Nena Cancels 2022 GSA Tour Over Coronavirus Measures

Nena performs live during a concert at the Mercedes-Benz Arena Berlin, Nov. 6, 2015.
Frank Hoensch/Redferns via Getty Images – Nena performs live during a concert at the Mercedes-Benz Arena Berlin, Nov. 6, 2015.
Her most recent gig in the German capital got cut short by the promoter, after members of the audience decided to leave their allocated boxes.

Iconic German singer Nena has canceled all of her 2022 tour dates in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, indirectly citing the current trend of discriminating between audience members depending on the health proofs they can or cannot produce at the gate.  

Stating that she didn’t want to say more than necessary, Nena wrote on her online channels, “My tour in 2022 will not take place. And I won’t move it a second time either. I stand by my statement: All people are welcome at a Nena concert.
“Here in our country things are going in a completely different direction at the moment, and I am not participating. I am looking forward to getting back together with you somewhere and at some point – and we will! In freedom and love. Your Nena.”
Nena already caused nation-wide headlines, when left it up to her fans whether they wanted to leave their allocated seats and dance in front of the stage at an open-air concert in Berlin Schönefeld, July 25 – defying the terms set by the promoter, which had the audience separated into groups inside boxes made up of empty bottle crates.
The 61-year old singer has sold some 25 million records and even scored a number-two single in the U.S. with her 1984 anti-war hit, 99 Red Balloons. She hit U.S. shores for the first time in 2016 for a three-day jaunt at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, The Regent Theatre in Los Angeles, and PlayStation Theatre in New York Oct. 4.
The last show sold 764 tickets, grossing $23,315 in the process, according to Pollstar’s box office reports.
Germany, Austria and Switzerland all have different approaches to reopening venues, however, they all require one of three health status checks to get in, which can all be stored in some for of digital green pass.
Switzerland has seen several festivals go ahead at full or almost full capacity over the summer, including Openair Gampel, Summerdays Festival and Seaside Festival, each welcoming some 10,000 visitors in possession of a COVID certificate.
Some of Austria’s promoters came up with smaller or more boutique versions of  their main events like Nova Rock or Electric Love. Germany has yet to receive a concrete roadmap that would allow promoters to plan ahead.
Bernd Breiter’s BigCityBeats was only able to host 25,000 across three days at the WCD Pool Sessions, after taking the local authorities to court.
Germany is a patchwork of 16 individual states that have some leeway when it comes to implementing federal directives. In times of coronavirus, this situation has led to much confusion about what is and isn’t allowed in each state, making a touring nightmare even for domestic artists and their teams. 
The country’s health minister Jens Spahn only recently acknowledged this, and said his cabinet was working on streamlining the different approaches.