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Stars' Torquil Campbell 'Bowled Over' by Twitter Uproar

  • Posted on May 6th 2010 5:30PM by Jason MacNeil
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Stars, Torquil CampbellStars singer Torquil Campbell says he certainly didn't expect the amount of coverage his discussion with F---ed Up's Damian Abraham on Twitter last week, concerning new immigration legislation in Arizona, received.

The faux "feud" blew up last week after Stars announced on their Twitter account that, in protest of Arizona's controversial new immigration law, they would boycott the state until it was repealed.

When Abraham disagreed with their method of protesting the law, the media jumped all over the relatively polite debate that ensued. (Following a few snipes -- Campbell mentioning Abraham's Fox News appearances after the latter referred to Stars' political position as "inane" -- it turned into a Twitter love fest.)

"I was bowled over by the nuclear power of that technology and I hadn't used it before," Campbell tells Spinner prior to a gig at Toronto's Mod Club earlier this week.
"But I also saw the power of it during the stuff that was going on in Iran recently, about how Twitter was this massive galvanizing power in the country. That's why they shut down the Internet in Iran, because they were using it to organize rallies," he says. I saw the incredible power of that technology to get people talking about things and get people activated. So in that way it was a really cool thing for me. I really found it fascinating."

But Campbell isn't likening his band to the protesters who faced off against the Iranian government last year. In fact, he's modest about the Stars' role in the current debate.

"It's not a big deal -- we're joining a boycott, we didn't start a boycott and we know nobody gives a s--- that we're boycotting Arizona. I think what Damian said is completely true and you can choose to play there but the law is evil, that's what we agree on."

Stars are currently on a brief Canadian tour playing their forthcoming album 'The Five Ghosts' -- due out June 22 -- in its entirely as well as a series of hits voted on by fans. The band will mount a US tour in early June.

Stars Perform on Spinner Sessions
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mary

it,s about time,hopefu;;y more states will follow.get legal or get out.GO ARIZONA!!!!

May 08 2010 at 12:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Dale Kendall

Thank you Arizona for standing up for your rights. The US has written all kinds of immigration laws to limit the flow of immigrants into this country. I have no problem with the legal immigrants. If you are illegally here in the US then go home and apply legally to enter the country. We must be sure that each person that is here is playing according to the rules. That is not asking too much of anyone. The laws are just and they protect us all. I am not racist. I don't begrudge any one the chance to come to the US legally.

May 08 2010 at 11:11 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
David S.

Sure, no one cares much if this band cancels Arizona. But what if other big music acts start boycotting? And I wonder how the businesses (hotels, restaurants, etc.) will feel when conventions start threatening not to come there -- several have already said they might cancel. That means millions and millions of dollars not being spent in the state. It's more than just one no-name band boycotting, folks. Good job, Jan Brewer, you wrinkled old bigot. Hope your state loses money galore -- enjoy.

May 08 2010 at 3:38 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Joseph

To the ignorant posters who claim this law is not about racial profiling, go reread the ORIGINAL language of the law that the State Legislature voted on and that the Governor signed into law. It DID allow law enforcement to look at someone who *MIGHT* be Hispanic and stop that person with the prospect of arresting the person to be held for deportation unless/until the person could prove his legal residency. It was only a few days later (following much of the initial criticism from outside the state AND from many in Arizona's law enforcement divisions) that the Governor signed a new bill that MODIFIED the language of the original bill that NOW only allows checking a person's residency IF that person is stopped for another reason.
It's also worth noting that the widow of the slain officer has denounced the political grandstanding that the wingnut RepubliCON legislators and Governor have used to get this blatantly asinine law passed. I will guarantee you all that the first WHITE (Anglo) person who gets stopped by the police or other law enforcement and asked for proof of citizenship or residency under this law will scream with outrage at being treated like a "criminal" and will go to Bill O'Reilly or Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck and whine about how this country is becoming as bad as Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union (both societies, don't forget, required that ALL their citizens carry identity papers at all times, and those who didn't were subject to immediate arrest and hours of questioning).
Maybe the State Legislature should consider renaming the State. Arizona sounds awfully Spanish to me.

May 08 2010 at 2:54 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Allan Blizzard

I don't mind a person, or any entity, boycotting something. That is a right we as Americans have. When a celebrity boycotts something, they should know a little bit about the subject. would he want all Mexicans to come to the USA? I doubt it. I, for one, am sick and tired of mindless celebrities trying to influence the minds of young people on things they know nothing about. I imagine if illegal immigrants would displace this idiot, he would be crying like a baby. I wonder if he has truly studied the consequences of unfettered immigration? If not, maybe he should educate himself about the entire situation prior to joining, forming, or talking about a boycott of a subject he doesn't understand.
I am an extremely strong advocate of strict immigration policies and enforcement. So, he and his band are not going to Arizona? All I can say is that there must be rioteous happiness in that state.
Too bad all the other states, expecially the border states, haven't followed suit.

May 08 2010 at 2:13 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Allan Blizzard's comment
Jude

But, why is this Campbell person a celebrity? Never heard of them.

May 08 2010 at 5:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Nancy

I applaud the number of people who are willing to voice their support for this bill, albeit not a popular position to take for some, and quite controversial in some communities. Still, as several have already mentioned, if you've read AND FULLY UNDERSTAND what the bill says, it's hard to imagine any legal American NOT supporting it. Some people, like Mr. Campbell, would have you believe that the police in Az. are pulling people out of cars, businesses, even their homes, and demanding to see their birth certificates or other form of I.D. proving that they're a legal citizen. Not true. The people who live in the border towns in Az. want to be protected from the rampant crime the illegals have deposited on their doorsteps.They've had enough! So, Mr. Campbell,
unless you're prepared to go to Az. and personally protect the legal citizens who live in fear every day, I suggest you go about your business, sing your songs, but let these citizens decide for themselves how they want to be protected from the illegals

May 08 2010 at 1:45 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Ted Allen

VD Novach - Do you live in AZ? Because I do, right by the border. Until you know what we deal with every day going out into the desert and having our dogs shot, mounds of clothes and water bottle trash dumped in our yards, and coyotes (people runners) raping women on old mattresses under trees then shut the crap up. If they want to come here LEGALLY instead of through my backyard then I'm all for it.

May 08 2010 at 12:20 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Lynne

First of all, the majority of these whiners & complainers out there aren't reading what the new law entails. It does NOT say you will be pulled over FOR NO REASON & then asked to see your papers. Get it right for ONCE. Cannot stomach these frickin liberal cry babies who spew lies.

May 08 2010 at 12:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
doug

Support the Arizona law and start us on our path towards our own Gestapo police state. I find it rather interesting how conservatives are constantly blathering about their love of freedom yet want to take it away in the same breath. Having a cop come up to you and ask you for your papers is not freedom: it's unjustified police interrogation. Think it can't happen to you if you're white? Just wait until the law is expanded to include people who look like criminals or members of the opposite political party. The slide down the slippery slope of totalitarian government has begun.

May 07 2010 at 11:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
V.D. Novach

I agree with this band. The New Arizona law is unconstitutional and discriminitory. According to the new law any Law Enforcement Officer has the right to deport anyone who "looks" foriegn who does not have on their persons proof that they are not an immigrant or that they are legal. This includes anyone who was born in the country. so be careful if you do not carry around your birth certificate and are not white. This country was founded by immigrants. I hope Arizona gets it's head screwed on straight. Until then I have pulled all of my books from their bookstore shelves.

May 07 2010 at 11:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
5 replies to V.D. Novach's comment
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