Portland, Ore.-based rock band Black Pussy were scheduled to play a show at The Club, but the venue decided to cancel the performance because of the band’s name.
The Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange, who run both The Exchange and The Club, posted a statement on their Facebook page explaining the decision.
This set up a heated debate. Some people applauded the decision, and said it creates a more inclusive environment. Others said this is censorship, and it stifles artistic expression. Opponents have referenced other bands with controversial names that have played the venue, including Goatwhore and Dying Fetus.
This kind of controversy isn’t new for the band. Singer/songwirter Dustin Hill said they’ve had their van vandalized and received death threats over their name.
“It kind of goes against the whole concept of being a liberal and free speech and freedom of expression,” Hill explained.
“The words together are ambiguous, that’s the whole idea behind it.”
Hill said the name comes from his love of 1970’s culture, Soul Train, and Quentin Tarantino’s films. The name’s also inspired by the original moniker for The Rolling Stone’s song ‘Brown Sugar’, which was called ‘Black Pussy’ until the label made The Stones change it.
Taron Cochrane is an active member of Saskatchewan’s music scene, and said the situation is bigger than it should be but the band shouldn’t be surprised.
“The reality is when you name a band like that you have to expect there’s going to be some kind of fallout,” he explained.
“As much as the band will say it doesn’t, I mean the name is offensive to genders and ethnicities and things like that.”
Cochrane called remarks to boycott The Exchange knee-jerk, and added the venue brings in close to 300 acts a year.
He said they were put in a tough situation, and people need to respect their choice.
“I think people are putting too much weight into it. It was their decision, it’s their venue. It’s not like they’re doing it to get back at people or to spite anyone. It’s people over profit,” Cochrane said.
Black Pussy will still play in Regina. Local promoter, Randy Beach, booked the band at Cloud 9 for the September 18 show.
“We just wanted a little, fun Sunday rock n’roll show, then others blew it up into something it’s not,” Beach said in a statement.
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