"It was a shock": Lithuania punishes popular American rocker who planned concerts in the Russian hinterland

The popular American rocker Mark Mendoza, who used to play in the bands Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy, was punished in Lithuania. In February, the artist was supposed to play two concerts in the country's capital, Vilnius, but they were canceled because the 61-year-old had planned several performances in small towns in Russia.

According to the Lithuanian broadcaster LRT, during negotiations with the star's team, the event organizers clearly stated that the singer's appearance on the Russian stage was an absolute taboo for them. Therefore, when they learned about the rocker's plans to entertain Russians, they were unpleasantly surprised.

In the summer, the Lithuanian media announced Mark Mendoza's concerts, which were to take place on February 20 at the Vakaris Hall and February 21 at the Oazė Hall in 2025. However, in late December, the performances were canceled.

According to the organizers, they unexpectedly learned that the artist planned to appear in several small Russian cities, namely Obninsk, Vladimir, and Kirzhach, before coming to Vilnius. So far, Mark Mendoza has not published any announcements of his performances in Russia, but tickets for the upcoming shows are already on sale.

"It was a shock, because we had clearly stated during the negotiations that concerts in Russia were a red line for us. His plans came as a complete surprise to us," explained Arturas Mirončikas, a representative of the event management agency.

Mark Mendoza is an American bass guitarist who specializes in rock music. In 1989, he made his debut on stage during the presentation of Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward's solo album Along the Way. Later, he appeared in front of the public as a member of several other bands, the most popular of which are Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Journey, The Dead Daisies, and others.

It is noted that Mendoza has previously appeared in Russia and entertained local audiences.

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