“I had already told my management that we just wanted a small tour,” Marley told The Associated Press. “I had heard something about Haider and some Nazi connection, but that’s notthe main reason.”

Marley is the leader of the Melody Makers, which includes four of Bob Marley’s children. Theband opens its European tour Tuesday in Germany.

The band was booked to perform Saturday at the annual Spring Vibration Festival in Wiesen, Austria. But last month, festival organizers announced Marley would not perform because he “does not want to play in a country with a Nazi in the government,” festival spokeswoman Alexander Swoboda said.

Dozens of other musicians and performers have canceled participation in Austrian events to show their opposition to Haider, who has praised aspects of the Nazi era. The far-right Freedom Party, which Haider used to lead, is known for its anti-immigration views.

But Marley said that, while he had taken Haider’s position into consideration, it was the group’s hectic schedule that forced it to bypass Austria.

The Freedom Party joined the government in February, prompting European Union member countries to impose diplomatic sanctions against fellow-member Austria. Haider is governor of southern Carinthia province, but holds no federal post.