"We will unite the human race with love and partying," he declared.
But, in a set-back for this bold plan, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters that there had been a misunderstanding.
"We had a Bahraini entity who approached the embassy about co-sponsoring a visit by this guy who I take it is pretty popular there in Bahrain," she said.
"That was initially approved and then, when more senior management at the embassy took a look at this, the conclusion was that this was not an appropriate use of US government funds," she explained.
Asked whether Andrew W.K. had ever been formally invited, Nuland said: "There may have been some preliminary conversations with him, but he is not going to be going to Bahrain on the US government's dime."
The musician appeared a little crushed by the news.
"I'm just blown away," he tweeted. "After a year of planning, the US State Dept. just canceled my Middle East trip because I'm too party."
His website was quickly updated with a banner splashed across the earlier announcement reading: "Cancelled, by the US State Department."
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But, in a set-back for this bold plan, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters that there had been a misunderstanding.
"We had a Bahraini entity who approached the embassy about co-sponsoring a visit by this guy who I take it is pretty popular there in Bahrain," she said.
"That was initially approved and then, when more senior management at the embassy took a look at this, the conclusion was that this was not an appropriate use of US government funds," she explained.
Asked whether Andrew W.K. had ever been formally invited, Nuland said: "There may have been some preliminary conversations with him, but he is not going to be going to Bahrain on the US government's dime."
The musician appeared a little crushed by the news.
"I'm just blown away," he tweeted. "After a year of planning, the US State Dept. just canceled my Middle East trip because I'm too party."
His website was quickly updated with a banner splashed across the earlier announcement reading: "Cancelled, by the US State Department."
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