Anti-gay lyrics lead to cancellation

The ongoing campaign against anti-gay lyrics in reggae music has claimed another victim: the House of Blues in West Hollywood canceled a show scheduled for Monday by prominent singer Capleton, at the urging of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center.

A statement from the House of Blues said that the club “attempted to work with the leaders of West Hollywood and the artist ... to resolve the interpretation of certain song lyrics that appear offensive to the gay and lesbian community.” The statement added that the club was canceling the show “out of respect for the community.”

The L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center’s chief executive officer, Lorri L. Jean, wrote to the House of Blues on Wednesday to complain about the booking, citing Capleton lyrics that she said “call for the ‘burning’ and ‘shooting’ of gay men and lesbians.”

Capleton earlier played the Chicago branch of the national concert chain and is scheduled at the New Orleans House of Blues on Oct. 11 -- a show that the Gay and Lesbian Center is also protesting. Jack Gannon, the House of Blues’ senior vice president of marketing and public relations, said Thursday that a decision on that date would be made later in the day.

A spokeswoman for Capleton’s record label, VP Records, which will release a new album later this month, said the label “is disappointed that the misinterpretation of Capleton’s lyrics has led to the cancellation of this show. The artist has not performed these lyrics on this tour, nor are they contained on his new album.”

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Richard Cromelin