Was Bonnaroo Really M.I.A.'s "Last Gig Ever"?

Was Bonnaroo Really M.I.A.'s "Last Gig Ever"? Photo by Matt Jordan

Take one nice long look at her, because this just might be the last time you see M.I.A. on stage. As noted in a New York Times report today and a Times ArtsBeat blog post from over the weekend, the Sri Lankan firebrand repeatedly told Bonnaroo-goers on Friday that they were bearing witness to her "last gig ever."

The claim comes hot on the fancy heels of M.I.A.'s recent cancellation of all her upcoming European festival dates, and just days after her claim to NYMag.com that "I feel like physically I just have to stop for a second. It's too insane."

So which is it, Maya? Dramatic license or real talk? Jay-Z/Michael Jordan/Patrick Wolf, or, uh, some guy/gal who said they'd retire and actually went through with it? We sure are gunning for the former in both cases, and history is on our side. Interscope, meanwhile, has not yet replied to a request to confirm or deny M.I.A.'s claim, and the singer, of course, has no shows currently scheduled. Have fun gardening, lady.
Posted by Matthew Solarski on Mon, Jun 16, 2008 at 6:22pm