China cancels Bon Jovi concerts, probably because of the Dalai Lama

Jon Bon Jovi isn&#039;t playing in China this year

(Image credit: Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, concert promoter AEG China announced that Bon Jovi shows in Shanghai and Beijing next week "have been canceled for some reason." That reason, according to the Financial Times, is because China's Culture Ministry discovered photos of Bon Jovi performing in Taiwan in 2010 in front of a photo of the Dalai Lama. Bon Jovi had "made a special effort to appeal to fans in China ahead of the show," The New York Times reports, with lead singer Jon Bon Jovi "recording a Mandarin cover of 'The Moon Represents My Heart,' a popular song by the Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng."

It looks like China's Bon Jovi fans will have to make do with that song. It's not clear if people will get refunds on their tickets, which cost between $75 and $600 each, the Financial Times reports. "On Tuesday concert organizers were desperately trying to convince officials to relent on the Bon Jovi concerts but the chances of Beijing overturning the cancelation order are slim, according to people familiar with the matter." Bon Jovi isn't the first Western musical act blacklisted by China over apparent support for the Tibetan spiritual leader.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.