Pubdate: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 Source: Courier-Mail, The (Australia) Copyright: News Limited 1999 Contact: http://www.thecouriermail.com.au/ ROCK STAR'S CALL TO TOKE BEYOND A JOKE A COUNTRY publican has refused to pay rising Australian singer diana Ah naid after she called on the crowd to "light up a joint" during a performance. Shawne McKenna, the owner-licensee of Oakes Hotel in Lismore in northern New South Wales, described Ah naid's call as disgraceful. "Her performance on the night was not befitting a person who deserves to receive any remuneration," Mr McKenna said. Mr McKenna said the unusually spelt diana, who hails from Australia's unofficial drug capital Nimbin, told the crowd at a performance two months ago to, "... light up a joint and get going". "My liquor licence states that I must obey by the rules of the law and at this stage marijuana is still illegal and can't be condoned or consumed on the premises," Mr McKenna said. "I'm not a rabble rouser but I have a policy of zero drug tolerance." Ah naid, 23, rose to prominence in 1997 with the top 40 hit I Go Off, which received extensive airplay on ABC radio station Triple J. She has just released her second album, I Don't Think I'm Pregnant, with the independent label Origin Records. The singer/songwriter was not available to comment because of sickness but Origin Records boss Philip Mortlock confirmed Ah naid was notified a few weeks after the performance that she would not be paid. He said it was not unusual for Ah naid to make the call to the crowd but believed the incident had been blown out of proportion. "She's not shy in making reference to marijuana," Mr Mortlock said. "But she doesn't want to be seen as promoting its use. "I think the problem came because she wasn't notified by the agent about the hotel's policy." Mr McKenna said since his stance was made public he had received only positive responses. "The majority of the population is looking for somewhere where they can go and be safe," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D