NotMusicJustUpdatesAndStoriesSomeAreGoodMostAreNot

[Underjoggle]

Lucky Charms = Leprechaun = Irish = IRA

Also, your name is O'Connell.

So that's why.

[c0smicshape]

I was stopped going into Canada once. They tore my truck apart in the search and even used a geiger counter to look for anything radioactive! After not finding any contraband they sent me back to the U.S. I didn't ask if I was banned but I'm not gonna test my luck. Also narrowly avoided a body cavity search coming back from Mexico but that's another story.

[MrEarcheese]

You should totally make a song out of this.

Sucks you got deported tho'. But come on - lucky charms? You had it coming!

But seriously, still awesome that you got to play at least one show. :>

[andrewthehuman]

Cute. 

[geek4freaks]

You should make a song about that it would be really amazing

[ryan21212]

Stupid british customs! so basically they deported you because you had little money and was giving out some free live music. What we're they thinking?! So if you were loaded with cash they obviously would've let you though, darn spending your money on sugary breakfast cereal.

[TheMultiUber]

just like Canada... I mean, you cant play... here...

[ebouwman034]

They fingerprinted you? I wouldn't have let them unless they were arresting me.

Not that i'm one of those people who thinks it's all a conspiracy or anything, but being fingerprinted at customs would seriously piss me off!

[TimmeHx2]

Lucky Charms, Such a rebel. You don't know the havoc one of those little marshmallowly morsels could wreak on a nation like Britain!

Glad to hear you did get to preform though!

[BRboi777]

so you have to have loads of money on you to get into the country i live in.

ouch... Britain sucks sometimes

[Patricktocci]

Let's see... last name O'Connell and a box of Lucky Charms... you were clearly an operative for PIRA.

Playing illegal underground music shows... that's what I call edgy :-P

[xxoxia]

....So, anyway, they put an X stamp in my passport, and the funny thing after all of this is.... NOW I LIVE HERE"!!!"""$%%£$££"""£

[xxoxia]

YESSSSSS!!!!! I'm from New Jersey and my wife lives in Manchester, and in 2007, I flew into England to see her for a month, and because I didn't have much money OR a job back in the US, they took me back like you for an interview, searched my things in which they found a vibrator I was bring back to my wife that she left at my house, (funny) and said I had to leave in 2 days. Anna's mom got pissed, called the MP's everyday, they kept extending my trip, and I ended up staying the entire month...

[LaurenOC12]

Serious?  Sex toys make you a threat to the British Empire?

[invisiblefiend]

I had a buddy who was in the Air Force he was stationed in England he couldn't bring his porn into the country.

[rvbapocalypse]

most things do. Music, love toys, unpayed employment, and cant forget the ever present threat of dangerous breakfast cereals. Its all dangerous in the eyes of the monarchy!

[ZakSaysRawr]

@LaurenOC12 dildos are ouronly weakness...

[ZakSaysRawr]

@LaurenOC12 were not an empire anymore ...

[woodsterix]

ITS FINE!!!! COME TO MANCHESTER! You can play my Back Garden :-) To an audience of bout 200 :)

[alsetsfire]

Apologies on behalf of our government. Most of us are pretty lovely. I can't believe they can actually stop someone being here when they have such a legitimate reason. I hope you can make it back soon.

[frugalaudio]

Weird! I've worked shows in Northern Ireland (still the UK) with no problem. Gotta love Her Majesty's government. Well, this is a big country, plenty of places left to play here!

[dingoeskidney]

God I miss lucky charms :( I haven't seen any in this country for at least ten years so to be fair you could probably have made quite a killing with them on the cereal black market.

On behalf of everyone here who is not Gordon Brown; Sorry. Don't hold it against us.

[orcaluv]

but I thought Govt never made mistakes, spent tax revenue responsibly, and could be trusted to always be right. well...

[HaightAshburyD]

yes, lucky charms is the choice cereal for a terrorist's balanced breakfast.

[rvbapocalypse]

i always knew there was something fishy about that bloody leprochaun...

[kenj0418]

@HaightAshburyD Yes - especially the IRA's secret leprechaun division.

[poloscar3]

meh. Im from the UK, we are such a bunch of up tight people, on the other hand, you may be dangerous in the fact that you have the potential to crash alot! of britsh music. Ah well, our music is many words inder the sun anyways, keep it all up.

Oscar.

[ZechsMerquise73]

Its your own fault for bringing a sugary cereal into a country with an epedemic of tooth decay! What were you think, crazy girl?

I contest the idea that this thing would happen in the US. Sure, they'd keep you for twice as long; strip search, and beat you.. But they certainly wouldn't deport you. That's going too far.

[ronnisim]

How cool is it to get deported! The English Empire can breath easier because Lauren OConnell was not allowed to stay. Ha ha ha, governments are soooo stupid!

I never mentioned, but I received your new CD in the mail like a month ago. If I had any influence with the Grammy awards (I don't), you would win several for this album.

lauren , I turn 50 years old this year and I've been a music lover all of my life. I have to say that this album is really, really good! Keep doin what you do so well!

[UK1774]

its not customs its the immigration people who did this and they are not fun peeps at all. We have very strict work laws over here if you are not from the EEC. I have a feeling that what heppened to you would be very similar to somebody going to the US to do the same.

Anyway as a UK citizen I am sorry how you have been treated

[Wowbagger86]

Secret show... Kinda "Punk'ish" :P

[Wowbagger86]

Damn the customs... thei're always after your lucky charms ;)

[Flatsoles]

seems highly unlikely O.o but il take your word for it :P well done for the secret show..if it happened ¬.¬

[davidcrabtree]

That's a bit rubbish really, but then I suppose one can't moan about customs in one case and enjoy safety in the rest. Sorry to hear about it anyway!

Then again if you hadn't gone and got independence from us that wouldn't have happened! Clearly that would have been well worth many more years of opression.

[MichelleRocksOut]

That's great that you did a show.

It's craptastic that they went all anti american on you though. Poop.

[TCLovesCheese]

Haha that's hilarious! I think I kind of love you for doing the secret show.

[Toadphillips]

you bore me.

[edjaspers]

Oh bugger - poor you. That's terrible luck. I shall certainly be writing a firmly-worded letter to my MP and making it clear that this is... um... a jolly bad thing and... um, not on. Not on at all.

There. That should do it.

UK still *hearts* Lauren, even if the border goons don't.

[AllPurposeNerd]

Oh my god! I just realized, they probably thought you were IRA or something.

[sg1288]

this is what you get for alienating british subscribers in your chicken wire video. OBVS.

[AllPurposeNerd]

One time I sold a tarot deck via eBay to someone in Britain. It came in like a video tape box with this sort of plastic housing inside with the deck comfortably nestled in it. Customs agents cut the box open and smashed the plastic, literally shattered it with a hammer or something, I guess because they thought something was hidden inside. The only reason I know any of this happened is because the buyer e-mailed me to complain and was good enough to include pictures. God Rape the Queen.

[cadeMFjohnson]

lmfao... god rape the queen

[aja289]

haha deported for lucky charms and having cash!!

sugar coated you see, you want to slowly kill the British public by blocking our arteries bit by bit.

Hope you aren't banned!!

[batesm]

Actually I think she was deported for not having a work permit/visa. Tough break, Lauren. Their loss. But now you know for next time. Chin up!  We still love you here in the good ole USA.

[Sonicdeathmonkey100]

:O Dear god! *is seriously ashamed of being british*

[MindlessZombie2006]

That's what happens when you rock too hard.

Seriously, though - bummer about the deportation, it's not like they are going to refund your ticket either. Bastards!

[smokeverbs]

That's fucked up! Glad you made it home in one piece. The "secret" show was a kick ass idea! Fight The Power, Lauren!

[colourfulbuttons]

you're actually joking me?

they kicked you out of our country?! what absolute bollocks!

that is so not cool!

not cool, not cool, not cool

[vulpix66]

EEEVIIILLLLL CUSTOOOMMSSSS.

I'd be uber-sui/homicidal if i were in UK.

[vincentXdemortes]

Lauren, you can do it!

overthrow the British!

seriously though, this makes you a rockstar

[onauta]

Wow. That blows. I guess you should get a visa next time? Still, how the hell do you seem suspicious to British Customs? More evidence that you should come to Boston to play a show instead!

[rhodesdarcy]

I'm so sorry. We are nicer than that. Really sorry. :(

[idntclaim2nomuch]

wow that sucks. 7 hours? really? i would have been pissed

[CurtainGuy]

Sorry Lauren.. that is way lame =(

[HeksjeA]

Wow, you got to the same standard as Geert Wilders..only he made the press with it, unfortunately.. :S

[CasualDaveDotCom]

sounds like a story that needs to be told in song form like "Alice's Restaurant," you know, this goes on your permanent record, pretty cool ;)

[simes2112]

As a brit - I feel ashamed that you were treated in such a ludicrous way Lauren. It is not much reassurance I know but in my experience this is a customs characteristic - I've had grief going into the USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and others.

[pgl0897]

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate run-in with Heathrow Immigration lol. Usually over here people are moaning because they let in all and sundry without any adequate checks. Might be something to do with your Irish sounding surname :o) it all kicked off again in Ulster recently. Anyway, be sure to LET US KNOW when you're coming back and playing some, uh, legal shows. Take Care. -x-

[heoTheo]

I guess you need a visa now adays.. :( Sorry that you got hasselt like that.

[summerfae]

seriously, what the fuck is wrong with european governments. ive had 3 friends that have been deported from ireland, scotland and italy each. wtf western europe! glad youre fine tho :)

[rellimsevens]

thats exciting as hell

[shaunpie]

I'm so sorry.

Lots of love,

UK.

[SigChi725]

hahaha wow. what a rebel!  yea getting deported is no fun

[joyisobelx3]

DUDE! That's so ridiculous. I thought it was bad when French customs were interrogating me today about not checking my luggage (who knew that the question "How long have you owned your iPod?" was relevant information for the French government to possess?). My case was definitely mild, I am now realizing. I wish I could go to your show :( Good luck though!

[funkwurm]

wow, sorry to hear that, you're not the first though. Jack Conte got rejected at the Canadian border, DrLemur got sent back to Australia after landing in Detroit to meet his internet crush.

The internet is making people cross borders more easily and I think the system needs to change to allow this.

[Sammyboy72]

I'm so sorry that happened. We want you here!

[ianaramsey]

Wow, that is pretty lame.

[JEEEZ123]

holy shizzmonkey. if i were in your shoes, i would have been freaking out in a situation like that. you got balls for playing that show, dude. rock the fuck on!

[XTC7775]

Amazing...what a wild story!! You poor thing going there to grace them with your beautiful voice and that is how you are repaid!! Yay for your illegal show!! lol...you criminal!! Glad you are back and safe though!! xoxoxox

[coldnnor402]

So sorry to hear, you looked forward to this trip so much, silly buggers will never understand the damage they cause by keeping you from there ear's. omg, lucky charms+ O'Connell+long hair, wow, lucky they didn't put Bond in your bed, tee hee. oh well. they maybe didn't deserve you yet. take care

[Cmkrug]

Don't you see they had to send you home because they ate all the marshmallow charms out of your cereal and didn't know how to expalin. When my son was 4 custom officials took away his little plastic chain saw. Yet they allowed some adults through carrying tools like hammers, scissors and screw drivers..

Guess they were afraid I had explosives hidden in his plastic chainsaw..

[w0smith]

And there I was thinking the US had some messed up customs policies. Good thing the Lucky Charms were properly inspected, that could have been a dangerous situation. England, I love you - I really do, but it's stories like this that make me feel some relief at still being on American soil, despite our countries frequent stupidity. I'm pretty sure anyone is still allowed to come here and play music, and eat cereal. You could probably do both at the same time if that's how you roll.

[Fnordinary]

If you think it would have been any more welcoming if she was from somewhere else going to America you'd be very mistaken.

It's got nothing to do with the country, it's the climate of fear that has been promoted by countries like, hmm America, the UK and others that has infected border police all over the world.

A pandemic of 'pigs' getting hot under the collar if you will. :) Swine flu anyone?

[w0smith]

I don't think this was so much about a climate of fear as it was some really dumb laws about "unpaid employment". I'm guessing the laws on the books are probably about the same for the US, i just don't see US customs wasting their time with it for Lauren's case and I'm still unclear about what factor it was that caused them to profile and detain her in the first place. But swine flu? FNORD ;)

[lukeseed]

That is terrible, what a way to ruin a vacation. You should go to Italy, they have no customs.

[marco114]

wow, I guess I won't go there anytime soon.

[garymcmanus2]

aahhh yet again those dirty british bastards have to destroy it for everyone, ur lucky that ur not irish like me or those bastards would of raped u and then killed you, fuck them, the whole country is a shit hole, come to IRELAND. Yeh nice one see u in a few months.

[JakeGGasson]

woooahhhh, okay, most of this country is crap i agree lol. But we're not all like that, i think it's ridiculous that she got sent back >:[ just don't go assuming that's what all english people are like lol

[garymcmanus2]

no not most, all the country is shite,fuck the lot of u, how about u just shut up and apologize for the like 600 years of pain, torcher and murder ur country has caused and not just to my country but the rest of the world, prick.

[JakeGGasson]

WHAT THE HELL!!!! you're expecting ME to apologize for "600 years of pain" and calling me a prick. 1 - i'm not responsible for all of that so don't pin it on me 2 - don't call me a prick for something that i have nothing to do with

[thoseoutthere]

wow i agree with him you are a prick, and england does suck ass

[JakeGGasson]

england sucks ass.... alot

but how am i a prick?!?! all i was doing is trying to say that no all people from england are bad, yes most of them are chavs who go around breaking everything and starting fights, but you can't blame the very few people that are nothing like that

and calling me a prick for sticking up for the few good people in my country? honestly..... it's like me calling people with a certain religion a prick.....

[rgbrock]

You lot need to shut the fuck up, all countries have pricks and all countries have good people, all countries have history they are not proud of ie Vietnam. She should not have been sent home but i guarantee if she had sorted the correct paperwork before she had gone then it would have been fine.

[thoseoutthere]

nah ur a prick

[garymcmanus2]

nice one thoseouthere im glad im not the only one that can see it, english prick

[chadkangaroo]

not to mention the language they gave you which you in turn clearly abuse...

[garymcmanus2]

it wasnt givin, what u think the whole population just thought, i know lets stop speaking our own language, no we where all forced and beatin

[chadkangaroo]

your own language? unless you're native american, your people never had your own language since settling on american soil.

[garymcmanus2]

what are you talkin about you retard, the irish lanuage has been around for nearly 5000 years until the english came and forced us to stop. but its still spoken in some parts.

[chadkangaroo]

my apologies, i thought you were american. should've read deeper into the comments. in this case i agree, i'm a cork man myself.

[DarknessEats]

silly English Customs...::palmface::

[Jiga1]

So sorry :(

[bradinthedesert]

Wow, youz gangsta Lauren. :P

[luckystrike1]

Crazy. On behalf of England, I am sorry!

[speaktheslangg]

bummer summer man.

[fooooooga]

Apparently England's music threat level is orange. Wouldn't want you impressing people to death.

Side-note: I'm pretty sure Lucky Charms don't exist in the UK. Maybe the English people thought it a little too strange and Irish.

Either way, you seem pretty calm in this video. Good on you, I'd be livid.

[eoin68]

That sucks.

[indyguy101]

My country sucks..... hard... :''''(

[jazztrio2008]

well what the heck! CASH means they can't track you where you go. but they can sure track you if ya use a debit or credit card.

hmm?? any question?? you should write a song about how britain kicked you out.. ..

[crimsong19]

So ... cash only = suspected criminal?

Jeez. That sucks.

At least things are better?

Hope I can make it to the release party!

[acidfingers]

This happened to Jack Conte when he went up to Canada to play a show, except the being detained for 6 hours thing.

It's total bullshit! You should have swam to the UK then I bet you wouldn't have been stopped by anyone when you got there :D

[Vtreka]

Glad you stuck it to them anyway for being so stupid... (sentence was written and re-written 5 times to avoid profanity) keep on playing Lauren, you rock.

[JPaulDiLucci]

Wow, just like L. Ron Hubbard. Your street cred has doubled. I won't ever kick you out of my country Lauren, EVAR!

[Marldance]

shesh!!!! What is it with people being deported from England for wanting to play shows??? I now know 3!

[kittyandpoodle]

Yous have pretty hairs. And even though I watched the entire video, I have nothing to say regarding any of it.

[recruit8]

that sucks....but soo badass though.

[ColinNekritz]

It's the Lucky Charms. They probably thought you belonged to the IRA, and were going to bomb them with magic stars, hearts, and diamonds.

[RupertsCrystals]

Paranoia is running rife in Britain, it seems. I was just watching a video by Katers17, and she was explaining that she had to produce ID in order to buy some spoons.

I'm sure you won't have any trouble when you visit Oz.

[drawuin]

they fear the US paying them back with an American music invasion..?

[OptimistismIsHard]

grr.

that sucks.

[WelshyChris]

I live in Britain and I'm glad to know I'm being kept safe from your sort. Who knows what trouble you might have caused with your... uhm... singing.

[TravisMoore]

England is such a retarded place ....

[pete275]

that's pretty bad ass

[8Tails]

Hahahaha. Some how I never really thought of you as being punk rock. But wow. ;D

This calls for some Say Anything! :D

*starts playing Belt*

[d4551]

Sounds like British customs alright! At least you didn't have to get searched by the fat balding man up close and personal!

I think I'll get a cd though!

We here in AZ don't really care about our customs :P

[mycoldcase]

jeez, that's just freaking crazy

[Quixotic1018]

That's so punk rock. You should play out here in LA, by the looks of things... we don't deport anybody

[grife3000]

You should name your bootleg CD "Lauren O'Connell: Too Dangerous for Britain."

[aaaaaaacemusic]

This is why I hate my country sometimes. :|

Bah. Government sucks. Lots. Sad times.

I'm so gutted you got deported. :/

[milliradian]

You have to be one of the most awesome people.

[CopernicusTJones]

Sorry you trip was ruined. That really sucks.

[FeePee1234]

getton lauren, illegal shows are the way forward =]

they are completely stupid and ignorant to anyone from another country, stupid fuckers lol [im saying that and im british] i just hate the government so much too =/

[Tez3350]

Arrrr British customs.......loverly polite sacks of shit they are, (I got myself in trouble on my way to Ireland and am now probably listed as a terrorist) anyway, sorry to hear you didnt get to enjoy your stay...Next time go somewhere that isnt paranoid....hmm...Australia comes to mind!! :) BTW, Loved Levers and Gears!

[SleepyBrownBread]

welcome to the terror watch list!