14 DAY TRIAL // Despite the fact that many bands have canceled their performances in Ukraine due to political unrest and the bloody revolution that is going on in the country these days, Jared Leto, the actor and musician, took his band, 30 Seconds to Mars, straight into the action and performed in the country to show his support.
Leto seems to have a keen interest in what is going on at the moment in Ukraine, judging by the fact that he often speaks of the matter in the media. He even made references to the political situation there in his Oscar acceptance speech.
This time, the singer/ actor took some time during his performance to address the audiences and he told them to stand up for themselves and fight against government oppression. His words were “You guys are in the midst of something really beautiful and it may be difficult, but there’s no price too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself,” when he spoke with crowds at the Kiev Sports Palace.
According to ABC, he also added that “I understand other bands have canceled their shows but there was no [expletive] way” he was going to cancel too. He mentioned that other American bands that have canceled were thus denied the opportunity to be at the heart of the Ukrainian problem.
Fortunately for Ukrainians, Leto isn't the only musician and celebrity that has displayed his support. Among the others who have joined the cause is Eugen Hutz, the front man of the “gypsy-punk” band Gogol Bordello, who is Ukrainian born. He recently posted a photo on the band's website with a sticker that read translated “Ukraine, not an outskirt but a center.”
He later explained the quote by saying “Yes, paradoxically, ‘Ukraine,’ which is historically and geographically the origin of Russia (see Kievan Rus state), literally means ‘far corner, or an outskirt.’ This confusion perhaps will get straightened out now as people of Ukraine r putting themselves in the avanguarde [sic] of positive political consciousness.”
Among the bands that have canceled appearances are Depeche Mode who was supposed to play on February 26 in Kiev and Aerosmith who were supposed to play on May 21, but moved up their concert in July, citing logistical reasons.
At the moment, Ukraine is in a general state of political unrest as the population is struggling to overturn a clearly Russian-favoring government, in an effort to bring economic and political independence for the country which was for many years part of the Russian empire.