NEW YORK -- The British rock band The Cure Tuesday asked the nation's radio stations to stop playing the song 'Killing An Arab' because of charges of racism by Arab groups.
The announcement was made jointly by the group's manager, Chris Parry, Elektra Records and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee at a news conference in Manhattan.
'They write about a lot of unusual subjects,' explained Parry, 'that's why they're popular. But times have changed...'
The group was completely unprepared for the American reaction to a song that band leader Robert Smith wrote nine years ago. Smith released a statement explaining that the song was based on the Albert Camus novel 'The Stranger.'
The song concentrates on a central image in the book, the senseless killing of an Arab. Smith claimed he was trying to 'illustrate the utter futility of the actual action of the killing.'
Instead, explained Faris Bouhafa of the Arab group, the song has become an anthem for 'individuals who feel that it's their patriotic duty to periodically beat up on Arab-Americans.'
The Arabs complained about the song to Elektra last August for its 'possibly inflammatory nature.'
In October the issue became public after a disc jockey on WPRB in Princeton, N.J., introduced the song by saying 'Here's a song about killing A-Rabs.'
Smith insisted the song 'contained absolutely no element of racism whatsoever.'
But he acknowledged his song was 'being used increasingly by certain reactionary factions of the media, most notably by some particularly brainless DJ's, as a part of a wave of anti-Arab feeling currently existing in some parts of America.'
Consequently, Smith requested the song 'be withdrawn from all radio air play.'
In addition, Elektra said it was attaching a sticker to all albums, cassettes, compact discs and videos containing the song that reads: 'The song 'Killing An Arab' has absolutely no racist overtones whatsoever. It is a song which decries the existence of all prejudice and consequent violence. The Cure condemn its use in furthering anti-Arab feeling.'
The Cure has also agreed to stage a benefit concert in the United States this summer, the proceeds of which will be divided equally between American and Lebanese-Palestinian orphanages.
The quintet started out in London 10 years ago as part of the British New Wave and quickly established a large cult following on the basis of a tough, eccentric rock sound and distinctive post-punk look.
Though the group did not establish itself in the United States until recently, The Cure has had a series of hits in England, including 'Jumping Someone Else's Train,' 'Boys Don't Cry,' 'Lovecats' and 'Close to Me.'
