AT&T apologizes after cutting anti-Bush lines from Pearl Jam song

CBC Arts

Webcaster AT&T has apologized to Pearl Jam for editing lyrics critical of President George W. Bush out of a webcast of its Lollapalooza concert Sunday.

AT&T was simulcasting the Chicago-based concert through its Blue Room entertainment website.

A delay had been built in to keep out excessive profanity or nudity.

But when Pearl Jam sang “George Bush, leave this world alone” and “George Bush, find yourself another home” to the tune of Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall, the lyrics were edited out.

Pearl Jam complained about the cuts on its website, saying live broadcasts or webcasts should be ”free from arbitrary edits.”

“If a company that is controlling a webcast is cutting out bits of our performance — not based on laws, but on their own preferences and interpretations — fans have little choice but to watch the censored version,” the alternative rock group said.

AT&T spokesman Michael Coe said the monitors who cut the broadcast went too far and it was a mistake.

The telecom firm, which showed highlights from the three-day Lollapallooza festival on its Blue Room site, said it would draw up guidelines to prevent future misunderstandings.

AT&T said it was working to secure the rights to post the entire song, uncensored.

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