New date: Sept. 17 in Houston
Jai Ho no mo'? A. R. Rahman's tour cancellation scare gets cancelled
A.R. Rahman concert, 2010, in Atlantic City, N.J.
A.R. Rahman concert, 2010, in Atlantic City, N.J.
BP isn't the only international institution with rig malfunctions, but recovery comes faster to some sooner than others: Contrary to prior reports, the cultural barrier-busting composer A.R. Rahman, of Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack fame, has not cancelled his concert at Houston's Toyota Center, but it has been postponed to Sept. 17.
The announcement comes on the heels of a set malfunction at Rahman's Detroit performance on Saturday, in which Rahman's site-specific set at the Pontiac Silverdome was not strong enough to support a lighting rig and buckled beneath its weight.
The apparatus came crashing down, destroying part of the stage, as well as equipment and sets specifically designed for the tour.
"It's a miracle my team escaped with minor injuries," Rahman said Monday on Twitter.
The Motor City performance was part of the epic "A. R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour," spotlighting the Bollywood megastar, dubbed the "Mozart of Madras," as a cultural force to be reckoned with - the first Indian pop icon recognized with two Oscars, a Golden Globe and two Grammys. Rahman is estimated to have sold more than 350 million albums worldwide. In 2009, Time magazine named the composer as among "The 100 Most Influential People."
Prior to the Desi disaster in Detroit, Rahman had already packed sports stadiums in New York, New Jersey and Chicago. The show's spectacle has been compared to a level on par with Lady Gaga, combining Bollywood, Broadway and rock circus.
Although the Los Angeles Times reported on Wednesday that Rahman had made the "agonizing" decision to cancel his remaining North American tour stops, including a July 3 visit to Houston, he has since decided to reschedule the dates. For the Sept. 17 Houston show, the venue, time and tickets will remain unchanged.
Rahman describes himself as being granted a "second life" for surviving the crash, adding, "Maybe it is a blessing in disguise, as we will have the opportunity to perform for you with even more energy and perfection."
See the collapsed set. It's a scary sight:
