Less than a week after Elton John told a magazine in the US that artists have been deprived of their freedom of speech because they fear the repercussions if they speak out against George 'it's un-American to criticise me' Bush, Ms Linda Ronstadt has provided the proof.
She was booed off stage and escorted off the premises at a Las Vegas venue after she had the audacity to praise film-maker Michael Moore for his anti- Bush film 'Fahrenheit 9/11'. The singer commented midway through her show at Las Vegas' Aladdin casino that Moore was a "great American patriot" and "someone who is spreading the truth". A number of her 4500 audience stormed out, tore down concert posters and tossed cocktails in the air. After the uproar Ronstadt was escorted off the premises and the venue's manager has said she will not be allowed back - he told reporters: "As long as I'm here, she's not going to play."
In an open statement to the owners of the Aladdin venue Michael Moore today said: "For you to throw Linda Ronstadt off the premises because she dared to say a few words in support of me and my film is simply stupid and un-American." He then said that if the venue welcomed Ronstadt back he would join her on stage, and then organise a free screening of his new film for everyone in Vegas.