The Roots back out of David Bowie tribute over equipment dispute
Questlove, right, and Black Thought of the Roots at an event in Detroit. The hip-hop mainstays have pulled out of a David Bowie tribute show.
It’s just been a day since Michael Stipe’s lovely rendition of “The Man Who Sold the World” suggested that the upcoming David Bowie tribute shows would be truly special occasions. But trouble is now stirring behind the scenes at the same shows.
The Roots, the hip-hop mainstays and Jimmy Fallon’s backing band, have pulled out of the show over what appears to be a dispute about sharing equipment.
“I’ve never been so insecure or petty as to deny a fellow musician use of ANY of my equipment (or my band’s equipment -- or resources or contacts or knowledge or ANYTHING) it angers me when that same courtesy is not reciprocated,” Questlove wrote on his Instagram.
He concluded: “Enjoy your precious equipment.”
Questlove also said that Kimbra and Bilal would be pulling out of the concerts, which will take place at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall, for the same reasons.
The concerts are, for now, still scheduled to go on as planned, with other headliners including the Pixies, Blondie and many others.
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