Customs officials destroy concert piano

[snopes]

Comment: Rumor: that Krystian Zimmerman, illustrious Polish concert
pianist, came to the USA on a concert tour, with his own piano (as do some
concert artists). The Customs officials thought that the piano had a
funny smell and thus was a likely vehicle for drug smuggling, whereupon
without further ado they destroyed the piano (probably worth $100,000).
Zimmerman says he will never come to America again. Is there any truth to
this? I have heard nothing about it in the American press and only
second-hand info from Europe.

[Stoneage Dinosaur]

Polish pianist stops show with anti-US tirade

Zimerman, though, has developed something of a track record - especially since the 9/11 attacks. In 2006 he announced he would not return to the United States until George Bush was out of office. The same year, at Baltimore's Shriver Hall, he prefaced his performance of Beethoven's Pathetique sonata with a denunciation of America's prison at Guantánamo Bay.

At least some of his opprobrium appears to be personal. Shortly after 9/11, his piano was confiscated by customs officials at New York's JFK airport, who thought the glue smelled funny. They subsequently destroyed the instrument.

This past April, Zimerman announced he would no longer perform in the US because of our military policies. But he did have a piano destroyed several years ago. It should be noted the he modifies his pianos and that is why he travels with his own.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/cult...all-debut.html

"Zimerman has had problems in the United States in recent years. He travels with his own Steinway piano, which he has altered himself. But shortly after 9/11, the instrument was confiscated at JFK Airport when he landed in New York to give a recital at Carnegie Hall. Thinking the glue smelled funny, the TSA decided to take no chances and destroyed the instrument. "

[lord_feldon]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009...defence-poland

At least some of his opprobrium appears to be personal. Shortly after 9/11, his piano was confiscated by customs officials at New York's JFK airport, who thought the glue smelled funny. They subsequently destroyed the instrument.

For several years he chose to travel with just the mechanical insides of his own piano and install them - he is a master piano repairer, as well as player - inside a Steinway shell he borrowed from the company in New York. In 2006 he tried to travel with his own piano again, only to have it held up in customs for five days and disrupt his performance schedule.

Edit: Spanked!