism is the most super-duper evil thing in the world!

lol
clearly you have studied this in great depth!

[Jackolas]

Clapton ftw.

[thewho65]

Hopefully the Communists won't be able to take that level of rock and their heads will explode.

[cheapassbassist]

You guys are idiots, I'm writing this from North Korea and people in here don't just disap

[Gh.]

Scary place; communism is the most super-duper evil thing in the world!

The problem is in people not ideas.

[roythereaper]

lol towards cheapassbassist.

This is pretty interesting, I remember reading that rock and pop music are outlawed in N. Korea so it's good to see they're accepting it into their society.

Also: Communism isn't a problem (anything but); leaders are the problem.

[weemansyndrome]

cheapassbassist wrote:

You guys are idiots, I'm writing this from North Korea and people in here don't just disap

This guys totally right, I'm from Nor

[bmarlatt1685]

white99z wrote:

Hey Hobbes... Communism, on paper, is actually a brilliant form of government. However, greedy, power hungry bastards like Kim Jong Il are what ruin it.

A brilliant form of government? Really? Despite it offering no incentive? I'm not too peachy keen on redistribution of wealth. Sorry, but what's mine is mine. You can call it greed. Doesn't matter. I prefer to call it keeping that which I've worked for... Anyway, enough of that. If Clapton does go they should also send Clint Eastwood over there too since Kim Jong Il is apparently a huge Eastwood fan. He could put Kimmy in his place. Yeah, Eastwood's about seventy-seven, but come on. Have you seen Kim?

[soulphonate]

Good luck. Hopefully the people there like his music. Communism is a brilliant form of government, as is democracy, but mankind still hasn't perfected either.

[insaneBeing0]

mp3stalin wrote:

if he is. we're sending in sam fischer.

tch, let's send in solid snake in his box. They'll never see it coming.

[Moonman13]

He's going to rock the communism right out of there asses.

[Sean-Man]

iron maiden should p[;lay there

[the.spine.surfs]

I don't think the musicification of North Korea is worth risking Clapton's life over.

[dimebagsmygod]

May be they could get MCR or Fall out Boy to play and make sure they never come back

[IMABBALLPLAYER]

this could be bad...

[Scorge]

the article headline is misleading because he only considers playing there, instead of actually committing to it.

[hawking_hole]

prepare for a 2010 without eric clapton...

[kaptink]

cheapassbassist wrote:

You guys are idiots, I'm writing this from North Korea and people in here don't just disap

"Snake!? Snake!!? SNAAAAAKE!!!!"

[blaze2thekings]

i say we send Jack Bauer to clear house then let Clapton play

[martyr1130]

white99z wrote:

Hey Hobbes... Communism, on paper, is actually a brilliant form of government. However, greedy, power hungry bastards like Kim Jong Il are what ruin it.

this dude hit it right on the nose

[RC_Hammer]

I personally don't think anything will happen. Nothing happened to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. They even played the American National Anthem.

[Chickenfrmheck]

copet wrote:

I don't want to risk Clapton's life. Send someone I don't care about, like the president.

lmao!
this is pretty cool, but of course, if something happens, it would really suck.

[FloyDZeD]

I hope nothing happens to him there.

[Shread_6009]

white99z :
Hey Hobbes... Communism, on paper, is actually a brilliant form of government. However, greedy, power hungry bastards like Kim Jong Il are what ruin it.

true, communism is based on the idae that wealth should be distributed equaly so that there will be no poverty. Kim Jong Il is one of many that claim there the top, the rest are like cattle.

CLAPTON IS GOD!!! SHOW EM WHAT WESTERN MUSICIANS CAN DO

[highwaysalmon]

I would like to say thanks to .

[macmancometh]

weemansyndrome wrote:This guys totally right, I'm from Nor

Orthnay Oreakay. Pig Latin could have saved his life.

[latinosuperstud]

if people were perfect communism would be awesome... imo people should be hated, not communism... anyway congratz to eric clapton, being the first western rockstar to play their and what not.

[El Toro]

If Eric Clapton does disappear, that would be the most legitimate reason for a war ever brought forward by an American Government. To defend the honour of God himself.

[szekelymihai]

go clapton like the rolling stones in the ussr!

[reedplaysgeetar]

ive never understood how china/north korea are considered communism because im pretty sure the leaders of these places own things. but thats the only reason communism doesnt work because people are selfish. anyone wanna move to a tropical island with me and start a true communist utopia

[Alucard II]

RAAAAAYRA....

[TDAJGuitarist]

I SENCE A TRAP!
DONT GO!!!!!
HASNT ANYONE SEEN TEAM AMERICA!?!?!?!?!

[James_Het_Rules]

omg i hope he doesn't get held hostage or somethin ya know.. that would suck. And i believe everyone who posted here would start a clan and go kick some NK ass to get him back lol

[init24]

hes going to become radioactive and glow in the dark

[James_Het_Rules]

hes going to become radioactive and glow in the dark

LMFAO!

[Insomnia57]

its a good day in history if this happens, i hope he doesnt get kidnapped and forced to play for KJI until he dies :/

[Thin-Lizzy]

FlamingYouth wrote:

xXx Hobbes xXx wrote:

Chill out guys, merely joking.

I was purposefully showing how ignorant most of us Americans are in subjects such as communism.


jaja. am i the only one who appreciates the irony of your name?

If your thinking along the lines of Thomas Hobbes and the state of nature then I'm with you =)

[Nightfyre]

title: "Eric Clapton to Play North Korea"
more accurate title: "Eric Clapton INVITED to Play North Korea"
No confirmation, no gig. Way to go UG.
If something happened to him NK would be razed to the ground... he'd be in and out just fine. He'll probably go seeing as he's up for it, but UG still should have saved this particular title until the gig was officially announced.

[danoman20]

white99z wrote:

Hey Hobbes... Communism, on paper, is actually a brilliant form of government. However, greedy, power hungry bastards like Kim Jong Il are what ruin it.

[danoman20]

Democracy,on paper, is a great idea , too, but as usual when people get involved it gets all $%^&*edup

[Hobolad]

North Korea isn't Communist in the *actual* meaning of the word. Scary countries are just held up as Communist by the US to scare us away from the idea and by themselves to convince the people they're the good guys that these revolutions were fought for, rather than in come the new boss same as the old...

*Anyway*- good luck to Clapton. Massive integrity points if he goes through with it.

[blAstBeAtz]

Hobolad wrote:

North Korea isn't Communist in the *actual* meaning of the word. Scary countries are just held up as Communist by the US to scare us away from the idea and by themselves to convince the people they're the good guys that these revolutions were fought for, rather than in come the new boss same as the old...

*Anyway*- good luck to Clapton. Massive integrity points if he goes through with it.

..

i find the USA the most scary!



they should have booked RATM

[TheCondors]

i hope he does it.

showing the poeple that western influences are not bad can really help overturn the perception of those in the communist nations

[Dreaming-V]

it's all a planned kidnapping...

[sloppyjoe24]

Haha! I can imagine the phone call Kim Jong Il made to Clapton to do it.

"Herro, yes? Eric Crapton? My son is a rearry big fan of your guitar praying over in Engrand! I'd rearry appricate it if you'd stop by North Korea sometime. Remember, I HAVE NUCREAR WEAPONS!"

[cobracarg]

communists dont deserve good music

[gwitersnamps]

xXx Hobbes xXx wrote:

Habit Zero wrote:

So... Kim Jong Il's son listens to Clapton? Are North Koreans even aloud to listen to music? I'm not too hip on current affairs, but that surprises me.

As to the concert... Why would he wait until 2009? I suppose he could be very busy, but... he's not recording an album or anything?


Not 'hip' on current events?

North Korea citizens cannot even feed their loved pets without the expressed consent of a nearby official. No radio, no internet, no automobiles, not even a cellphone in city limits.

Scary place; communism is the most super-duper evil thing in the world!

The ruler can listen to whatever the heck he wants.

[Shpongled]

I love how yahoo news reported this to me several days before a website that focuses solely on music.

[latinosuperstud]

danoman20 wrote:

Democracy,on paper, is a great idea , too, but as usual when people get involved it gets all $%^&*edup

exactly... it all comes down to people, and the fact that the ignorant far outweigh the informed... unfortunately the informed are the ones who have to suffer because of this.

[MegaRon]

cody733 wrote:

oh wow.. this could be interesting

Agreed.

[I am the Drake]

COMMUNISTS!!!!!

[xXChimairaXx]

Man playing a concert in North Korea...that's like droppin the soap in a prison shower. I hope he survives it.

[RagefromNirvana]

DONT GO CLAPTON ITS A TRAP!!!

[Saikotic]

I like how it says at the end

Thanks for the info to .

To who? No source. :O

[osubucki106]

I want tickets dammit !!!

[insanity101]

Does anyone else think its weird that a country full of such blind and forced conformity would condone something as non-conforming as music? Especially Clapton. Somethings Out of place, I just don't know what it is. I mean C'mon i knew Kim Jong Ill liked Mickey Mouse, but I thought even that guy had enough nukes stuck up his ass to care for music.

[rma131]

nothin' s gonna happen to him. they have no reason to kill him if kim jong ii is such a big fan. and communism is good. ancient communities lived in harmony by communism long ago until selfish reasons spoiled men and desire of power and corruption killed it. it will be just a great musical experience for nk and when clapton comes back to england, world would be a much better place. and arent we using the term communism wrong. as much as i know, no country has ever got to the marxsist communism, communism is when theres not a state, just people. all those countrys are socialists. and wat will happen to cuba now that fidel has left??
alfaro vive carajo!!!!!
jeje. still love democracy nd freedom. but communism s cool. damn government

[paintITblack39]

Don't go Clapton, they're a bunch of communists. No, they're all terrorists. No, wait, they're like herpes.

WAIT: They're all communists terrorists with herpes!

[MusicalMinority]

I only have a few words to say...

Better understanding through music.

If that's not enough reason for Clapton to go and rock out North Korea, there is none.

[EndOfNothing656]

Somethings fishy...

[MopTheFloors]

dimebagsmygod wrote:

May be they could get MCR or Fall out Boy to play and make sure they never come back

lmfao [phone]

[guitar_hero543]

this is kinda scary..my favorite guitarist of all time walking into something like this, i hope you come back safely..or chicken out or something lol

[Ali-b912]

Habit Zero wrote:

So... Kim Jong Il's son listens to Clapton? Are North Koreans even aloud to listen to music? I'm not too hip on current affairs, but that surprises me.

As to the concert... Why would he wait until 2009? I suppose he could be very busy, but... he's not recording an album or anything?

most communist governments are corrupt so i wouldnt be surprised if kim jong's family can do whatever they want.

[mercurymay]

most communist governments are corrupt so i wouldnt be surprised if kim jong's family can do whatever they want.

+1, but all governments are corrupt. no matter how many restrictions anyone puts on anyone, there's still human individuality that needs to be exposed. i wouldn't be surprised if in the suburbs of Pyongyang you had a bunch of peasants rockin out on air guitar to "Layla"

[BonezShaker]

maybe after listening to 'Tears In Heaven', Kim might even break out of the communist thingy.....
btw, N. Koreans understand english and have Eric Clapton on propaganda channel ?

[dez_cole]

I actually think he would have a great time playing in N Korea. If Kim Jong Il's son is a huge fan Clapton would be treated like royalty.

[guitar_nate]

communism is meant to be government and economics for the people.

clapton is pop music meant for the people

the two should go hand in hand

viva marx and engles!

[lateralus121]

Muckle :
rx_eb wrote:

xXx Hobbes xXx wrote:
North Korea citizens cannot even feed their loved pets without the expressed consent of a nearby official. No radio, no internet, no automobiles, not even a cellphone in city limits.

Scary place; communism is the most super-duper evil thing in the world!

you know what's even more scary?

getting brainwashed by capitalist media's bullshit ....

get your facts straight.


Lol so true.... Its not really communism, its justa a different version of Fascism... Communism is not a bad thing it's just not compatible with man.

Totally agree dude, communism is a great idea in paper, but it will never work because of human nature and human emotions. As for North Korea basically that is a Totalitarian,Dictatorship goverment pretty much.

[saadi]

go mr clapton go...spread blues throughout the world

[White Devil]

I'm sure Clapton knows what he's doing

He'll be safe enough

[Ali-b912]

communism, in the past 100 years hasnt worked how its supposed to. it either fails and doesnt work, like post-stalin russia (at least i dont think the rest of them were dictators) or the head dude decides hes done enough work that he should get something better. this defeats the purpose of communism, and usually he turns into a dictator. lol at the guy with the capitalist media crap. it only happens in the USA. in canada and australia we dont get told what to fear. just how new pointless laws are introduced or how some dumbass had a 500 person party. and a month later got his ass bashed. honestly i dont think my government is trying to control me with that.

[hairy-mairy]

I think Kim invited Clapton down, so when he sees him playing live, Kimmy picks up his AK-47 and says- u are usewress, eric cwrapton! and shoots him in the head haha

[red_hot_chili18]

...yes

snake!

hahahaha

rock the fook on xD

[Iceman8204]

Wow, I hope this rock ledgend is careful...

[ECwomantoneman]

hairy-mairy wrote:

I think Kim invited Clapton down, so when he sees him playing live, Kimmy picks up his AK-47 and says- u are usewress, eric cwrapton! and shoots him in the head haha

Nah if Kim Jong Il is a fan then it'll be more like "Elic, I ruv you! Rayra! Rayra! Pray it again prease!" *jumps up and down excitedly clapping his hands*

[Luke.Zeppelin]

come on clapton play more than 1 show in england, i want to see you

[randyaintdead82]

to guitar nate, clapton is FAR from pop

[Les_paul_studio]

It's a trap, Kim Jong is really a stevie ray vaughn and still blames Clapton for his death!!