Music boycotts demonstrate show does not always go on

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams recentlycancelled a show in Mississippi over the state'snew law that allows religious groups and some private businesses to refuse service to gay couples,joininga lineup of artists who have boycotted cities, states and even countriesover politics.

Taking a stand on stand-your-ground laws

During a2013 concert in Quebec City,StevieWonder said he would no longer perform in Florida or any other state in the U.S. with stand-your-ground laws. "I will not perform in that state or that part of the world," he told the crowd. His comments came shortly after the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of black teenagerTrayvonMartin in Florida. The stand-your-ground law, which allows people to use deadly force if they believe their life is in danger, was a factor in the Zimmerman trial.

Canada is 'fashionably dead'

Morrissey, former frontman of The Smiths andMeat is Murder crooner, has boycotted Canada since 2006over the country's seal hunt. "I fully realize that the absence of any Morrissey concerts in Canada is unlikely to bring the Canadian economy to its knees, but it is our small protest against this horrific slaughter," he said at the time. In 2014, he reiterated his opposition to the hunt and need for a boycott, saying until the industry is abolished, "Canada itself is regrettably fashionably dead."

Must do something about it

PaulMcCartneyvowed in 2005to never perform in China after seeing an undercover video shot for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animalsshowing dogs and cats being abused and killed for their fur."I wouldn't even dream of going over there to play, in the same way I wouldn't go to a country that supported apartheid," said the formerBeatle. However,McCartney'sstance on China seemed to soften,saying in 2008how he was"kind of interested" in playing there.

Wishyou were here

Former Pink Floyd member RogerWatersin 2006joinedthe Boycott, Divestment and Sanction Movement, which aims to apply political and economic pressure on Israel to comply withinternational law and Palestinian rights, according to the BDSwebsite. "If Israel works toward equality and actual, real, genuine democracy, with no apartheid or racism infecting the society, then I will go over there and play," Waters said ina 2015 interview with Rolling Stone.

Rage against Arizona's immigration law

In 2010,Arizona passed a lawthat allowed local and state law enforcement to question people about their immigration status if there's "reasonable suspicion"they're in the U.S. without proper documentation.The list of musical actswho pledged to boycott the state included Rage Against the Machine,KanyeWest, Sonic Youth and Cypress Hill.

Arizona'spublic enemy

Hip hop group Public Enemy also boycotted Arizona, but for a different reason back in 1991. The group sought to fight the power of astate government thatrefused to acknowledgeRev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthdayas a holiday, releasing a song calledBy the Time I Get to Arizona. The state finally did recognizethe holiday in 1992, but Public Enemy didn'tlift its boycott until 2006.

Colorado, can youhear me?

Following the passage of a 1992 bill in Colorado that denied gays and lesbians legislative and judicial protection from discrimination, Barbra Streisand called for others to join her in a boycott of the state. However, her boycott was not entirely music related. "It appears a boycott is under way in Colorado, and I will personally honour it and find some other state to vacation in," the singer said.

Meet the new Boss, same as the old Boss

Bruce Springsteenis no stranger to boycotts. Before his recent refusal to play in North Carolina because of the state's anti-LGBTQ bathroom law, the Boss shunned apartheidSouth Africa, taking part in the 1985 protest song Sun City performed by Artists United Against Apartheid.He eventually played South Africa in 2014.

'Ain't nothing but a joke'

The Sun City song, which involved dozens ofrecording artists including U2, Run DMC, Keith Richards, Joey Ramone, Jimmy Cliff, Lou Reed and Bob Dylan was masterminded by Springsteen's EStreet band member Steven Van Zandt.Van Zandt formed Artists United Against Apartheid who all agreed to boycott South Africa, and recorded the song describing the country's racist policies as "ain't nothing but a joke."