Music News

Amy Winehouse out of Coachella due to ‘legal issues’

By Patrick Luce Mar 9, 2009, 19:22 GMT

Legal issues blamed for Amy Winehouse pulling out of California music festival. Picture by: Gotcha Images / Splash News

British singer Amy Winehouse has pulled out of next month’s Coachella festival in the U.S. due to "legal issues."

The singer’s spokesman confirmed she would not be playing at the annual music festival in California. She had been scheduled to appear at the event with Sir Paul McCartney and The Killers.

Winehouse’s “legal issues” are from an assault charge she is facing for allegedly striking a fan at a party in London in September. With the criminal charge, the singer could have faced difficulty obtaining a U.S. visa to perform at the festival.

Winehouse (who broke big with the hit single “Rehab”) was refused a U.S. visa in 2008 to perform at the Grammy awards. She is scheduled to appear in a London court next week.

Winehouse is still expected to appear in May at London's Shepherds Bush Empire for a concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of Island Records. The concert festival will also feature Keane, the Fratellis and Yusuf Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens.