Pretenders pull plug on zoo gig, move to Orpheum
Chryssie Hynde keeps it real for PETA
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Pretenders fans hoping to mingle with giraffes, sharks, and exotic reptiles before the band's scheduled August 19 show at the Minnesota Zoo may have to resort to LSD instead. As reported by the Star Tribune, the gig has been canceled after front woman Chryssie Hynde—a longtime animal-rights advocate—expressed her outrage over the zoo's exhibition of farm animals and even penned a letter to zoo officials declaring her intention to raise the issue during the show. Scheduled to feature supporting sets from Cat Power and Juliette Lewis, the event will now take place at the cruelty-free (unless you count Ticketmaster fees) Orpheum Theatre.
A related press release from The Pretenders includes this quote from Hynde: "Sorry for the inconvenience of moving our show in Minneapolis. I had serious misgivings when I found out it was to be held in a zoo and although Minneapolis Zoo [sic] seems to have some very good policies, the fact that the animals in their petting zoo go on to be slaughtered at the end of the season left me decidedly unable to perform there."
Decider respectfully asks: With an artist who's so outspoken on animal issues, shouldn't somebody have seen this one coming? Or did organizers expect Hynde to take a cue from local DJ Mary Lucia and simply play nice with the critters?
