BOB DYLAN BANNED IN CHINA

The Chinese government has banned Bob Dylan from playing the Chinese leg of his 2010 tour.

Dates in Beijing and Shanghai, part of Dylan's tour of east Asia, have been canceled due to the government's concern about the renowned folk singer's long-ago reputation as an "icon of the counterculture movement," according tothe Guardian, citing Taiwan-based promoter Jeffrey Wu.

Dylan, who puts on about 100 shows a year as part of his Never Ending Tour and has just finished up a Japanese leg, has also canceled dates in Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

"With Beijing and China ruled out, it was not possible for him just to play concerts in Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan," said Wu of Brokers Brothers Promoters in an interview with the South China Morning Post. "The chance to play in China was the main attraction for him. When that fell through everything else was called off."

The Chinese government is said to have increased its strictness after a 2008 Björkconcert where the Icelandic singer chanted "Tibet! Tibet!" following a performance of her song 'Declare Independence.'

Oasis was also deemed "unsuitable" to play in China in 2009, according to the Guardian, allegedly because of Noel Gallagher's involvement in a pro-independence concert for Tibet more than a decade ago.

Bob Dylan on AOL Music